The founder of the Los Angeles-based clothing line Born X Raised died from injuries sustained in a New Mexico car accident just six months after beating cancer.
Chris ‘Spanto’ Printup, 42, was involved in a wreck in Albuquerque on June 25 and died several days later, the company announced on Instagram Wednesday.
Tributes for the Southern California native immediately began pouring in to memorialize the local celebrity whose brand became synonymous with L.A.
‘The city hurt’n,’ wrote rapper YG who has more than 9.2 million Instagram followers.
‘Spanto forever,’ the Los Angeles Rams wrote in a comment on Born X Raised’s post.
The founder of Born X Raised, Chris ‘Spanto’ Printup (pictured), was involved in a wreck in Albuquerque on June 25 and died several days later, the company announced
This is the post Born X Raised shared on Instagram Wednesday morning
According to the post, Spanto died at 7.56am local time on June 28.
Details on the crash have not been made publicly available.
DailyMail.com reached out to the Albuquerque Police Department for information but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The Los Angeles- based icon leaves behind his wife Anna, their three children, his sister, three brothers, and his parents and grandparents.
The post went on to add that his death impacts ‘his family at Born X Raised, his extended native family, the city of Los Angeles that he loved and championed, and an extensive network of true friends.’
Within minutes, tributes to the streetwear-style guru began pouring in across social media platforms as Angelenos honored the man for his contributions.
‘Spanto was all about the people,’ one person wrote Tuesday on Instagram.
‘Going out of his way to help many communities. When he let us know that he was walking in solidarity for the children who have cancer, many of us joined him and walked in solidarity to raised funds,’ the user continued.
Printup and Born X Raised were heavily involved with the Ronald McDonald House. Earlier this year, the Spanto team raised more than $10,000 for the charity.
The founder also gifted pairs of the Born X Raised Nike SB Dunks to the 2023 graduating class of Venice High School, the L.A. Times reported.
‘Spanto Forever,’ the L.A. Sparks and L.A. Galaxy said in Instagram tributes.
‘Spanto is forever Los Angeles,’ wrote the L.A. Football Club.
‘My entire heart and support to the Spantos family. Our beloved city was so lucky to be his and will continue being his,’ said Yesika Starr, a social media influencer.
‘Thank you for inspiring us Spanto!! Your legacy will be felt for centuries ���� true LA the only way we like it. God bless you,’ wrote singer Dom Kennedy.
‘Spanto is forever Los Angeles,’ wrote the L.A. Football Club.
The Los Angeles- based icon (pictured) leaves behind his wife Anna, their three children, his sister, three brothers, and his parents and grandparents
Within minutes, tributes to the streetwear-style guru began pouring in across social media platforms as Angelenos honored the man for his contributions
‘Spanto was loved by all’ one person wrote on Twitter
The founder of the L.A. company was ‘loved & respected by so many people’
‘BORN X RAISED WILL NEVER DIE’ another person wrote in a tweet
Born X Raised gear for tee shirts for the National Football League
Printup launched the brand in 2013 and quickly became a hit throughout the greater Los Angeles area thanks to collaborations with the Dodgers and the Rams.
The L.A. Times reported that partnerships between Born X Raised and the sport teams would sell out in minutes.
The brand gained notoriety for highlighting ‘the real Los Angeles’ and its culture.
Spanto and Born X Raised’s work has been featured in publications like Vogue, The New York Times, and the L.A. Times.
‘I grew up in Los Angeles in the ’80s and ’90s, when the way you dressed was a very loud statement,’ Spanto told Vogue in June.
‘We wore our clothing like a suit of armor and a badge of courage. I keep and carry the same energy with me when I design my collections,’ he said.
Printup launched the brand in 2013 and quickly became a hit throughout the greater Los Angeles area thanks to collaborations with the Dodgers and the Rams
Spanto and Born X Raised’s work has been featured in publications like Vogue, The New York Times, and the L.A. Times. Pictured: A Born X Raised ad featuring baseball caps
Printup had just beat cancer in 2022, according to a social media post.
The Born X Raised found reflected on his journey with terminal cancer which started in 2013 and persisted for nearly a decade.
He said in December that he did four years of chemotherapy, lost 100 pounds, and had his hair fall out ‘numerous times’ while battling the terminal diagnosis.
‘What I’m getting at is life is hard for everyone and I want anyone to know, that if you’re feeling discouraged or like life has given you too many handicaps – ITS OKAY,’ Printup wrote. ‘You’re going to be fine things will get better.’
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