Meet Andres Villarreal | Co-Founder Shpapi Vision

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

Hi Andres, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I first arrived at college as a freshman, I didn’t have the same mindset as most students. While many people were focused on meeting new friends, going out, and enjoying the beginning of a new chapter, I was hungry to start building something of my own.

Luckily, my brother was already at the same school. He was a junior and well known in the community, so he introduced me to a lot of people early on. Around that time, I began talking to him about the idea of creating a brand together. Since people already knew us as the “Shpapi brothers,” and some even started calling me “Shpapi” more than my real name, the name felt natural and authentic to who we were.

Shpapi is more than just a name it represents our identity and the values behind the brand. The name originally came from a nickname we used for our friends, “papi.” One night while walking on the beach, we added the “SH,” which made it sound smoother and cleaner, just like the style we wanted our glasses to represent. From that moment on, the idea stuck.

We started by selling sunglasses and slowly began gaining traction. As more people heard about the brand, we decided to enter our school’s New Venture Competition. Winning the competition two years in a row and pitching our idea to investors, professors, and students gave us the confidence that this idea could become something real. That experience pushed us to dedicate more time and energy into building Shpapi.

At its core, Shpapi represents two Mexican brothers with a shared passion for style and a vision to create high-quality, affordable sunglasses that people can wear day and night. Over time, we’ve collaborated with other brands, hosted pop-up events, and continued growing our community.

For this new collection, we wanted to create something that reflects where we are today and where we’re headed next. What started as a simple idea between my brother and me to follow the fire inside you that makes you feel alive has grown into something much bigger. That belief carried us through long nights, new ventures, and the commitment to keep building something we truly believe in. Collection III represents a new chapter for the Shpapi family, with higher-quality frames, new designs, and an even stronger vision for what we want the brand to become.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. There were difficult moments working with partners who weren’t as committed, and plenty of people who told us we should focus our time elsewhere or simply didn’t take us seriously. Early on, we learned that not everyone shares the same vision or level of dedication it takes to build something from the ground up.

At the same time, balancing the brand with demanding academic coursework, job recruiting, and even working at a startup while running a company was incredibly challenging. There were many nights where the workload felt overwhelming and moments where I questioned whether everything we were putting into Shpapi would truly pay off. Building something while trying to manage everything else life throws at you is never easy.

But that’s the beauty of building a brand with your brother. When one of you is down, the other is always there to lift you up. Having someone who shares the same vision, the same belief, and the same commitment makes all the difference. Through every setback, every challenge, and every moment of doubt, we always found a way to push each other forward.

Over time, after continuing to pour in time, effort, and genuine passion, we slowly started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Each challenge taught us something new resilience, patience, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. We learned that consistency matters more than perfection. What truly makes the difference is showing up every single day and doing something, no matter how small, to improve the brand.

When you take a step back and look at the journey, you start to realize how much can be accomplished through persistence. Every risk we took, every opportunity we chased, and every new idea we were willing to try helped move us forward. Progress didn’t happen overnight, but it came from the willingness to keep going, even when things felt uncertain.

Looking at where we are today compared to where we started is honestly crazy to think about. What began as a simple idea between two brothers has grown into something much bigger than we could have imagined in the early days. But at the same time, we know we still have a long way to go. The journey ahead won’t be easy, and we don’t expect it to be.

What we have learned, though, is how important it is to recognize how far you’ve come and use that as fuel to keep pushing forward.
Shpapi isn’t just a sunglasses brand. It’s the story of two brothers who refused to wait for the “perfect moment,” who started building something from a college dorm room, and who believed that with enough persistence, passion, and belief in what you’re creating, something real can grow from it.

And in many ways, we’re still just getting started. That’s what we want people to feel when they wear our glasses not just style, but energy. A sense of confidence. A reminder that you can create something meaningful from nothing if you’re willing to take risks, stay consistent, and believe in the vision you’re building.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting New York City for a week, I would want to show them the mix of great food, energy, and activities that make the city so special. One place I would definitely take them to eat is Raoul’s in SoHo, a historic French bistro that opened in the 1970s and has a lively Parisian atmosphere. It’s known for its classic French menu, especially the famous Steak au Poivre with hand-cut fries, as well as their limited-availability burger that people rave about.

During the day, we would stay active. I have always loved tennis, so we would definitely find a place to play tennis or padel, since anything with a racket and a ball is something I enjoy. I would also take them running through Central Park, which is one of my favorite things to do in the city. It’s a great way to experience the park, clear your head, and see a different side of New York.

I’ve been living in this city for 19 years, which is still crazy to think about, but there is always something new to discover. Whether it’s a new café opening, a restaurant, a clothing brand, or a new spot to go out, the city is constantly evolving. It’s also a place where you can meet ambitious people who dream big and are working toward incredible things. More importantly, it’s a place that I’m proud to call home.

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 dedicate this to all the people family, friends, and everyone who have supported us from the very beginning. Your support has meant the world to us and has helped us in so many ways along the journey.

We truly appreciate the energy and confidence you bring every time you choose to wear Shpapi. Seeing people believe in what we’re building motivates us to keep pushing forward. Thank you again for being part of this journey. This is only the beginning.

Website: https://shpapivision.com/

Instagram: https://shpapi.vision

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shpapi-llc/about/?viewAsMember=true