A young Phoenix dreamer starts an active wear company that is a mix of culture and gym lifestyle.
JOSE CARDENAS: A YOUNG PHOENIX DREAMER IS MAKING AN IMPACT IN HER COMMUNITY INFUSING HER MEXICAN ROOTS IN HER EVERYDAY ROUTINE. VIDEOGRAPHER LANGSTON FIELDS AND PRODUCER MARIA PORTILLO TELL US HOW.
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FOR CARLA, EXERCISE IS AN ESCAPE AND SHE STARTED IT AS AN OUT SIDER ATTENDING CROSSFIT COMPETITIONS.
I WOULD SEE PEOPLE ROCKING THE AMERICAN FLAG WHICH IS ALL COOL BUT ALSO LIKE HOW DO I BRING MYSELF INTO THIS SPACE? HOW DO I BRING MY COMMUNITY INTO A PLACE WHERE IF IS VERY ANGLO?
SHE IS A DREAMER. THE DAUGHTER OF UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS WHO GREW UP FEELING A PART OF TWO CULTURES.
I CAME AT A THE U.S. WHEN I WAS SEVEN. I GREW UP IN A FAMILY ANGLO NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNEW I WAS UNDOCUMENTED BUT DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT. I WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THEN I FIGURED AND FOUND OUT I WAS BEING PRICED OUT.
Reporter: COLLEGE WASN'T AN OPTION BUT SHE HAD EXERCISE. HAVING TAKEN A DESIGN CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL SHE FUSED DESIGNING AND FITNESS AND STARTED AN EXERCISE APPAREL BRAND.
WHAT CAN WE START THAT WE COULD USE A POSITIVE CULTURE TO INFLUENCE SORT OF, LIKE, OUR CULTURE? LIKE THE LATINO BACKGROUND. AND TO BELIEVE ABLE TO SHOW THEM THAT HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS NOT JUST THIS STEREOTYPE OF BEING SKINNY OR THIS OR THAT.
Reporter: SHE WANTS TO PROMOTE FITNESS IN HER COMMUNITY. NOT JUST SELL SHIRTS. THIS LONG TIME CUSTOMER THINGS THIS BRAND DOES JUST THAT.
TWO CULTURES THAT DON'T MIX WELL. THERE IS NOT JUST PHOBIA ABOUT HURTING YOURSELF. MY MOTHER IS LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU LOOK SKINNY AND EAT MORE? I THINK THIS BRAND BRINGS BOTH CULTURES INTO ONE. IT LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK I CAN REALLY RELATE TO.
GOALS, MEXICAN FOOD AND OLD ENGLISH FONTS WITH THE DESIGN THAT MAKE IT AND THE NAME IS REPRESENTATIVE ITSELF.
THE NAME MEANS GIVE IT YOUR ALL, GIVE IT WHAT YOU HAVE AND WAY -- WEARING IT AND BEING PROUD IN SPACES THAT MAY NOT BE INCLUSIVE.
Reporter: SHE HOPES TO KEEP EMPOWERING THE MEXICAN-COMMUNITY WITH HER BRAND.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BRAND THAT EMBODIES YOU NEED TO KEEP PUSHING AND GOING NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT STRENGTH AND NOT ONLY PHYSICAL STRENGTH BUT MENTAL STRENGTH.
CARLA HOPES TO CONTINUE THE APPAREL LINE AND PLANS TO MAKE MOBILE GYMS PROVIDING EDUCATION ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR UNDERPRIVILGED COMMUNITIES. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT "GANAZ" GO TO THEIR WEBSITE GANAZAPPAREL.COM.
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