Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Dennis & Max Wald.
Brandon & Max, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Three years ago, Maison North was born out of a shared vision between two childhood friends. A vision that athletes, musicians, and creatives around the world deserved more than cookie-cutter merch—they deserved garments with soul. Pieces that didn’t just wear well, but reflected their personal brand.
At the time, I [Max] had just graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, fully immersed in the world of menswear design. Brandon, the other half of Maison North, was studying Studio Arts and Social Entrepreneurship at Rollins College in Florida, bringing a rare mix of creative instinct and business acumen. To this day, all operations are still handled by just the two of us.
We set out to create something rare: a brand that could serve athletes and creatives alike with studio-grade quality, end-to-end craftsmanship, and sharp creative direction. But early on, overseas manufacturers proved unreliable, and we decided to take matters into our own hands.
So, we evolved. We rolled up our sleeves—literally—and taught ourselves every part of the process: screen printing, embroidery, web design, marketing, logistics. What began as a workaround became our standard for high quality brand-building. And what was once just a brand concept began to take on its own heartbeat.
The breakthrough came with the launch of our first capsule collection, Crybaby—a 30 piece capsule collection of 1-of-1 t-shirts. Around the same time, we connected with Alabama rap phenom YhapoJJ. The energy clicked. What followed was a streak of successful merch drops that blurred the lines between streetwear and sonic storytelling.
That relationship marked a turning point in our evolution. We soon found ourselves collaborating with rising voices in the rap scene like Jay Critch, Jace!, and Fufu—designing full merch lines and developing creative brand direction. From SSwordlyfe with YhapoJJ to Topkid for Jace!, we finally proved the concept we started with: that a fully functioning, culturally relevant brand could be built from the ground up—effectively and creatively—by just the two of us.
But as our creative arsenal expanded and our experience sharpened, a new vision emerged—one that felt even closer to home. Maison North would no longer just be a vessel for others’ brands. It would become the brand. So, alongside our brand building services, we’ve developed our own artisanal line of clothing. A full-circle return to our roots.
To this day, everything is still done in-house at our Orlando atelier—from sketch to stitch, dye bath to delivery. Maison North is now a living reflection of who we are: rebellious yet refined, historical yet ahead of its time. Built by hand, made with purpose, and driven by two creatives who refused to wait for permission.
This is Maison North. Three years in—and just getting started.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road has never been smooth. Every inch of progress, we earned—one t-shirt, one mistake, one breakthrough at a time. We knew from the beginning this journey wouldn’t be easy, and that’s exactly what made the wins feel so meaningful.
When we started Maison North, we didn’t have the blueprint. No mentors. No funding. No experience in screen printing, no clue how to build a collection from scratch, no Rolodex of clients. Just two sets of hands, a shared vision, and a hunger to create something real. We started from zero.
Everything we’ve created to this point has been with those same four hands. There were more than a few moments we considered giving up, but day after day, we showed up. We failed, adjusted, learned, and tried again. We figured it out by doing. We fell in love with the process of making progress and learned to stop fearing failure and instead started embracing it.
And maybe the biggest lesson we’ve learned is this: why not us? If we don’t believe we can make this thing work, then no one else will.
This journey has shaped us as much as we’ve shaped the brand. Maison North isn’t just a business we run—it’s how we see the world now. It’s how we express ourselves. The brand and the art have become inseparable from who we are.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Maison North, every garment begins and ends with our hands. We specialize in producing one-of-one pieces—everything from jeans to jackets, hoodies to tees—crafted entirely in-house at our Orlando studio. We’re not just designers; we’re patternmakers, printers, dyers, and storytellers. Every stage of the process, from the first sketch to the final stitch, is handled by us.
In a world that’s been overrun by fast fashion, we’ve taken the exact opposite route. We’ve spent well over 30 hours on individual garments. There’s no overseas manufacturer, no faceless production chain. What sets us apart is exactly that: we make everything ourselves. We cut the fabric, distress the denim, mix the dyes, print the tees, photograph the pieces, and market the brand. Each item is a physical extension of our creativity and conviction.
In addition to our own collections, we’ve also carved a space in the world of merch—partnering with artists, creators, and small businesses to bring their visions to life. Whether it’s producing quality merchandise at accessible prices or helping build entire brand identities, we approach every project with the same attention to detail and passion for storytelling.
What we’re most proud of, though, are the moments behind the scenes: screen printing our very first t-shirt, flying to LA to run our first merch booth at a concert, or making the leap to focus full-time on our namesake label. These moments aren’t just milestones—they’re reminders of how far we’ve come with nothing but persistence and a constant hunger to learn.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Brandon:
My favorite childhood memory is going to the Florida beaches with my family during the summers. I always love being outside and feeling the sun on my face and the cool ocean water on my skin. It’s the perfect day for me. The best memories I have are with the ones I love. And my family and I would spend all day on the beach enjoying nature and the fresh air. It’s just really nice moments I always look back on.
Max:
My favorite childhood memory has to be playing sports with my friends. Whether it was flag football, basketball, soccer, or some other game we had invented – it was those moments running wild in the Florida heat with my closest friends that have stuck with me all these years.
Pricing:
- Free Merch/Brand Development Consultation to Receive a Quote
- Custom 1 of 1 pieces range from $200-500 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maisonnorth.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maisonnorthofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maisonnorth/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maisonnorthofficial?lang=en
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/gvilty_/
https://www.instagram.com/raphsphotos/
