Walking the corridors of Akins High School, the letters G-L-O-W have become a familiar, if somewhat mysterious, sight. Emblazoned across hoodies in stark black and white or muted beige and green, the brand operates like a uniform for the in-the-know.
To the casual observer, GLOW might just be another trend catching fire on Instagram. But to Luthor Lagoman, a Class of 2024 Akins graduate, the name is a specific call to action.
“GLOW means to me that you get to shine in your own way,” Lagoman said. “When people say ‘Happy Glow Day,’ usually it’s referring to their birthday. But why can’t you GLOW every day?”
What began as a digital storefront in January 2023 has officially crossed the threshold into the physical world. This past Black Friday, Lagoman marked a major milestone for his young brand by hosting his first in-person pop-up at Yomme Studios in East Austin.
For Lagoman, the journey from student to CEO was fueled by a desire to think about the “bigger picture.” Long before the hoodies dropped, he was experimenting with making his own hoodies and shirts, eventually teaching himself the technical side of web design to launch his online store.
Drawing inspiration from industry disruptors like Clint419, owner of the UK streetwear giant Corteiz, Lagoman focused on building exclusivity—creating a brand that people would “run for.” It worked. Seeing his classmates and now strangers wearing his designs offers a validation that grades never could.
Lagoman said he sees his brand becoming a success and growing while using the exclusive drop sales technique.
“Yeah, really, when you mix exclusivity with a significantly lower price point, people tend to buy into what you’re selling,”
Lagoman is no longer balancing homework with shipping labels. He is reinvesting every dollar back into the business to take GLOW nationwide.
