For Gregory DeAnda, fashion is not simply about garments. It is about legacy, movement, and meaning stitched into every seam. As the founder and creative director of MANNISH, DeAnda introduces his debut unisex collection, artists+immigrants, a body of work that reads as both personal memoir and cultural tribute.
Rooted in his journey through the Pacific Northwest, London, and Cape Town, the collection carries the weight of lived experience. It is also shaped by early influences that would quietly define his creative lens. His stepfather’s work as a championship buckle designer for the PBR Circuit exposed him to a level of craftsmanship where precision was non negotiable. At the same time, his parents’ missionary work supporting immigrants offered a different kind of education, one grounded in resilience, resourcefulness, and the idea that style is not dictated by wealth, but by intention.
Influenced by blues music and named after Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy,” the brand was born as DeAnda and his family established roots on Orcas Island. From its inception, MANNISH has stood at the intersection of culture, history, and self expression.
In conversation with FEMI Magazine, DeAnda shares the story behind artists+immigrants and the philosophy that continues to guide his work.
Your debut collection artists+immigrants draws deeply from your personal journey across Seattle, London, and Cape Town. How did each of these places shape the creative direction of this collection?
Artists+immigrants was inspired by the weather in the Pacific Northwest and London. The cuts and colors used were inspired by Cape Town, a lot of earth tones and blues are in the collection as well. Each of these places hold a special place in my heart and contributed to why I curated the collection the way I did.
MANNISH is rooted in storytelling and lived experience. What core message did you want artists+immigrants to communicate to those who wear it?
The core message is that it doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is how far you want to go in your life. Building this collection started a long time ago for me. artists+immigrants is a love letter to those who left their homes to build another life in a foreign land and the amount of sheer determination one must have to overcome all of those fears has to be praised and celebrated.
The collection is inspired by the spirit of the cowboy and the need for durability and function. How did you translate that rugged practicality into a modern, fashion forward aesthetic?
Being able to work with the right people, and choosing the right pattern maker wasn’t easy. The pattern maker I work with was already on the same page as me when it came to the level of quality I wanted and the vision I had in mind. Being able to tie that together was instrumental in creating the collection. Durability and functionality will always be a part of the MANNISH DNA. There’s no higher compliment than for me to know that you can feel and wear these clothes and understand the quality and craftsmanship that went into them.
Your stepfather’s work as a championship buckle designer for the PBR Circuit is a unique influence. In what ways did that legacy show up in your design details or creative process?
My father was able to nurture my eye growing up, so being around that level of creative excellence and being able to see it up close molded how I approach things creatively. What he does is a dying art and to experience it was a true honor. To understand the mentality you have to have to work where there is no margin of error is the same way that I approach MANNISH. That’s what has propelled me and the brand forward. That mindset was passed down to me so it’s not something that weighs on me, but rather is something that motivates me.
Growing up around your parents’ missionary work and helping immigrants find essentials through thrift shopping exposed you to style in a different way. How did those early experiences shape your perspective on fashion and accessibility?
The first lesson I learned is that fashion belongs to the people. You don’t need to have a lot of money to be fashionable. I find that people with less money tend to be stylish people. Helping those immigrants was a great introduction to understanding fabrics and quality because in Montana where I grew up, the weather is so harsh and you need clothing that can withstand the elements. A lot of importance was placed on finding quality items because they didn’t have the finances to spend in case an item didn’t work out. Making those decisions was important and the margin for error was very thin. At a young age, I had to understand that and build around that. Those small lessons I learned from that experience were the building blocks that MANNISH is founded on now.
The name MANNISH is inspired by Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy.” How does blues culture and music continue to influence your brand’s identity and creative expression?
To me, blues music is our ancestors passing our culture down to us. I understand that I am my ancestors’ wildest dream. I feel a compulsion to pay homage to them and their sacrifices and what they went through. Blues music is them explaining what life was like then, and the heartbreaks they dealt with. That rich tapestry of information and culture continues to provide inspiration to me.
As a unisex brand, MANNISH challenges traditional fashion boundaries. What does gender fluid design mean to you, and how do you approach creating pieces that resonate across identities?
Inclusivity means the world to me. I never want anyone to feel like they aren’t a part of the MANNISH community. Early on, I found that women were my biggest supporters and were so excited to wear something that had MANNISH on it. That type of support and the support from the LGBT community meant the world to me, so I want to always reciprocate that love. MANNISH will always support communities and causes that are based in love.
With artists+immigrants setting the tone for your debut, how do you see MANNISH evolving in future collections while staying true to its foundation of intention, durability, and storytelling?
I’m lucky to understand myself and understand MANNISH’s core values. Because of that, I feel like I can experiment without losing my identity. I want to move into the haberdashery space, making blazers and suits and slightly more elevated pieces. I’m fascinated by fragrance and creating candles and incense for the brand. I also want to continue providing artists a platform by supporting them in their individual mediums, and that can include pottery, jewelry, painting, etc. All mediums aren’t safe from MANNISH, that’s for sure.
With artists+immigrants, Gregory DeAnda does more than introduce a collection. He establishes a philosophy. One where fashion is durable in both form and meaning, where identity is fluid yet rooted, and where every thread tells a story of movement, survival, and becoming.
Photography Credit: Adam Prieto
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