Braedy Luxenburg is channeling childhood nostalgia and youthfulness for his Fall/Winter 2025 collection, “Le Joi Est.”
The 30-piece collection was inspired by what the New York-based designer describes as the “bittersweet transition from childhood’s boundless wonder to adulthood’s relentless monotony.”
“The phrase ‘le joi est’ (‘joy is’) reflects a haunting question: What happens when joy is siphoned out of life in favor of stability and financial gain,” Luxenburg told SJ Denim. “This collection confronts the societal pull toward uniformity and mediocrity, embracing the unapologetic curiosity and playfulness of youth.”
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The designer’s go-to medieval-inspired silhouettes are found throughout the collection, deconstructed and reimagined with “rebellious flair,” according to Luxenburg, blending structured tailoring with non-traditional oversized proportions, vibrant purple and red hues and intricately crafted details.
One standout piece is the Mud jean. Crafted from 100 percent cotton, the brown oversize jeans feature the up-and-coming designer’s signature stitching—which resembles a castle—along the side seams. “I see the Mud jean as a very emotional piece,” Luxenburg said. “It’s rare to find a wash or cut this distinctive that doesn’t demand the spotlight. That’s what makes this piece different. It’s bold without being loud. Quietly commanding. A kind of understated beauty.”
The collection retails for $188 to $380
“Something we think about often at Luxenburg is the emotional memory of clothing. It’s fascinating how simply seeing a garment—its shape, texture or even a stain—can instantly transport you to a specific moment in your life,” Luxenburg said. “We try to design with that in mind. Not just making clothes that look good, but pieces that feel like they’re tied to something deeper. A memory waiting to happen. Something you might pull from your closet years later and immediately recall a season of your life, a city you were in, who you were becoming at the time. In that way, clothing becomes more than a shell. It becomes a marker of time. A keepsake…its own artifact.”
Luxenburg, who attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, first made his debut in 2023 with a Spring/Summer 2024 collection inspired by the Middle Ages, featuring pieces adorned with knight and flag motifs.
He carried this theme into later collections, incorporating castle imagery, chains and leather details to further develop his medieval narrative.
“Everything I create stems from the origin of my last name, Luxenburg—also known as Luxenburger—meaning a person hailing from Luxembourg, on the edge of Germany,” he said. “So, I took inspiration from my last name and ran with it because I’ve always been fascinated by medieval history. I wanted to incorporate medieval motifs, imagery and history into my brand and collections, [but] with a modern-day sensibility.”
Side chat with Braedy Luxenburg
What challenges do you face when designing with denim?
Braedy Luxenburg: There is so much competition in the denim space that you must move with the utmost intention in crafting pieces with strong story and inspiration. Otherwise, how else can you differentiate from others?
Are there any sustainable or experimental techniques you used in this collection that you’re especially proud of?
BL: Our strongest standpoint on sustainability is simple: Reduce unnecessary creation and ensure that our garments can eventually return to the earth. As with every season, we committed to producing almost exclusively with natural fibers. No synthetics, no blends that linger in landfills.
How do you approach the design process when working with denim compared to other fabrics?
BL: It depends. We have some brand signifiers present in most of our denim, especially the ones meant to be available commercially. These are seen in our pocket cutout details as well as the crossing outseam. I’ll often start with those in mind and fit them to the specific silhouette or cut that I am feeling at the moment.
Why does denim remain a staple in all your collections?
BL: Given our direction of creating medieval wear for the modern day, I feel that denim is an embodiment of this. Granted, denim was created in the late 17th century, but the people of for example the 1400s would have loved and embraced this fabric for its natural origins and utility use cases. It is something built to last and can be passed down for generations. This is why we like to make a lot of our garments robust and all-natural; we’re not a fan of the new-age synthetics.
