MADE IN EL BARRIO

BARRIO ATHLETICS

OUR STORY

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2021 — BORN IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES

Barrio Athletics was founded in 2021 in South Central Los Angeles with a clear purpose: to inspire the streets through fitness and wellness. Shaped by everyday movement—running sidewalks, training in public spaces, and building discipline without access or privilege—the brand was created to represent athletes who train where they are. From the beginning, Barrio Athletics stood for making wellness cultural, visible, and rooted in the communities it comes from.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2022 — OFFICIAL LAUNCH

In 2022, Barrio Athletics officially launched with its first apparel collection, introducing performance-driven athletic wear designed for real training—running, lifting, and daily movement. Growing organically from South Central LA outward, the brand focused on authenticity over hype, using storytelling to show that fitness doesn’t need a gym or a stage—it just requires commitment. This year solidified Barrio Athletics as a lifestyle brand built to inspire movement in the streets.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2023 — THE STREETS BECOME THE GYM

In 2023, Barrio Athletics expanded beyond apparel and into community-driven fitness experiences across Los Angeles. The brand hosted multiple run meetups that amassed over 300 attendees, bringing together runners of all levels in spaces where encouragement and energy mattered more than pace.

That same year, Barrio Athletics organized football and soccer competitions in local South Central Los Angeles parks, transforming neighborhood spaces into arenas for movement and connection. One of the most powerful moments came with a surprise appearance at the Santee High School Track Finals, where the brand celebrated young athletes by gifting merch to winners while a DJ played live—turning competition into celebration. These moments reinforced the belief that fitness should be fun, accessible, and deeply connected to the streets.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2024 — RECOGNITION & WIDER IMPACT

In 2024, Barrio Athletics’ grassroots work and commitment to community wellness gained broader recognition, leading to the brand being featured on the news for inspiring fitness at the neighborhood level. As visibility increased, the brand continued refining its products and storytelling while staying rooted in its mission to uplift and inspire the streets through movement.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2025 — TELLING OUR STORIES

In 2025, Barrio Athletics elevated its message through both product and storytelling. Alongside the launch of its Influencer & Community Program and the release of its third collection—featuring performance staples like compression tees and running shorts—the brand began producing short films filmed in the barrios, visually representing fitness, discipline, and wellness in the environments where the brand was born.

These films captured real movement in real neighborhoods, using running, training, and community as a form of inspiration. Through film, Barrio Athletics expanded its mission beyond apparel—showing the streets that fitness is powerful, attainable, and ours.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

2026 — MOVING FORWARD

In 2025, Barrio Athletics elevated its message through both product and storytelling. Alongside the launch of its Influencer & Community Program and the release of its third collection—featuring performance staples like compression tees and running shorts—the brand began producing short films filmed in the barrios, visually representing fitness, discipline, and wellness in the environments where the brand was born.

These films captured real movement in real neighborhoods, using running, training, and community as a form of inspiration. Through film, Barrio Athletics expanded its mission beyond apparel—showing the streets that fitness is powerful, attainable, and ours.

MADE IN EL BARRIO

CREDITS

Henry Gallardo (@chatz5) - Founder

Rafael Carrillo (@rafaelcxrrllx) - Web Designer & Developer

Anthony Delgado (@el2raw_) - Photographer

Andrew Aguirre (@slickcatdrew) - Photographer

Itzel Zavala (@_nlezti) - Photographer

Christian Galvan (@cgfilmzz) - Videographer

Jose Aguila (@cheapchepe) - Videographer

Natalia Carrera (@mazzieheart) - Actor

Felix Marino Cruz (@8chovenado) - Actor