Emmanuel Polanco shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Emmanuel, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Since I can remember I’ve always been really introverted. Shy, silent… used to being alone and doing stuff on my own.
But since I’ve been a part of Miles & Louie my role has changed dramatically into being pretty much the face of the company. Starting from being a sales rep, customer service, up to lately being in-front of camera and doing interviews.
I’m still afraid and get nervous each time a new one comes up, but I guess you never completely get used to it, but it’s become a bit more fun an easy each time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Emmanuel Polanco, and I’m one of the partners of Miles & Louie, a brand that specializes in the design and craft of leather shoes, bags, and other goods.
We started this project in 2012 in Tijuana and have since grown into a recognized brand across Mexico and several other parts of the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and various countries in Europe and Asia.
Each and every one of our pieces is unique, handcrafted one by one. Nothing is mass-produced, which allows us to maintain extreme attention to detail and an overall high quality in all of our products.
All of our pieces are designed with a clean, essential aesthetic, making them timeless. They are also made to be treated and fixed when needed, so our products are made to be worn and built to last.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
The biggest inspiration in my life has been my family.
Most, if not all of them, were entrepreneurs or held non-traditional jobs like furniture designers, truck drivers, and owners of small shops. I even have an uncle who owned a couple of junkyards. I had the opportunity to work with all of them at some point, and each person gave me a different perspective and unique insight into their craft.
Their experiences showed me the endless possibilities of what I could do.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I’d say it hasn’t been that long ago. I’ve recently come to realize that we must be open, listen, and constantly evolve in our way of thinking. This change can sometimes be for the better and other times not, but every experience ultimately helps you grow.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
A fad, as we’ve come to see, is a temporary glimpse that puts a spotlight on something—be it a style, a color, or more. When people who are not even professionals or part of the industry jump into this mix, it becomes even more dubious.
In contrast, I believe a real shift is a process that takes time, research, and experimentation. It adds a true core value, rather than being just a ‘flavor of the month.’
I’m not completely against fads. They can sometimes draw attention to what truly matters and push us as consumers to compare and think about where we want to invest our time, money, and effort.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Not sure if I was born to do this, but I’m currently doing what I want and I like it.
For many years, before joining M&L, I had the usual corporate 9-to-5 job—steady, with a good income. While it started out as something I wanted to do, over the years it became something else that was no longer fun or satisfying. That relationship eventually ran its course, and I’m grateful it did.
Today, I’m where I want to be, but you never know where the journey might go.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://milesandlouie.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/milesandlouie
- Facebook: https://fb.com/milesandlouie
Image Credits
Alex León, Chris Snyder, Rolando Magdaleno, Dago
