Brent Yancy, the second youngest of 13 and creator of 3rd and WE + RE CREATE STÜDIOS, is a product of two small cities – Bradenton and Sarasota, Fl. – with populations of about 60,000 each. He lived in one and attended school in the other, traveling between the two daily.

Yancy had somewhat of a normal childhood, sometimes defending himself against people who tried to talk down to him. As with most small towns, sports are the biggest events to happen; his was football, which carried him to college on a football scholarship to Webber International University, a private business school located between Tampa and Orlando, where his Chinese roommate introduced him to a world unknown: the business of fashion. His interest in fashion had first started with wanting to be well-dressed every day, with a new pair of shoes every week for his elementary school uniform.

It may all sound like a typical jock story, though his is more like Freddie Prinze, Jr’s character Zack Siler in the 90’s film She’s All That. “I was doing what everyone else wanted me to do,” he said. In the five years he spent pursuing a degree, his major changed multiple times and his school twice. He left Webber for an HBCU experience at Bethune Cookman University, founded by Mary McLeod Bethune in Daytona, FL. His transition to a school filled with his people encouraged him to stop living for others and helped him find solace in living in his purpose as a creator. “At Bethune, I got to express myself,” he said. “I also pledged PHI BETA SIGMA. It’s been a journey ever since those days.”

What was your motivation for becoming a fashion designer?

A couple of things. During my school years, I would go through my whole day contemplating what to wear the next day. I was also styling. It’s not an all-day thing anymore because there are more obligations to life now. Proving people wrong was another motivating factor as it seems people didn’t think much of what my dream was; they didn’t take it seriously, and I wanted to show them otherwise. I wanted to be the guy who supplied everyone with what they needed, or wanted rather.

What’s been the most challenging part of becoming a designer and staying one?

I’m a one-man band so that by itself presents its difficulties. With that being said, I’m sketching all of the designs you see on my product. I’m self-taught, so I spend hours and hours on my iPad conceptualizing the designs. Physical resources! Where I live isn’t the most creative place, so that can be testing because there aren’t many people around doing what I do. Staying a designer? Time management for one, because outside of running and owning this brand, I have a full-time job and full-time bills.

Tell me more about Brent, 3RD, and WE + RE CREATE STÜDIOS.

I opened my store in January 2020. I never got the opportunity to do a grand opening on account of COVID, but my community and several professional athletes from Ventell Bryant, Demarcus Christmas, Keith Kirkwood, Brian Poole, Sam Franklin, and numerous others have supported and shopped at my store. Right now, I carry four other brands besides my own, which is 3RD in the shop. I want to expand the selection of designers going forward. With 3RD, I plan to produce different items and continue developing the line. For WE + RE CREATE STÜDIOS, I have tremendous plans. I want it to become a school that teaches other young people how to start their own brand, source fabric, find manufacturers, photography, etc. I was hoping to start that during the middle of last year, but the pandemic has been in the way. I want the school to have different locations throughout the U.S. In my day job, I work as a Support Coordinator for individuals with disabilities. I’m also involved with the Special Olympics; I’ll be creating uniforms for them later this year.

Are there any designers, past or present, that you turn to for inspiration?

I don’t keep up with designers too much as most of my inspiration comes from old films, but I really like Virgil Abloh. Jimi Hendrix wasn’t a designer, but his whole aesthetic is one I turn to, but I guess that would’ve been many people in the 70s, huh? I believe that era is going to make its way back around again. The American Gangster series is also full of looks I grab inspiration from. The outfits!

Is there any advice or message about being a designer that you’d like to share with those looking to follow in your footsteps?

You have to be as serious about it as you would with anything in your life that matters. You’ll figure out if you really want to do it or not early on because when you get home after a long day of school, work, or life, you have to dedicate five extra hours to designing; it’ll make you evaluate. It’s going to take trial and error and a whole lot of effort. Truthfully, it’s not even really an error because it’s a part of the process, and when you deal with it once, you’ll know how to deal with it the next time.

Since it is Black History Month, I would love to know what this month represents for you.

First off, why is it a month? We are way more significant than that! Speaking to the positive, Black History Month personally is a time when I see Black people supporting and highlighting each other in large quantities. I’ve learned about several Black businesses that I didn’t even know existed last month. This month brings a sense of pride for many of our people though I wish it was like this 24/7 because I’m always this prideful when it comes to us.

Is there any ancestor of ours you wish you could’ve met and why?

Jimi Hendrix, I know I mentioned him earlier, but I just wish I could’ve asked him some questions. I imagine sitting down and picking his brain about the clothing he wore and the things he got into in his life. Michael Jordan is another person I wish I could ask some questions. I’m curious to know if he had any involvement in designing any Jordan sneakers, or did he just lend his name? Mainly the 1s through the 5s because those are the best sneakers in my opinion.

Finally, are there any Black Designers/Creatives known or unknown that you would like to bring to the CFDA’s attention?

300 REZ and DK GUWOP are two people I need to mention; they have been around since the start. We attended Bethune Cookman together. We created and spent hours searching through Goodwill and different thrift stores in Daytona Beach outside of class. The three of us were on the come-up together. One of the many daily photoshops we produced wound up being featured in Been Trill Magazine and several other sites; those moments are unforgettable. Humble Religion is a line out of Fort Lauderdale that I enjoy. The guy’s name behind the brand is Moe; he has a crazy work ethic that I admire. Made In The Hood is a brand by Tchve, who’s based out of New Orleans, that I really like as well.

IG (brand & personal): @3rrdd_

IG (WE + RE CREATE STÜDIOS): @wrcreatestudios

IG (Bethune Cookman University): @Bethunecookma