Meet Nolan Rockers

We were lucky to catch up with Nolan Rockers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nolan, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

In the early days of starting Opinion, I struggled with the very thing the brand stands for. A big reason I launched this brand was because I knew I had to push myself to stop caring what other people thought, even as its founder. Opinion isn’t just a brand, it’s a community, and being the owner doesn’t mean I’m free from fearing judgment or that I don’t wrestle with it too.

But over the past 7 years, I’ve learned that most hate comes from people fighting their own battles, whether it’s something in their past or something they’re struggling with right now. Instead of letting it get to me, I try to flip the narrative and respond with empathy. Sometimes that means asking if there’s any way I can help. Just showing that you’re willing to listen can lead to powerful conversations, and even unexpected friendships.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m Nolan Rockers, founder of Opinion Clothing, a Minnesota-based brand I started 7 years ago with one mission: to encourage people to chase their dreams without letting the opinions of others hold them back.

What excites me most about Opinion is that it’s not just clothing, it’s a conversation starter. Every piece is rooted in the belief that everyone has something they want to pursue, and too often, fear of judgment keeps us from doing it. I’ve struggled with that myself, which is why creating this brand has been such a personal journey. Opinion is meant to be more than apparel, it’s a community where people can see that they aren’t alone in facing those doubts.

One of the most special things about this brand is how our community has responded. We’ve had countless people reach out sharing their own stories of chasing something despite the noise around them. Those stories are what keep me inspired and motivated to keep building.

As far as what’s new, we’ve recently been leaning into more storytelling through our content, like public interviews where we ask people questions about the risks they didn’t take because of other people’s opinions. The answers are bold, vulnerable, and real, and our goal is to continue sharing stories like that so people feel less alone. On the product side, we just launched our Lady Slipper Hat, which just sold out, and we have one shirt left to release for summer, then it’s onto our winter pieces.

At the end of the day, Opinion Clothing is about more than clothes, it’s about building confidence, sparking connection, and creating a movement where people feel free to live life on their own terms.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey with Opinion Clothing are resilience, storytelling, and community-building.

Resilience was the foundation. Starting a brand isn’t glamorous, there are setbacks, slow sales, and moments of doubt. Learning to keep moving forward even when things weren’t going my way made all the difference.

Storytelling has been just as important. Opinion isn’t just about clothing; it’s about sharing the message of not letting other people’s opinions dictate your life. Being able to communicate that clearly, through our products, social media, and conversations, has allowed the brand to connect with people on a deeper level.

And finally, community-building has shaped everything. From listening to our customers’ feedback to sharing their stories, I’ve learned that people want to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. Building those connections is what’s kept this brand alive for 7 years.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice would be:

1.) Embrace failure as part of growth. The quicker you can see setbacks as lessons, the faster you’ll move forward.

2.) Work on telling your story. People don’t just buy products, they buy into a mission, a feeling, or a belief. Learn how to communicate yours.

3.) Invest in relationships. Whether it’s your first customer, a collaborator, or a mentor, treat people like they matter, because they do. That’s what creates long-term impact.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge reader. It usually takes a lot for a book to hold my attention, but when a story hooks me early, I tend to fly through it in one sitting. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike.

What struck me most about Phil Knight’s story wasn’t just the success of Nike, it was the messy, uncertain, and often chaotic road it took to get there. The biggest lesson I walked away with is that success is never a straight line. We often look at iconic brands and assume they were destined to win, but Shoe Dog pulls back the curtain and shows just how many times Nike could have failed along the way.

What really resonated with me is how much persistence and resilience mattered more than perfection. Every single business, whether it’s Nike, a startup, or even a small clothing brand like mine, comes face-to-face with setbacks. There are supply chain issues, bad launches, financial struggles, or simply moments of doubt. But what separates the companies that thrive from the ones that don’t isn’t avoiding failure, it’s what they do after they fail. Do they adapt? Do they find another way? Do they keep believing in the vision when no one else does?

That perspective stuck with me because it made me realize that the “messy middle” isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong, it’s just part of the process. Reading that book gave me permission to embrace the ups and downs of building Opinion Clothing, knowing that even the biggest brands in the world started off scrambling, uncertain, and doubted by many.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photography by Bobby Perez: @bpstreetphotography on Instagram
Photography by @_backpocketproductions on Instagram

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