The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word BADGED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
B
A
D
G
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Branded" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case branded = badged.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BADGED mean?
BADGED verb- To mark or distinguish with a badge.
- To show a badge to.
- To enter a restricted area by showing one's badge.