Built to Last: How Gregory DeAnda Is Redefining American Workwear Through MANNISH

Fashion has always been about more than clothing for Gregory DeAnda. For the founder and creative director of MANNISH, every stitch, fabric choice, and silhouette carries a story, one rooted in family, immigration, craftsmanship, and the people whose work often goes unseen.

By Angel Neal | Disrupshion Magazine

Photography Courtesy of MANNISH

His debut collection, artists+immigrants, doesn't chase trends or fleeting moments. Instead, it honors the laborers, artists, immigrants, and tradespeople whose resilience quietly helped shape America. It's workwear through a contemporary lens, designed not simply to be worn, but to be lived in. For DeAnda, that intention was never negotiable.

"I knew that I had something to say," he tells Disrupshion Magazine. "I struggled for a long time trying to find my voice. I didn't want to chase trends. I wanted to create something timeless. That requires patience and a lot of due diligence."

That patience has become the foundation of MANNISH. Long before sketchbooks and pattern makers entered the picture, Gregory's understanding of fashion was formed inside thrift stores. Raised by missionary parents who helped immigrant families establish new lives in America, he watched clothing become more than personal style,it became protection, dignity, and opportunity. "We had one shot at finding people a good jacket for winter," he recalls. "We had to find clothes that could protect them because they didn't have many resources."

Those early experiences continue to influence every decision he makes as a designer.

His appreciation for quality is equally personal. Gregory credits much of his curiosity to his stepfather, a championship belt buckle designer for the PBR circuit.

"One of the greatest gifts he gave me was curiosity," Gregory says. "Always be listening. Always be paying attention. There's a game all around you if you're willing to learn."

Today, that curiosity comes through travel, conversations, and observing different cultures, elements that quietly shape the DNA of every MANNISH collection. Named after Mannish Boy, the brand carries a message of confidence and self-belief. Gregory was deeply moved by the song's lyrics, particularly the affirmation spoken by Muddy Waters' mother.

"My mom poured that same confidence into me growing up," he says. "That gave me a different kind of confidence moving through this world." That same spirit fuels MANNISH, not loud bravado, but quiet conviction. It's also why Gregory believes clothing should outlive trends.

"When I'm creating something, I'm asking myself, 'Can this be passed down?'" he explains. "That's another way of passing down tradition, stories, and culture." Rather than designing disposable fashion, he envisions garments becoming heirlooms, pieces that absorb memories before beginning new ones with someone else.

While luxury fashion often celebrates glamour, MANNISH celebrates those working behind the scenes. Cowboys. Artists. Immigrants. Tradespeople. Workers whose stories rarely occupy the center of fashion campaigns.

"Those are the people keeping this country alive," Gregory says. "If an article or a piece of clothing can help shift that narrative, then that's my responsibility."

That philosophy extends beyond the runway. Gregory hopes to collaborate directly with immigrant-owned businesses throughout Los Angeles, photographing street vendors and local entrepreneurs while using MANNISH as a platform to amplify their work.

For him, fashion isn't just commerce. It's a community.

Before launching MANNISH, Gregory worked as a model, creative, bartender, dishwasher, and in the oil fields. Each experience taught him something about leadership.

"If you're going to be creative, it's valuable to be a Swiss Army knife," he says. "No job on set is too small. You have to understand everyone's role because creating is always a team effort." That collaborative mindset has already helped the young label gain attention from artists including Bipolar Sunshine and Princeton Perez. Seeing musicians create while wearing MANNISH remains one of Gregory's greatest rewards."MANNISH is armor for artists," he says. "Seeing someone create magic while wearing my clothes, that's the chef's kiss moment."

For Gregory, disruption isn't about making noise. It's about trusting your own voice.

"Following that voice inside your heart, that's disruption," he says. "We need new perspectives because if we keep the status quo, everything becomes stale." Today, social media often rewards imitation over originality, Gregory believes creativity should challenge people to think differently. Art should invite conversation. Fashion should preserve history.

Design should have depth. Perhaps the most powerful moment in our conversation came when Gregory reflected on his own journey. Like many entrepreneurs, he questioned whether pursuing his dream was practical. After years of working ordinary jobs, he realized something profound."Wherever you're starting, just start," he says. "There's no perfect timing. There's no cavalry coming, you are the cavalry. On the other side of hard is everything you want." For Gregory DeAnda, MANNISH isn't simply a clothing brand.

It's proof that purpose can be stitched into every seam.That heritage can become modern.

And that the most meaningful fashion isn't just built to wear, it's built to last. Stay up to date with all things Gregory and Mannish @mannishboyco .