Beloved Venice, California-based designer, Chris “Spanto” Printup, co-founder of the streetwear brand BornxRaised, has reportedly died. While further details of Spantos’ death have not yet been publicly announced, some sources are reporting it was from a fatal car accident.
Spanto and his creative partner, Alex “2Tone” Erdmann, launched the iconic Venice-based streetwear brand, Born x Raised in 2013. The brand’s aesthetic is representative of Venice culture, the founders’ home turf, and became a mainstay in streetwear fashion.
Soon after launching BornxRaised, Spanto was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But after 5 years of undergoing chemotherapy, he announced that he was cancer-free in 2018. He also recently announced the launch of his latest collaboration with Levi’s in honor of his father, Butch, who died earlier this year.
Spanto, who is of Indigenous heritage– half Apache, half Seneca– was profiled by Remezcla in 2020. At that time he said, “Everything we do at BXR stands for something or it means something, it’s not just a trend. There’s something we’re trying to say with every drop.” And he made sure to emphasize that BornxRaised is about the people. “… that’s kind of been our ethos since our inception so I’ve always tried to help and house people, keep them under the umbrella and keep everybody fed and create an ecosystem.”
Friends, collaborators, and fans have started paying tribute across social media to honor Spanto’s lasting impact.
Photographer Sam Mueller, who previously worked with Spanto said, “Your passion and energy was infectious, I’ll cherish the memories I have with you driving around LA looking for spots to photograph. Rest in peace bro, love you. LA lost a titan🕊️💔”
Artist Jay Worthy posted his own tribute on Instagram as well, saying, “IM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS BIG BRO IMA MISS THE CALLS THE MOTIVATIONAL TALKS AND JUST HANGIN OUT TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA FR HOMIE WE GOT ANOTHER ANGEL IN THE SKY FLY HIGH SPANTO I LOVE U BRO IM OUT 🕊️”
Photographer Atiba Jefferson paid tribute to Spanto on Instagram and said, “You will always be with us my heart goes out to family and friends. I love you and will see you again 🫶🏾”
Matty Matheson, Ben Baller, Dead City Punx, and more also paid tribute to Spanto.
May Spanto rest in power.