Milo's Design Philosophy
What is the first step for you when it comes to building out a new design?
The first step for me usually starts with a conversation — most of the time with my mom or dad. I like to pick their brains and get a different perspective on ideas or concepts than my own. It doesn’t always have to be them, but they’re usually around when I’m working at home, so it just happens that way. After that, I start moodboarding ideas around whatever the topic or concept is. I’ll combine those visuals with the ideas I already had in mind. Then, if needed, I’ll sketch something out — though recently I’ve been working more digitally and less physically.
Has it been difficult for you to start designing clothing, coming from a background in graphic design?
Definitely. I still consider myself a graphic designer at heart. It’s been a fun challenge to start putting together garments and creating more than just a logo on a shirt. It’s still very new for me. Like in any class or learning period, showing up every day and doing the work can be tough — I’ve always been good at that part, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
As much as I would love to just focus on design, there’s something beautiful about learning a new skill and making sure all the details of the garments, from the fit, stitching, and details, are right, knowing it all stems from my design.
I honestly don’t think I have ever designed clothing this way before. I’ve printed my art on shirts, sure, but now I’m creating full tech packs and designing hats, thermals, hoodies, and socks — learning about materials, construction, and pattern making. It’s all new to me, but I’m lucky to have a partner who handles a lot of the manufacturing and can make the struggle a bit more manageable. So I’d say yes, at the end of the day, 100% it's difficult, but I have full creative freedom, so I can't complain.
In what ways do your own roots and influences shape the way that you create?
My roots — my family, my upbringing, the things I did as a kid, both good and bad — all shape how I create. I’ve spent time around some incredibly talented creatives, but they sometimes lack the drive or consistency to keep pushing when the inspiration isn’t there. Seeing such talented people not be able to use those skills to make a living at a young age definetly sparked something in me.
I think it created a certain drive and hunger to really find ways to make these passions my work. So yeah, I feel like a lot of that does come from how I was raised, and the people I would witness around me.
Does working on a time crunch help or hinder your own process when it comes to creating?
I think Clark added this question for a reason — he thrives under pressure. For me, it’s kind of the opposite. My process works best with time and thought. I like being able to step back and see how everything connects — the clothing, the video, the event, the social posts — and how all the different elements of an idea sync up together. That’s my favorite thing to figure out.
I’ve definitely got an OCD, perfectionist side, so having time to think through those details allows me to produce my best creative work. That said, I can work well under pressure — it’s just incredibly stressful. My goal in life is to avoid stress as much as possible. So yeah, I can get it done on a time crunch, and sometimes great things happen that way, but I’d always prefer having the time to build something thoughtfully.
What can we expect from the upcoming "Remember Your Roots" collection?
With this one we really want to bring people back to their roots... Why do you create the way you do? Why are you building what you’re building? Why did you ever start running in the first place?
Clark and I both have roots in Sacramento, and although we’re in San Diego and San Francisco now, going back home is always a reset — a chance to slow down and really listen to ourselves. That’s what we want this collection to represent. It’s for the people who’ve drifted away from their roots and for those who still live deeply connected to them.
We’re dropping a thermal, a hat, shorts, a cotton T-shirt, and a long-sleeve workout shirt. The collection plays with the idea of nature — things like frogs, leaves, trees, and the color green itself as a symbol of growth. Stride is all about motion, and this drop embodies that — growth, movement, becoming. It’s about remembering who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming. This one means a lot to both of us, and I think it’ll really resonate with people. (More on this soon)
PS - I know I'm not looking too stoked in this, but its a fun one of us from back in the day.