I didn’t set out to create a fashion brand. In fact, Off Collar Clothing was born from a moment of crisis. It all started one ordinary day on a train in Boston, back in 2021.

Boston is a city that often feels like a sea of sameness—reserved, gray, and, in many ways, anti-fashion. I was caught up in it myself, wearing the same uniform as everyone else: a black T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. It was the style of the time—minimal, neutral, no logos—born out of the backlash to branded everything. But that day, as I looked around the train car, something clicked.

I saw a group of college kids walk on to the train dressed exactly like me. Then, I noticed a group of professionals in their matching checkered dress shirts and polos, and I felt a panic rise inside me. I was just like them. I had become everything I never wanted to be—a cog in the machine, blending into the background, losing my individuality. I got off the train at the next stop, overwhelmed by the feeling that I had lost myself.

As I stood there, trying to calm down, Jimi Hendrix’s song If 6 Was 9 came on in my headphones. His lyrics hit me like a lightning bolt:
"Come on Mr. Businessman, you can't dress like me."
"Dig, 'cause I got my own world to live through, and I ain't gonna copy you."

That was it. I made a commitment to myself right then that I wouldn’t let the world dictate how I should live, dress, or think. I wouldn’t wear the collar society had placed around my neck. I went home that night determined to find clothes that spoke to me—something unique, something bold. But everything I found was either poor quality or just another version of the same boring designs.

So, I started creating my own. That’s how Off Collar Clothing was born—a rebellion against the ordinary and a celebration of those who dare to be different.

The Deeper Struggle: My Journey with Addiction

But my story goes deeper than just fashion. For years, I struggled with alcoholism. It’s something that held me back in more ways than I can count. I used to blame my lack of success on external factors—living in Boston, being in the wrong environment, not finding the right outlet. But the truth is, I was the one putting the collar on my own neck. Drinking was my way of numbing the pain, but it was also the thing holding me back from living up to my full potential.

In time, I realized that the collar I had been fighting against wasn’t a symbol of conformity in fashion—it was a metaphor for the limitations I had placed on myself each time I decided to drink. The collar represented everything I needed to break free from, both externally and internally.

That’s when the vision for Off Collar Clothing really started to take shape. It wasn’t just about creating a shirt that looked different. It was about creating a brand that stood for something bigger. I want Off Collar to be more than just a clothing label—I want it to be a movement.

A New Vision: Men’s Health and Self-Liberation

Off Collar Clothing isn’t just about rejecting the traditional collar on a shirt—it’s about breaking free from the invisible collars we wear every day. Whether it’s the pressure to conform, the stigma around men’s mental health, or the personal struggles we keep hidden, this brand is about helping men liberate themselves.

I know firsthand how hard it can be to confront those challenges, and that’s why I want Off Collar to be a symbol of strength, individuality, and self-expression. The colorful accents on each shirt represent more than just a fashion statement—they’re a reminder to embrace who you are, unapologetically.

My hope is that Off Collar Clothing will inspire men to not just dress differently but to live differently. To walk confidently in the direction of their own dreams, free from the expectations that weigh them down. And as a part of this, I’m committed to supporting men’s health causes, breaking the stigma around seeking help, and fostering conversations that matter.

I may not care about making it big, but I care deeply about making a difference. If my story—and the stories of thousands of other men—can help someone break free from their collar, then Off Collar Clothing will have served its purpose.

Join me on this journey of self-liberation, where style is just the beginning.

Carter Rogan
Founder, Off Collar Clothing