The Black Editorial ™
The Black Editorial ™
It’s MoreThan A Saying With Branden Owens
May 2025
Learning As We Go
Meet Branden Owens, a 24-year-old creative force from the San Francisco Bay Area. As the founder and creative director of Laigo, Branden is building a world where design, culture, and intention intersect. Rooted in creation that is guided by vision, his work speaks to a generation hungry for meaning, movement and the audacity to know we are all learning as we go.
Branden nodding to streetwear with a mix of nostalgia while grounding in an elevated minimalism look.
The Philosophy Behind Laigo
Laigo stands for ‘Learning As I Go’, can you share a moment where you felt that meaning tested you the most in your journey as a designer?
“I feel that it has tested me through life. That is why I am so passionate about the meaning. Life has dealt me difficult circumstances at times, and my ability to process those experiences has taken form in a philosophy that helps me navigate adversity. It is a tool I continue to use through my entrepreneurial journey and as a young designer, a philosophy simple yet securing in this world. This worldview is the central theme that I want to communicate to our audience.”
Is there a lesson or idea you’re currently unlearning as you move into this next phase of your brand?
“I am currently unlearning the influence my inner voice has on my external actions. Sometimes you may be your biggest hater. I fall victim to this often. In this new phase of not only the brand but of life I’m understanding how to find the balance between perfection and improvisation. Sometimes you just have to do it. You have to have that conversation, you have to start that project, you have to take that leap of faith. While some are instinctively improvisational others may be locked in the mental prison that can be our minds. Whichever way it may be, the key is finding a balance between being hypercritical and impulsive. Being able to display an attention to detail simultaneously, not allowing that to restrict you in your approach to anything in life, work, relationships, etc.”
Many creatives talk about ‘building a brand,’ but you seem to be cultivating a philosophy. How do you want people to feel when they wear Laigo?
“I want people to feel draped in their own resilience. This is what the brand is truly about, ‘Learning As I Go’ came about through my own experience growing up Black and in underserved communities. Our audience relating to this is the notion that in these communities learning as we go is all we know. It is that resilience that I want folks to feel, and while this experience may only speak to a certain demographic of our brand's community. In life I’ve learned we are all battling something internally, rich or poor, adversity does not discriminate. Laigo is born from that rhythm—a quiet resilience of navigating life without a map, cultivated in the cracks of overlooked streets and overlooked beings.”
Wearing an Yankees cap isn’t just an accessory; it’s a cultural anchor. Together, these elements redefine professionalism through the lens of self-expression of Branden.
Creative Process & Design Evolution
You’ve gone from tees to jackets, and now to full sets. How has your understanding of storytelling through garments evolved with each new release?
“At the start of the brand, my passion for fashion was unwavering, yet my knowledge of it was slim (little did I know). As time has gone on my appreciation for design has stretched beyond what I ever imagined. Having an understanding of textiles, fabrics, or fiber contents. These are things I never truly thought of until later on in the process. Understanding stitching and the different techniques, this is real design and the more I learn, the more I understand the way these details leave lasting impressions on consumers. Understanding how to make garments from scratch is something that I now understand the importance of as a designer and continue to learn. I had never sewn anything in my life at the start of this journey and now I’m able to rework and alter different patterns. It’s still a work in progress, but it speaks to my appreciation for design. I understand now more than ever how stitches and fabrics represent a brand more than anything.”
What part of the creative process are you most protective of, the sketching, sourcing, styling, or something more internal?
“I am most protective over our team. I came up with this idea over two years ago and I immediately went to my business partners, Damiri Lindo and Taj Castaneda, to get them on board with it. As a collective we have always carried an entrepreneurial spirit as educated Black men, we had just been waiting on the right opportunity. Now with a year of working on the brand behind us there’s no way we would be standing here without them. Taj Castaneda has been a hidden gem for us as he has been our head model for the brand. His ceiling is limitless and the design work becomes the easy part as he has the ability to make any garment he sports appealing while emulating the themes of our brand. Damiri Lindo brings life to Laigo, not only having modeled and featured in our YouTube ‘Learning As I Go’ series but managing all of our partnerships and brand deals. Without these two Laigo would not exist and I am forever grateful for both of them. Later on in the process we adopted a pivotal piece of the team in Daniel Armenta. He has jump started what we are known for as a collective in ways I never imagined. A young talented designer himself out of Richmond California, who helped me learn how to sew and worked on arguably our most notable designs, including one-of-one pieces. He is an integral part of our journey and he continues to shine in his own design.”
If Laigo could only speak through textures and silhouettes, no logos, no names, what would the world still understand about the brand?
“Intentionality. We are intentional with everything that we do. In my journey as a designer I have learned the importance of cuts and fabrics. Every detail is thought through. Our brand is about progress, movement, and presence. The silhouettes represent the evolution of our respective journeys and no matter where you come from, it should feel familiar. It is an embodiment of where you’ve been, where you’re going, and who you are becoming. We don’t chase trends, we sculpt them from our experience and that is what I want people to understand about our intentionality in the silhouettes and textures.”
Models in LAIGO jacket released in the Friends & Family collection.
Eye & Direction of the Beholder
When you think about who you were when Laigo first began, what part of that version of yourself are you most proud of holding onto?
“My ability to see the sky as limitless is what sets me—and Laigo—apart. From day one, I’ve believed there are no ceilings to what this brand can become. The vision has always been bigger than fashion; it’s a movement built on purpose, resilience, and belief. I’ve never stopped trusting that there’s power in my story. That drive to create something meaningful, something that speaks to people on a deeper level, has never left me—and it never will.
What separates Laigo is that it’s born from real struggle, real growth, and an unshakable mindset. I don’t just wear the phrase Learning As I Go—I live it. Through every setback, every pivot, every quiet moment of doubt, I’ve held on to the vision. This brand is a reflection of what it means to keep evolving, to lead with intention, and to turn pain into purpose. And I know, without a doubt, that the world will feel that.”
Outside of the clothes and collections, when your name is mentioned years from now, what do you hope people say about you and the mark you left?
“When it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as a man of integrity—a good human being who led with love, embraced others as they were, and treated everyone with respect. Not perfect, but always in pursuit of it. I took the one life I was given and reached for the moon, holding nothing back.
Through Laigo, I’ve shared what I believe is right: that life is worth living. That growth is ongoing. That learning is ever present. Learning As I Go isn’t just a brand—it’s a message rooted in truth. Every day that God gives me breath is another chance to learn from my flaws, evolve from my failures, and walk with more intention than I did the day before. That’s the journey. That’s the legacy I’m building.”
In a moment of motion and stillness, the LAIGO hoodie is raw-edged and expressive with intentional frays.
Legacy & Impact
How do you distinguish between designing for the moment vs. designing for legacy?
“I feel as if designing in the moment is to design for a legacy. It is a continuum of work that builds a legacy. Not what is worldly in that moment, yet what is meaningful design for such a designer. It’s about being present with purpose—tapping into the truth of what you’re feeling, seeing, and experiencing—and translating that into something real. When you create from that place, the work naturally carries weight beyond the moment. Legacy isn’t made later—it’s shaped now, through every meaningful choice and every honest design.”
When people look back at this chapter of your work 10 years from now, what do you hope they’ll say about how Laigo showed up in this era?
“A vision that was at the start of its journey. Something raw, hungry, and unapologetically honest. I hope they see a young brand rooted in something real—more than just clothing, more than a trend. This was the beginning of something bigger, built off belief when there wasn’t a blueprint. Laigo showed up with heart, with purpose, with a message that life is worth living and learning as you go is powerful. Even in the early stages, the intention was clear. We were planting seeds that were always meant to grow.”
Branden Owens
In this story: Photographer, Tamara Tsehai Tesfai.
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