It didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a song and a phrase that stuck.
Founded in 2011 by brothers Rolando and Heriberto Rubalcava, Pipiripau began as a passion project at home. Growth came slowly, built by showing up, again and again. Loading cars at dawn, setting up pop-ups in parking lots, art walks, and community events across California and Arizona. On the road, the brand connected with customers, artists, and people looking for something they could relate to.
Those years on the road became the classroom. Learning how to build from the ground up with patience and heart. No shortcuts. Just consistency and trust in the work.
In 2021, Pipiripau opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in Downtown Oxnard. The space became more than a store. It became a hub for conversation, creativity, and community. With a home, Pipiripau expanded beyond apparel, creating room for new ideas to take shape.
Sons of Immigrants
We are the sons of Mexican immigrants, born and raised on the hills of Jalisco and the California coast. Heriberto with his sketchbook. Rolando with his camera. Both of us trying to make sense of a life lived in two places at once.
We grew up on the border of Mariachi and rock ’n’ roll, tacos and burgers, lucha libre and wrestling. But the longer we lived here, the more we realized our hearts were anchored there. We didn’t just want to remember Mexico, we wanted to honor it, its struggle, its traditions, its history, and the beauty of our people.
Pipiripau is that homage. It’s our bridge across the border. It ensures the traditions we love are held to a high standard. Most importantly, it’s our duty to make sure the next generation knows their history and never forgets where they come from.
Pipiripau is about being your best self, no matter the circumstances. It’s about being rooted in Cultura, the history, traditions, music, and flavors that sorround us. It’s carried with Orgullo, the pride of generations who worked hard, stayed humble, and left behind an inheritance far richer than material wealth. And it’s lived with Corazón, the courage, passion, and heart to move forward while staying grounded in who we are.
Cultura. Orgullo. Corazón.
Our style has evolved since day one. We started with a simple monogram, but today we stand behinde el Gallito (the rooster).
In our culture, the rooster represents the el despertar, that mindset to show up and handle business, day in and day out. But more than that, a gallo carries a natural confidence. It stands tall because he knows exactly who he is and what he’s here to do.
He protects, provides, and claims his ground. When you wear el 'Gallito', you’re channeling that energy. You know your purpose, you stay consistent, and you carry your colors with pride.
Cultura. Orgullo. Corazón.
Our art lives in many forms, from a graphic on a t-shirt, to a design on a skate deck, to a live event built from the ground up. No matter the medium, the purpose is the same, to keep creating and elevating our culture. The same passion we put into our apparel flows into the experiences we build for our community.
Since launching our live events in 2022, that vision has grown, from intimate music series to a full music festival, and our now-iconic Dia de los Muertos celebration. And we’re just getting started. Stay tuned, there’s more on the way this year.
Panteón is our annual Día de los Muertos celebration, an offering to the city where we planted roots and built community. Through live performances, Catrín & Catrina contest, theatrical play, community altars, art installations, and much more, we create a space for remembrance where the gap between past and present is bridged. What started small has grown into a gathering where we mourn, celebrate, and honor those who came before us. In 2026, we will celebrate our 4th annual Panteón Fest, and as each year evolves, it stays rooted in authenticity and intention.
For more details visit PanteonFest.com
Music has always been the heartbeat of Pipiripau. Palomazo,a term for an impromptu jam session where musicians from different backgrounds and bands come together, is our ongoing music series built around that spirit.
It breaks down the barrier between artist and audience, and just as importantly, between musicians themselves. Starting from intimate sets in our shop to a large music festival, Palomazo brings together sounds like rock en español, cumbia, norteño, psychedellic rock, boleros, and mariachi, often blending in ways you don’t expect.
Stay tuned for our 5th mini series and 2nd music fest in 2026.
