Meet Tony Gomez | Business Owner
We had the good fortune of connecting with Tony Gomez and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tony, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
For a long time, I thought success meant constantly working. Like a lot of people who grow up around family businesses and the Los Angeles apparel industry, long hours felt completely normal. The mentality was simple: work hard, sacrifice now, and keep pushing forward.
Over the last few years, however, my perspective has changed significantly.
After unexpectedly stepping into the role of president of our family business, Twins Pleating & Smocking, I began looking at life differently. Losing my father, who was also our founder, at a relatively young age made me realize how important it is to enjoy the life you are working so hard to build. It taught me that success cannot be measured only by revenue or growth because time with your family matters just as much.
Today, I intentionally work the same hours as the rest of my staff, usually from 7:30 AM to 4 PM. People are sometimes surprised by that, especially coming from a business owner, but I am also a husband and a father to three young children, a seven year old and five year old twins, and being present for them is one of the most important parts of my life.
I do not believe balance means avoiding hard work. To me, it means being intentional with your time and fully present wherever you are. When I am at work, I stay focused and give the business my full attention. When I am home, I make a real effort to disconnect and spend meaningful time with my family.
One thing that surprisingly helped me was creating a stronger mental separation between work life and personal life. Even something as simple as switching from my personal social media accounts to our business accounts when I walk into the office helps put me into work mode and keeps my attention on what actually needs to get done instead of unnecessary distractions.
Over time, I also realized that creativity and leadership require mental space. When you are constantly stressed, distracted, or burned out, it becomes much harder to think clearly and lead effectively. Having more balance in my life has actually helped me show up better both for my family and for the business.
Outside of work, my wife and I stay very involved in our children’s school and PTA. Our school community is incredibly active, and being part of that gives us a genuine sense of connection outside of business. Those moments and relationships have become just as meaningful to me as professional accomplishments.
I have also become much more aware of the importance of financial literacy, investing, and creating long term stability. Growing up, nobody really teaches you those things, so learning more about finances and investing later in life completely changed the way I look at work, responsibility, and the future.
At the end of the day, family remains my biggest motivation. My father built this business to create opportunities for our family, and I carry that responsibility with me every day. At the same time, his passing reminded me that life moves quickly, and success means very little if you never slow down enough to truly enjoy the people you are working so hard for.
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.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned along the way is that hard times do not define you unless you allow them to. Getting evicted as a teenager, watching my family struggle financially, and later stepping into leadership during some of the most difficult years of our business all shaped the way I look at life today. Those experiences taught me resilience, gratitude, and the importance of staying grounded no matter how successful you become.
I also learned that craftsmanship still matters in a world that increasingly values speed over quality. So much of what we do at Twins Pleating & Smocking is done by hand, and I genuinely believe people can feel the difference when something is made with care. We are not interested in simply producing garments as quickly as possible. We want to help create statement pieces that make people stop, look closer, and appreciate the artistry behind them.
At the same time, I want people to understand that our story is bigger than pleating or smocking. It is really a story about family, sacrifice, and perseverance. My father built this business from the ground up, and there were moments when our family truly did not know what the future would look like. I still remember him sending me money to study abroad even when the business was struggling financially because he did not want me carrying that stress. Looking back, that moment says everything about who he was as both a father and a business owner.
Today, I carry those lessons with me every day. I try to lead with honesty, gratitude, and compassion because I know firsthand what it feels like to struggle and rebuild. If there is one thing I would want people to take away from our story, it is that success is not always about having the most resources, the newest technology, or the easiest path. Sometimes it is simply about continuing to believe in what you are building, taking care of people, and refusing to give up when things become difficult.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends was visiting Los Angeles for a week, I would probably avoid trying to do every major tourist attraction and instead focus on places that actually feel like Southern California to me. I would want them to experience a mix of culture, food, family atmosphere, and the slower moments that make living here special.
One of the first places I would take them would definitely be the The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. It is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Los Angeles County and somehow still feels underrated considering how incredible it is. The gardens are massive and every section feels completely different, from the Japanese Garden to the Desert Garden and the Chinese Garden. You can easily spend an entire afternoon walking around, grabbing coffee or tea, and slowing down for a bit. I think in a city that moves as fast as Los Angeles, places like that remind you to breathe a little.
Another spot I always enjoy taking people to is Shoreline Village in Long Beach. It has a completely different energy from the rest of LA. Being near the water, walking around the marina, watching the boats go by, and grabbing food by the harbor just feels relaxing. At night, the lights reflecting off the water make it one of my favorite places to unwind. It is also family friendly without feeling overly touristy, which I appreciate now even more as a dad.
For food, one place I would absolutely stop at is Mariscos 4 Vientos in Boyle Heights. If you grew up around Los Angeles, especially East LA, you already know about their shrimp tacos. They are legendary for a reason. It is one of those places that does not need flashy branding or trends because the food speaks for itself. The crispy shrimp tacos with their salsa are easily some of my favorite tacos in the city, and I love introducing people to spots that feel authentic to the neighborhoods I grew up around.
I would also make sure we caught an LA Galaxy match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Even if someone is not a huge soccer fan, the atmosphere is a lot of fun and surprisingly family friendly. The energy from the supporters groups, the drums, chants, and overall environment make it feel much more personal and community driven than people expect. I have always liked how diverse the crowd is because it really reflects Los Angeles itself.
Beyond specific places, I think the best part about Los Angeles is that every area has its own personality. You can spend one day walking through peaceful gardens in San Marino, another day eating tacos in Boyle Heights, and then end the week watching the sunset near the water in Long Beach. That variety is what makes Los Angeles special to me.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely give a shoutout to my friend, neighbor, and mentor, Robert Liljenwall. Interestingly enough, he shares the same name as my father, Robert, so I jokingly call him “Roberto,” which always makes me laugh because it reminds me of my dad.
After stepping into leadership of our family business, having people around me who could offer honest guidance became incredibly important. As a business owner, it is easy to get caught up responding to customers, solving problems, and constantly moving from one issue to the next. Robert has been one of those people who helps keep me grounded, focused, and thinking strategically instead of emotionally.
What I appreciate most is that he tells me what I need to hear, not always what I want to hear. His background as a former Disney executive, branding consultant, educator, and author gives him an incredible amount of experience, but beyond that, he genuinely cares. He has helped me think differently about leadership, branding, communication, and long term vision during some very challenging years for both myself and our business.
I think everybody needs people in their life who can challenge them, encourage them, and keep them accountable, and Robert has definitely been that person for me.
Website: https://www.twinspleating.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinspleating/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twinspleating/
Twitter: https://x.com/twinspleating?s=21&t=os-01v6P_s-jDQX8tMQlEQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twinspleatinginc/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@twinspleating
Other: Tik Tok = https://www.tiktok.com/@twinspleating
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
