Click here to access VoyageLA's article on Piilas and Owner, Carlos Sánchez Huizar.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Sanchez Huizar.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Piilas means batteries in Spanish. However, Piilas means more than that. Ponte las Piilas–Put on the Batteries, is a phrase that carries motivation and nostalgia. This phrase has been part of the Latinx culture for some time. When you hear this phrase, most likely coming from your loved ones, you know it’s time to get your act together. That’s exactly where I was when I decided to start Piilas. I was in my second semester of my graduate program in Portland, Oregon when I knew I needed that extra energy, push, and motivation to finish.
I was away from my family, working a full-time job, managing internships and I needed something to calm my soul. I knew that I needed an extra source of income and that I wanted to build a brand. I didn’t know exactly what it was going to be called but I knew it had to honor my ancestors, my Familia, Cultura, Historia, Enseñanza–Knowledge, Struggle, Love y un Chingo de Estilo.
I remember calling my sister and telling her, “I am going to start a clothing brand” while I was writing a paper about the educational attainment for Latinxs. I initially thought Piilas was just going to be a clothing brand but as I continued to work on its development I realized that it was going to be something bigger.
I was in one of the most challenging times of my life. I wanted to give up but for some reason in the back of my had I would just hear the words from my family and myself, “ponte las Piilas”. Not only did I hear my family, but all those who came before me. And that’s when Piilas officially came into existence. It was in a moment of Struggle that I found a passion to do more for myself and my loved ones.
The trajectory for Piilas has been interesting. Piilas officially launched in December of 2019. I was excited and had been putting lots of work and energy towards Piilas while managing everything else. The launch was a success, friends, family, and even new audiences discovered a brand based on Cultura and community. Fast forward 2020, Rona19 hit and Piilas had to take a pause while I was nearly at the end of my grad program and trying to find a job to pay for my essentials. It was a difficult time but I never really stopped creating art and building ideas but the management and business side of the house remained unattended.
For nearly a year and a half, I continued to run Piilas but it was not organized or had a sense of direction. I was busy and had very little energy to put quality time into its growth. In the summer of 2022, I decided to make changes in all levels of my personal and professional life. Piilas became one of those changes. In just six months, I brought Piilas back to its rhythm, ran multiple campaigns and launches of new clothing items, participated in a couple pop-ups, and hosted my first event with the collaboration of Benny Boy’s Brewing and BKFC Professional Fighter, David “Necio” Diaz in Los Angeles.
How did I get to where I am today? I got here with Struggle, Love, and the support from my Familia and their Enseñanza(wisdom). I know Piilas is going to continue to grow because the Latinx community will continue to grow.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not. I knew it was not going to be easy. But I never knew how hard it could get. Some of the struggles have been learning how to run a business, especially when it is you and yourself. Making the right investments and decisions have been the most difficult. Sometimes things work out and other times you learn. It is those challenges that have helped me grow in different ways.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My father used to tell me that (and I now know that he was quoting Aristotle), “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” Through this lens, I have become a lifelong-learner, a student of life. I come from a family of immigrants, I am an immigrant myself and I knew that a way to help my family in the future was to invest in my learning. My parents always encouraged me to pursue an education. I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do but one thing for sure was being able to provide for my family in the future. I started by applying to college and making sure that my parents or myself did not pay any penny to get my degrees. I applied for scholarships and received a full ride as a Gates Millenium Scholar (a Scholarship founded by Bills and Melinda Gates).
Early on, I thought I wanted to do engineering or business as a career but then I fell in love with learning about my culture and being an educator. I received a BA in Hispanic/Latinx American Studies and then pursued a MA in Educational Leadership, Student Affairs. However, I then realized that working towards those degrees was just a way for me to secure my future, to create another avenue to rely on while I was building those things that really fuel me. Everything I was doing was for my family’s future but I never stopped to ask myself what I really wanted to do with my life.
Today, I am Partnerships Director at Portland Workforce Alliance, a non-profit geared in the workforce development for high school students. This milestone has been a product of my professional career as an educator. I specialize in connecting people, career development, and finding partnerships in equitable outcomes for everyone. I am known for wearing hats and bringing my Los Angeles style into the “professional” world and breaking negative stereotypes and contributing to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have worked in the biggest school district in Oregon doing organizational and systems change. I am the Treasurer for Mente, a non-profit geared to helping Latinx Males in Oregon reach a higher education. I am a Latinx that wears boots and a sombrero.
There are four things I am most proud of. One is being able to run Piilas as the next big brand. Two, the attainment of my educational degrees (because only 4% of Latinxs have a graduate degree). Three, currently running three business, Piilas, an Airbnb, and a rental property. Four, I have been boxing for nearly five years and now making my next goal to become a professional boxer in the next year.
I have a vision and I know where I want to go. I have the right team with me. I am always grateful for the “little things,” having a roof, a meal, health for myself and my loved ones. I know what really sets me apart from others is just being me. We are all different.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are multiple ways to collaborate with Piilas. I am currently working with a few models, entrepreneurs, film directors, photographers, creators, boxers, investors, educators, lawyers, and real estate professionals. I like connecting with people and connecting folks. Anyone can show some love through Piilas.com and get yourself some merchandise. I am currently working on delivering my biggest drop yet. Folks can find out more through our instagram.com/piilas or subscribe through Piilas.com