The fashion industry is built on ambition, creativity, and a whole lot of hustle—both on and off the clock. My 9-to-5 / My 5-to-9 offers a firsthand look at how FSF Scholars, Alumni, and industry veterans navigate their careers, from thriving in full-time roles to turning side projects into something more.
First up: Braedy Luxenburg, a 2022 FSF Scholar whose résumé includes some of the world’s most renowned fashion houses, from Prada and Michael Kors to Willy Chavarria. After working full-time at Madewell, he recently transitioned to a part-time, fully remote role, giving him the flexibility to focus on growing his namesake modern menswear brand.
From early-morning coffee rituals to late-night design sessions, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Braedy structures his day, builds his brand, and finds inspiration along the way.
Name: Braedy Luxenburg
Hometown: Canton, OH
Current City: New York, NY
Graduated from: Kent State University, 2022
Job Title & Company: Founder, Luxenburg
Shooting for Luxenburg’s SS25 season. Photo courtesy: Grace Gordon
Wardrobe check My daily uniform is the Luxenburg Castle Jean paired with my Red Wing Postman Derby, a fitted top, and a suit jacket. If the weather calls for it, I’ll throw on a longline trench.
Coffee—yay or nay? I’m a big coffee guy—I definitely need that boost in the morning. I used to doom-scroll fashion news a bit, but I recently downloaded an app called Unpluq which makes the process of getting into social media apps almost dehumanizing. You have to solve a puzzle every time you want to log in to curb that habit.
A typical morning My mornings typically start with catching up on emails from my Japanese showroom partners, who handle sales primarily in the Asian market. I coordinate sending samples and bulk orders, which they then distribute to retailers and boutiques that purchased the garments. After the selling season, they also use the season’s samples for PR. Once that’s handled, I map out my priorities for the day and week to keep everything on track.
My part-time role is actually outside the fashion industry—I’m training an AI system. Normally, I schedule work blocks for that at the start of each week, handling team meetings and status updates. Occasionally I fly out to Ohio, where the company is based, which is a fun change of pace.
On the Luxenburg side, it depends on where we are in the seasonal cycle. This week, for example, we just sent out all our SS25 orders to Japan, so our meetings have been focused on debriefing and optimizing processes for the next cycle. We’re always juggling three seasons at once, so reflection time is key.
Shooting for Luxenburg’s SS25 season. Photo courtesy: Sam Applebaum
Lunch break? These days, I’m always on the go—my usual lunch is a simple egg and cheese. You can’t beat a $3.50 meal.
Back to work After lunch, I continue working through my priority list from the morning. Tasks vary depending on what’s most pressing that day.
Right now, I’m incredibly excited about a magazine we’re launching alongside our SS26 collection. It’ll serve as an introduction to the Luxenburg world, mainly distributed to our stockists in Japan with a possible small rollout in NYC.
At this stage in Luxenburg’s growth, I’m usually working all day unless I have an evening commitment. If nothing urgent is on my plate, I’ll work until I’m tired and head to bed. But if there’s something pressing—like when we were sending out orders—I’ll power through with coffee and push until it’s done. During our last cycle, I was pulling 4 a.m. nights for nearly a month straight. Thankfully, my sleep schedule has recovered since!
After hours I make it a priority to spend time with my girlfriend and friends—they keep me sane amidst the chaos. It’s important to carve out that time. Working out is also a major part of my routine.
📲 Follow Braedy’s journey: @luxenburg___________ | LinkedIn
Stack of orders of Luxenburg from this current SS25 season. Photo courtesy: Braedy Luxenburg
Shooting for Luxenburg’s SS25 season. Photo courtesy: Braedy Luxenburg
