Born x Raised: A Movement Rooted in Community, Culture, and Conflict
Born x Raised isn’t just a brand—it’s a living, breathing reflection of a city, its people, and the stories that rarely make it into the spotlight. Founded in 2013 by Chris “Spanto” Printup and Alex “2Tone” Erdmann, the Los Angeles-based streetwear label stands as a raw, unfiltered tribute to local pride, authenticity, and the often-overlooked neighborhoods that shaped the city’s real identity. In a time when gentrification is rewriting the history of entire blocks, Born x Raised stepped in as a defiant reminder: we were here first.
The Origins: Culture Before Commerce
The origin of Born x Raised is deeply personal. Spanto grew up in Venice, a part of LA that has seen radical transformation due to gentrification. As new wealth and developers began erasing generations of community history, Spanto saw a need to preserve what he could—through clothing, through storytelling, through presence. With a background rooted in Indigenous and Chicano heritage, he approached fashion not as a trend but as a platform to keep culture alive. Partnering with 2Tone, a lifelong Angeleno and creative director, the two built the foundation for a brand that didn’t care about hype—it cared about honesty.
A Visual Language of Resistance
Born x Raised’s designs are immediately recognizable. Bold fonts, throwback LA iconography, gothic lettering, and poignant slogans like “Gentrification is Genocide” or “On the Turf” appear across T-shirts, hoodies, caps, and jackets. The brand’s graphics tap into a distinctly local aesthetic, drawing from Chicano culture, LA street history, lowrider life, skateboarding, and hip-hop. Every piece tells a story—sometimes rebellious, sometimes nostalgic, but always grounded in the emotional landscape of Los Angeles.
It’s not flashy or overly polished, and that’s the point. Born x Raised doesn’t cater to the fashion elite. It speaks to the person who grew up watching their neighborhood change, who saw murals replaced by condos, who remembers when street corners were sacred. The clothes become armor, memory, and message all at once.
Community at the Core
One of the most defining aspects of Born x Raised is its unwavering connection to community. The brand doesn’t just borrow from culture—it gives back to it. From pop-ups in local barbershops to collaborative food drives, toy giveaways, and even hosting events in historically significant locations like MacArthur Park, Born x Raised consistently reinvests in the people and places that shaped it.
They’ve worked with Native American organizations, supported incarcerated youth, and stood in solidarity with movements against systemic injustice. When Spanto was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away in 2023, the outpouring of grief wasn’t just for a designer—it was for a hometown hero. His loss was felt citywide, proving how deeply the brand had embedded itself into LA’s cultural fabric.
Authentic Collaborations, Not Clout
While many streetwear brands chase collaborations for viral attention, Born x Raised has always moved differently. Their partnerships are selective and meaningful—ranging from local sports teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers to national institutions like the NHL and even Nike. But no matter how big the collaborator, Born x Raised never dilutes its voice. The message stays intact.
Their Nike SB Dunk collaboration, for example, paid tribute to Spanto’s roots and the Venice community. Rather than opting for trend-driven designs, they created pieces that held emotional weight, honoring the memory of loved ones and the city’s layered history.
Even in collabs with brands like Levi’s or Converse, Born x Raised maintains creative control, ensuring that each piece aligns with their values. It’s this commitment to integrity that keeps their following loyal, even as the brand gains mainstream recognition.
LA Through and Through
Born x Raised is as much a love letter to Los Angeles as it is a critique of what it’s become. Its work documents the tension between old and new, rich and poor, native and newcomer. Every drop is steeped in references only locals might fully understand—whether it’s the significance of a color, a street name, or the typography of a certain era.
But even if you’re not from LA, the message resonates. Nearly every city has communities being pushed out, traditions being lost, and histories being rewritten. Born x Raised gives those stories a stage.
The brand also reflects LA’s intersectionality. From Chicano heritage to Native American roots, from punk rock to lowrider culture, Born x Raised captures the city’s messy, vibrant, painful beauty. It’s inclusive without being performative. It doesn’t pander—it educates. And most importantly, it honors the people who often get left behind in the fashion world.
Beyond Fashion: A Legacy in Motion
More than a brand, Born x Raised is a cultural archive, a protest, a tribute. It has become a symbol for anyone who’s ever felt the sting of erasure or the pride of staying true to their roots. Its impact goes beyond streetwear and into music, art, politics, and youth culture. You’ll see its influence in music videos, tattoo culture, and even in how people talk about the changing dynamics of their neighborhoods.
Though the loss of Spanto marked a heartbreaking chapter in the brand’s story, his spirit lives on through every collection. Born x Raised continues to evolve without losing its compass, driven by 2Tone and a team that understands the importance of carrying the torch forward—not just for the brand, but for every block, family, and voice it represents.
Final Words: A Brand That Belongs to the People
In an industry full of fleeting trends and recycled ideas, Born x Raised stands out as something real. It’s not just what people wear—it’s what they believe. It’s about pride in your neighborhood, resistance against displacement, and love for the culture that shaped you. Whether you’re walking through Venice, Boyle Heights, or anywhere else where identity is under threat, Born x Raised reminds you that your story matters—and it deserves to be worn with pride.
