Today we’d like to introduce you to Vince Dominic Pena.
Hi Vince Dominic, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Cali Vibes short for California Vibes Clothing and Records is an independent do-it-yourself clothing brand that I founded back in December of 2012 based in Highland Park in Los Angeles, California. All designs, concept and ideas is solely done by me. It was an outlet to continue my passion towards art and music, mainly punk and reggae, two genres that made a huge impact and difference on me.
Year 1995, my freshmen year in high school was an era of band explosion. Local music by local bands nationwide was big in Tarlac, Philippines (city that was I born and grew up quarter of my life). Through the influence of friends, neighbors and schoolmates, I got into the punk underground scene. Punk became a way of life. The uniqueness, originality, creativity of it, to me was a real one. It taught me a lot of things in life, how to stand on my own and at the same time just be you. Without punk, I wouldn’t spent my afternoons and nights listening to cassette tapes, learning the history of the music and subculture, learning how to play the guitar, making patches, printing shirts via stencil, sponge and textile paint. All these I took with me when I migrated to the U.S. spring of 1997 at the age of 15.
Fast forward to 2011, despite of having a job, family, busy schedule, I found myself doing another hobby of mine since I was a kid, which is basketball. Along with my partner, Gary de Ausen who is also from Tarlac, we founded B.O.L.A. League (Basketball Of Los Angeles). Same thing, I was doing everything from contacting teams, creating schedule, website, graphic design, creating seasonal and championship shirts aside from being the commissioner. It was fun and exciting, from having eight teams to 50 teams, using one gym at one point four gyms and expanding another one in West Covina, California. We were the only amateur league at that moment doing best of three finals. After three years, nine seasons in L.A. and six seasons in West Covina it was time for me to do my next project, which is designing shirts associated with music.
May of 2013, I officially released Cali Vibes. I organized my first ever event at 72 North in Old Town Pasadena. This was the time when reggae music was taking over my DNA full time. We had local bands, The Expanders headlining the show along with Pacific Noize, Soulutionaries, The Community Band with DJ Mila and Renegades of Dub attended by friends, families and supporters. From then on, I would bug every promoter, bands, artists, dj’s, organizers if I could set up a merch table and showcase the clothing brand. I was firm and dedicated, did not matter if I sell ten shirts or none, I was at every reggae gigs in L.A. and Orange County. Eventually, with the help of Devin Morrison a.k.a. Man-Like-Devin (former lead vocals of The Expanders), we found a home at the world-famous Dub Club at the Echoplex run by two of our favorite selectors and music producers, Tom Chasteen and Boss Harmony. For the next two years every Wednesday night, Dub Club became our home base, church and school.
November 2014, instead of enrolling to school and take business management class, my wife and I decided to open up a store inside Puente Hills Mall located in City of Industry. Named after Cali Vibes’ most well-known shirt design “Support Local Reggae.” The idea was to promote the brand and at the same time promote our local reggae artists and scene. For six months, we were hosting live acoustic shows every weekend. Aside from learning on how to run a business, we were having a blast, most memorable times of the brand. Project completed, contract is up, it was time to open another chapter.
Came 2015, we were determined to hit every reggae and punk festivals that we knew. Cali Roots, Blaze & Glory, Reggae Rise Up, Arizona Roots, Kaya Fest, It’s Not Dead Fest, Musink, Sabroso Taco Festival, One Love Cali Reggae Fest, Reggae On The Mountain, San Diego Bayfest, Island Reggae Fest, Island Vibe, Mayjah Rayjah Hawaii, Dry Diggings, Socal Hoedown, OC Brew Haha Fests and the list goes on. I was also able to go back to the Philippines after 17 long years and do a three year brand tour from 2017-2019. For nine years now, Cali Vibes remain committed in helping and building a relationship with every bands, artists, dj’s, event and fest organizer we’ve network. We became a bridge in promoting music.
February of 2020, in an expand of four days, not in our immediate plan but definitely in our bucket list, we were given an opportunity to open up Cali Vibes Records located in our hometown of Highland Park. Since at the age of 11, traveling and going to every record stores I’ve known for the past 30 years has always been my thing. I’ve always wanted to work at a music place and for me to be able to run and own one definitely a dream come true. And for about two years now, despite of pandemic, we’re thankful that the shop is still here. Thankful that we’re able to help and keep our long-time screen printer in business. Thankful that we’re able to help more artists and record labels along the way. Thankful that we’re able to preserve and share the culture and music that we’ve been representing since the beginning.
To summarize Cali Vibes story, we will not be where we’re at without everyone’s presence and involvement. We’re a community brand, 100% of what we do involves the community. The shows, the festivals, the stores, our team of ambassadors here in California, Florida, Utah, Hawaii, Philippines, Jamaica, everything is done thru community. After all, that’s what punk and reggae is all about, to be independent, having that freedom and to work with everyone else as one.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe everything that you do involves struggle. Just depends on how you’re going to tackle and deal with it. Beginning of Cali Vibes was really a learning experience until now. I guess my advantage is that I treated the brand as my band. Just like any other artist, I kept playing my music, did not matter if there’s 100 or 1 listening, for nine straight years I never stopped. Every turndown I used it as motivation. Every lost, I count it as a way to get better. Every opportunity I count it as a blessing and help others as my way of sharing it. To me, it’s all about doing what you really like and want and not just because you want to make it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Aside from running Cali Vibes, I’ve been an employee of Fisher in Orange County, California. A family-owned printing company that started in Chicago and expanded in California that has been around for almost 90 years. For the past 20 years, I’ve been dealing with ads and customer service. For two decades now, not only were allowed to listen to music but the company gave us that trust. It gave me flexibility to work on my own schedule, time to follow my passion, take care of my family, bought me my first ever car and best investment of all, a house. Working environment is great, super cool managers, very nice co-workers and owners that care of their employees.
I think despite of all the obstacles and challenges that I face, one thing I’m most proud of is I never give up. I stayed true of who I am and always kept my faith that if you do things right, the outcome will always be just fine.
What’s next?
I believe in natural things, everything to me has to be natural. Hoping the seed that we planted years ago turns into a plant and will keep watering it until it becomes a tree. As of now, we do have our team of ambassadors nationwide that helps us on festivals that we’re in. Hoping one day, we can hire full-time employees and have that team lead the way for others as well. Now that we have the store, I would like to see it grow and expand or in a way that someone will get inspired and do the same thing, help others, build a community and see music as a good way to unite everyone.
Pricing:
- Shirts and Tanks $20 each or 2 for $30
- Hoodies and Crewnecks $30-50
- Hats $20-30
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.calivibesrecords.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supportlocalreggae
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliVibesClothing
