17-year-old fashion designer Langston Howard attributes his creative spirit to the city of Detroit and his entrepreneurial family background. Howard embraced this path early on, beginning in elementary school by creating and selling paintings to classmates and relatives.
His initial fascination with art was also the beginning of his transition into fashion.
“Fashion came into the picture probably when I was about 12,” he told AfroTech. “I started brainstorming my first brand. I remember that my first ever sketch was this denim jacket that had a lion embroidered on the back. And I think it was ’cause I liked LeBron at the time and that was just what I was going for.”
At age 13, Howard joined the Fashion Industry Club, which led him to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit’s Highland Park Club. There, he gained foundational knowledge in sewing, design, and the business aspects of fashion.
This education was the catalyst for his first brand, The Top By LRH, an athletic and leisurewear line focused on promoting mental, physical, and financial well-being.
“It was pretty much the platform where I was able to push positive messages out. So I had garments that just made the buyer and the wearer feel confident about themselves and feel like they could take over the world,” he recounted.
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At just 14, Howard gained his first significant industry experience through a fashion mentorship program. This program was a collaboration between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) in Detroit and the retailer Maison Black, as reported by WXYZ.
During the program, Howard and four other teenage boys were mentored by Marcus Thomas, founder of the footwear brand Marcus Alexander. The program helped Howard to present a look at the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey Show during New York Fashion Week in 2023. This event, where he designed and showed multiple garments, was his first time not only attending a major show but also designing for one, he told AfroTech.
He explained, “That was the opportunity the [Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit] provided. And since then, every year they keep giving me more and more opportunities that allow me to learn, grow, and just for me to get myself out there.”
Howard restructured his previous clothing line in 2025, relaunching it as LRH Made to focus on high-end streetwear. The brand’s debut collection, titled Ivory, is scheduled for spring 2026. Howard told the outlet that the collection is a tribute to his late great-grandfather and Uncle Ivory. Additionally, he is collaborating with Pacsun on a collection called Built for Change, which will feature positive affirmations and is set to be released next fall.
“I’m super heavy on [positivity] because at a young age I really struggled with my confidence,” he noted. “Like I’m short and I’ve always been insecure about it. … It was about improving my mindset in general, so I started a brand where not only I could help myself, but I could also help others.”
Howard shared that he aims to build a brand that is seen in the same light as Supreme. His progress in fashion will continue to be bolstered by the new 15,000-square-foot Boys and Girls Club located inside Michigan Central Station in Detroit, according to a news release.
Usher and Big Sean are supporting this project through the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, which they launched inside the new club.
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The launch was made possible by a total investment of $1 million from both Usher’s New Look and Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation.
“One of the best investments I’ve truly ever made is in the future of Detroit. I believe in these kids. I believe in the opportunities they have,” Big Sean said in a press conference during the grand opening on February 3.
“I’m really looking forward to the future here at Michigan Central. This space is really amazing, and it’s an opportunity for creatives like myself,” Howard revealed. “I can get away from the creative side, and I can really focus on the business side. And this is an incubator space where I’m gonna learn how to really grow and scale a real sustainable business.”
The teen was recently featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and awarded a $10,000 check from the American clothing brand PacSun, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
During Black History Month, Michael Strahan interviewed Howard for “Generation Rising,” a series featuring inspiring young changemakers. Howard discussed his brand, telling Strahan it represents the ultimate goal of success—”mentally, physically, or financially.”
Howard displayed his designs to Strahan, including a red zip-up hoodie with a patch that said: “The PURSUIT Strive to achieve success in all aspects of your life. Achieve mental, physical, and financial success”. He also made a custom hoodie for Strahan with “IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN” on the back, explaining, “I did this because it really resonated with me as a person.”
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