Meet Manuel Lomeli | Founder & CEO | 417LA

We had the good fortune of connecting with Manuel Lomeli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Manuel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always loved to draw. Growing up, I wanted to design everything—cars, sneakers, buildings, even stadiums. I took graphic arts in high school, learned how to silk screen, and fell in love with creating something physical from just an idea. I went into college as an architecture major, but after losing my mom to cancer, I felt like I needed to rethink things. I switched to graphic design, where I felt like I had more control over what I could do—packaging, ads, clothing, products. Since then, I’ve done everything from designing T-shirts for a small company to ads for a big newspaper, packaging for a toy company, and now designing shirts, hats, and other products for my own business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a firm believer that if I don’t love what I’m doing, it won’t come out right. I need to be fully in love with what I create, and I want my products to be different—something that truly stands out from everything else out there. There’s so much competition, and I think a product has to be an extension of you to be unique enough to make people want it.
One of my proudest moments was a few years ago when I designed a shirt to honor Vin Scully’s 67 years as the announcer for the Dodgers. I posted it on Instagram, and the response was amazing. People kept buying it, and every time I went to the stadium and saw someone wearing my shirt, it was an incredible feeling. Seeing people connect with something I designed—that’s what I love most about what I do.
A big turning point for me was the birth of my son. Before he was born, I was just hustling—taking on any work without much of a plan. But once he came into my life, I wanted to build something meaningful that he could look up to and maybe even take over one day. Now, there’s a foundation, a direction, and a reason behind everything I do.
The journey has definitely had its struggles. I remember when I first bought my silk screen press; my wife and I had saved up for it, and we weren’t sure if it would pay off. I set it up right in our kitchen, where we didn’t even have room for a table! But we made it work. I always tell my son that you can’t give up on yourself. Trust that you can do anything you put your mind to, but remember that you have to put in the hard work to make it happen.
Along the way, I’ve learned that patience is key—especially with yourself. Confidence in your vision and focus on your goals are everything. I’m always full of new ideas, and my wife likes to remind me to focus on one before jumping to the next.
When I started my brand, people would ask me, ‘What does 417LA mean?’ It’s personal: ‘4’ is my wife’s birthday, ’17’ is mine, and when you multiply 4 * 1 * 7, it’s 28, my son’s birthday. ‘LA’ is home—I grew up and still live in East LA. I love everything about this city, from the people and culture to the sports. 417LA represents all of that. I call it LA Fandom; if you’re a fan of LA, the Dodgers, the Lakers, anything LA, I want my brand to be the go-to for representing that pride.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend visited for a week, I’d start with tacos at 5 Puntos—their handmade tortillas are a must. We’d dive into LA culture at El Mercadito and Olvera Street, both full of tradition, food, and music. Though nightlife isn’t usually my thing, I’d take them to Ave 26 in Pico Rivera, a night market with live music, tons of food, and a great community vibe that my son loves.
A Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium is a must for the unbeatable atmosphere. We’d relax with a day at the beach or get some thrills at Universal or Disneyland. To take in the city, I’d bring them to Angels Point for that classic LA skyline. We’d wrap up with a food adventure to try more local spots, ending the week with a true taste of LA.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to recognize God, my wife, and my son. God has been a constant source of strength and guidance through every step of my journey. My wife has been my biggest supporter, always encouraging me to keep pushing forward even when things got tough. And my son inspires me every day to keep building something he can be proud of.

Website: https://www.417la.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/417la.co/