Meet Rashod Stanley: Aspiring Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rashod Stanley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rashod, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I figured with these felonies on my record it will be difficult for me to get a job that will pay enough to live how I want to live so I figured if I started my own business I would have more control over my own future.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
1. What was your thought process behind starting your own business? I figured with these felonies on my record it will be difficult for me to get a job that will pay enough to live how I want to live so I figured if I started my own business I would have more control over my own future. 2. What’s one thing about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of? Only the creative survive, trends and style change so rapid you have to stay in tune, but I try to stay true to myself by only designing pieces that I would wear. 3. Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career? I look at risk in the form of opportunity cost, is the risk worth the reward. Is going viral and potentially monetizing it worth going to solitary confinement, I figured if I’m already locked up what else do I have to lose and how can you make it if yvu never take a chance. 4. Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success? Not listening to what other people had to say about the things that affect me the most, like don’t post to social media vyou are going to go to solitary confinement, had I listened to others I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now, I’m not always against listening to others, i just don’t forget to listen to my inner self in the process. 5. What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand? My ability to see an opportunity and capitalize on it. In a environment where a lot of people are pessimistic, I try to stay optimistic and learn from every situation and make the best of every opportunity that can possibly keep me from coming back to prison. 6. What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make? Take a plea or go to trial 7. Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance? In prison there really isn’t much of a life, so all I do is work, I drown myself in my craft from the time I get up until I go to sleep trying to come up with new designs and thinking of diffrent ways to market my brand. I’ve even got into rapping, i feel like it’s just another outlet to express myself when I can’t make clothes. 8. Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it? Location Doesn’t Determine Destination! To me it mean you have the ability to overcome any situation or environment and ultimately become the person you aspire to be by not allowing your surrounding or situation to define who you are or what you will become. 9. Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career? It allowed me to express myself and show people the real me, in prison they give everyone the same outfit and it takes away from who you are as an individual, it’s psychological, it takes away you identity, making clothes helped me find myself again. 10. What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want people to remember about you? I want to be remembered as the inspiration, so when people feel like they can’t do something they remember how I changed my circumstances from prison and you use that to propel them forward.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family especially my mom for always having my back and supporting me.

Website: www.thetrenches.co

Instagram: https://instagram.com/atlanta_santana1?igshid=aux20ug3bp9

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashod-stanley-409b86188

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/THETRENCHESUS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetrenchesus/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDBp-IFNxmmC6yKJzqNh7jA

Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kgezur-the-trenches-true-story