Meet Justin Capili | Creative Director & Multimedia Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Capili and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Being raised as a first-generation Filipino immigrant, I felt like I had to go to college and get some traditional job that would make a lot of money and make my parents proud. My relatives would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I went from answers like an artist or an astronaut to an RN or anesthesiologist. I think it stemmed from knowing that they had to give up so much just to give me and my brothers the opportunities that they didn’t have. It felt like I needed to make their sacrifice worth it and the easiest answer would be to get a job in medicine.

I learned in college that this wasn’t the path I wanted for myself. I switched my major from nursing to marketing and then finally to Visual Communications. I only picked it because there was a class that taught me how to shoot and edit videos. Because at the time one of my main hobbies was making YouTube videos. After a few classes, I started to think about why I liked making videos. I couldn’t give a definitive answer at the time but I just knew that I loved to create. From there it just activated this part of me that felt like it was locked away. I started trying everything I could to create. I ended up really liking graphic design, producing videos, and digital art.

I think something about being a creative just bleeds into every part of your life. I used to not care about how I dressed as long as I didn’t look ridiculous, but I started to gain an interest in fashion when I thought about all the cool characters I liked and what made them unique. Any time I gain an interest in something I would always at least try to be able to do that thing or make it myself.

TLDR; I think the main reason I pursued a creative career was the joy and fulfillment that comes with creating. At first, I thought it was just making videos, but when I tried other forms of media it was the same feeling. Learning how to do one thing would open me up to the possibility of being able to learn another. Being able to create just makes anything feel possible.

All the effort into turning your vision into a finished project is an indescribable feeling of satisfaction that is only rivaled by knowing whatever you made had affected somebody’s life and made them think or feel something (or in this case designing something cool enough for people to want to wear).

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ghostn is a brand that draws its name from the concept of “ghosting,” but with a unique twist—it represents the need to isolate for mental health, much like an introvert needing to recharge. The name also reflects the brand’s dark, horror-inspired visuals.

What sets Ghostn apart is its distinctive blend of streetwear aesthetics, techwear utility, and dark, haunting visuals. Since starting the brand, I’ve grown immensely, moving from just sketching designs to sewing prototypes, creating tech packs, and efficiently managing the business. I’m particularly proud of my first produced design, the Compliance Jacket, inspired by a character from Rainbow Six Siege. This piece, along with others in the Frame of Mind collection, symbolizes different mental states and the resilience needed to navigate tough times. For example, the Die Trying Sweater encourages perseverance through an edgier saying, the FFW Cargos represent the idea of moving forward step by step, and the Compliance Jacket symbolizes those moments when you have to accept a situation as it is and push through to get by.

Launching Ghostn wasn’t easy, especially starting in Guam where I faced numerous challenges, from financial constraints to logistical hurdles. I used all my savings to fund the brand and had to teach myself the business and legal aspects, all while contending with the limitations of being in Guam. Accessing essential resources, like a card reader for pop-ups, was difficult due to Guam’s location, even though it’s a U.S. territory. It was unfortunate that I also had to deal with some local businesses stealing my designs because most of the people I met who had small businesses were very supportive of each other. Despite these obstacles, I’m excited for the future and eager to bring more of my designs to life as the brand grows.

Throughout the years I learned a lot but the most important lessons came from the biggest challenges. I learned about the importance of planning. I learned to just go for it despite all the reasons not to. I learned that if I wanted to eventually do more for people with my brand I’d have to start with fostering a community. The most important lesson I learned was to aim high while staying grounded. For example, I continue to work on Ghostn whenever I can with the goal of eventually making it my full time job, but I won’t quit my day job til then.

One interesting aspect of Ghostn’s story is that I never set out to make it about Guam, unlike many other brands from back home. My focus was simply on creating cool designs and growing the business. That said, I’m proud to have started in Guam, and if Ghostn succeeds, it would perfectly reflect the brand’s ethos—just like Guam, which is still relatively unknown, it would be like discovering a hidden treasure in the dark.

Ghostn is for people who aren’t afraid to be themselves. We believe in the freedom to choose your path, whether through the places you go or the clothes you wear, and that these choices should reflect who you truly are. Our brand stands for the courage to not only tell the world who you are but to show them. We reject complacency, embracing growth and the belief that life only stops when you do. We want to be part of your journey of self-discovery, especially during the moments when solitude is essential. Being authentic means knowing when to be bold, when to stay behind the scenes, and never being afraid to grow—even if it means doing it alone.

Ghostn will grow as I grow as a creative. I plan to use my resources to support mental health initiatives and uplift the AAPI community. While Ghostn represents the idea of disappearing, it’s also about making an appearance and an impact. I’ll keep working behind the scenes until I’m ready to step into the light with something extraordinary to share with the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first place I take anyone who comes to visit is always Meow Wolf. I love that place. It’s like walking through a simulated acid trip. I’d also take them on a walk through RiNo to see all the cool street art and small businesses. Then while we’re there we would stop and get coffee at Hearth followed by a sandwich at Little Bodega. The owner of Little Bodega is my friend Natasha and she’s awesome. The store itself has a cool retro look that would be a great place to take some photos. I would take them to all the normal tourist spots for a bit like 16th Street when the construction is done, Larimer Street, Union Station. After that I would go to Broadway and get another drink at my favorite cafe, Ti Cafe. They’re an AAPI-owned small business that is one of the only places I know that have a bunch of Southeast Asian drinks that I love. I would try to squeeze in time for the Museum of Nature and Science and the Botanical Gardens. I would also add the Denver Art Museum to the list. I love going to Museums because you can tell a lot about a person by their favorite pieces of art or exhibits. If any concerts were going on for an artist we both enjoy I’d definitely end the itinerary with that.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First I want to shoutout my girlfriend Raechelle. She was the one who really helped me take the leap to start Ghostn. If it wasn’t for her Ghostn wouldn’t be what it is today because it was going to be low-quality print-on-demand products until she talked some sense into me. No shade to print-on-demand, I’m just speaking on the standards that were going to be set for the brand. She’s helped in more ways than I can mention and I’ll always be grateful.

I want to thank my mom for sharing her experiences with me in running a small business, my oldest brother Paul for giving me feedback to help me grow as a creative, my older brother Brian for really seeing my vision, and my dad for always trying to support me financially.

I want to give a shoutout to my best friends Jerico and Nicole for supporting me even though they’re so far and we hardly get to talk.

I want to thank a friend group I called the “Small Bosses”. I came up with that name because we all ran our own small businesses. I want to thank them for being my first and loudest supporters and I’m grateful that we were all able to uplift each other and have people who understand the struggles of being a small business owner.

Last but not least, I want to thank every single ghost who has supported with anything from a purchase to a follow on our pages. Ghostn wouldn’t be here without all of the people I mentioned. I’m forever grateful to them all.

Website: https://ghostn.co/

Instagram: @ghostn.co

Youtube: GhostnClothing

Other: @ghostn.co – TikTok
https://www.adjustn.net/ – portfolio
@adjustn – Creative IG