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Golden Soul Club

Golden Soul Club is an athletic apparel brand creating running essentials and everyday wear! Part run club and part apparel brand, Golden Soul Club didn’t start out as a grand business plan, but a feeling!

Founder and Creator Sebastian Vázquez first had an idea of a brand more than a decade ago, long before storefronts, run clubs, or performance apparel entered the picture. Back then, Golden Soul Club was a name, a logo, and a desire to spread positivity through clothing. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“I’ve always liked clothes,” Sebastian says simply. “I worked many years in retail, and I just wanted to have my own brand.”

What kept pulling him back wasn’t trend or ambition, it was purpose.

Sebastian’s years working in retail would quietly lay the foundation for everything that followed. His time at Nordstrom in Puerto Rico, and later in Miami, became an education that no classroom could replicate.

“That was my school, basically,” he says. “Working in menswear, selling suits, sportswear, it confirmed again that this is what I wanted to do.”

By early 2020, he was ready. He invested in inventory, planned to knock on store doors, and envisioned Golden Soul Club as a men’s basics brand built on quality and simplicity.

Then the world stopped. “The pandemic happened,” he says. “I had all that stuff stuck in my apartment. It was a really bad moment, and hit us all hard.”

Going Home to Move Forward

After nearly a year without seeing his family, Sebastian returned to Puerto Rico in 2021. What began as a pause became a reset. “I needed to take a break,” he says. “To breathe.”

That’s when movement entered the story in a new way. During the pandemic, Sebastian stopped exercising for the first time in his life. Once back home, he tried CrossFit, and fell in love. Running followed, not as performance, but as healing.

“Running helped me to heal,” he says. “It helped me connect with myself better, to be mentally stronger, more stable.”

Then one morning, during a 6 a.m. run, everything clicked.

“I don’t know, out of nowhere,” he recalls. “I was like, I can do both. I can have everyday wear, and I can have sportswear.” Golden Soul Club suddenly had a new spark.

A Brand Rooted in Movement and Meaning

From that moment on, Sebastian committed fully, not just to a clothing brand, but to a philosophy.

“I decided to go all in,” he says. “And one of the main core ideas since day one was community.” That commitment led to a bold decision: opening a physical space after the pandemic, when many insisted ecommerce was the only smart move.

“So I started looking for suppliers, and then I decided to look for a space. People were telling me, ‘you want to open a space after the pandemic? You're crazy, man.’ And I was like, ‘yeah, I know’. But the dream was always to have my own spot,” Sebastian explains.

That retail spot appeared in Río Piedras, a neighborhood rich with cultural history and now experiencing a creative resurgence.

“When I walked into the space, I felt it immediately,” Sebastian says. “I said, I think this is it.” Golden Soul Club opened its doors in November 2024.

Why a Physical Space Still Matters

For Sebastian, the store isn’t just a retail location, it’s a gathering place.

“I wanted to have conversations you can’t have online,” he explains. “Sometimes people come in and don’t buy anything, and that’s okay. I just want to hear their story, and share this story as well.”

That philosophy extends beyond the walls of the store and into the streets through the Golden Soul Run Club.

The Run Club That Built a Community

What started as casual collaborations with nearby businesses, fun runs followed by pizza or coffee, quickly turned into something bigger.

“People kept asking, ‘Are you going to have a recurring day?’” Sebastian says.

By September, the Golden Soul Run Club was official: every Thursday evening, meeting in front of the store, running or walking together, no competition, no pressure.

“It’s not about pace,” Sebastian says. “You can walk. You can run. Just come. It's just to have fun, and stay active, stay in movement.”
The response surprised even him. “People of all ages show up,” he says. “Runners, walkers, everyone.”

More importantly, the run club reinforced what Golden Soul Club was always meant to be. “That fills my soul,” he says. “Pun intended.”

Quality, Accessibility, and Local Pride

Golden Soul Club’s apparel line reflects the same values as its community: thoughtful, accessible, and intentional. Taking inspiration from the 80’s, 90’s and country club style.

“I'm always sketching ideas,” Sebastian says. “I’m inspired by the modern heritage and retro vibe. That's why I use the 89, - 1989, the year I was born. In my head, Golden Soul Club has existed since 1989,” he says.

“You want to look good, but also you want to perform well in your clothes. But the goal is to build a great running brand that is from Puerto Rico.”

The Challenges No One Sees

Behind the warmth and momentum, there’s reality. “The numbers, inventory, minimum order quantities, you’re spending money without knowing if it’s going to sell,” Sebastian shares.

“Tariffs, economic pressure, and running a business in Puerto Rico add another layer of complexity. It’s challenging, but that’s why I value every single person who supports the brand,” Sebastian shares, just as the electricity goes out during the interview.

Ahhh…the Puerto Rican power grid.

One Step at a Time

For now, Sebastian is focused on what he’s built and what’s still unfolding through his brand and run club.

“Nothing happens if we don’t move,” he says. “Ideas are cool, but if you don’t take action, nothing will happen.”

Golden Soul Club is a movement in every sense of the word, and proof that sometimes, the most meaningful brands begin not with a strategy, but with a run at sunrise.

You can shop running essentials and everyday wear from Golden Soul Club online, and connect with them on Instagram.

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Missed other editions? Check out past features: ⤵️ 

• ¡WEPA! Coffee is Building a Future for 100% Puerto Rican Coffee

• From Therapy to Entrepreneurship: The Making of Breathe by Sal

• Two First-Gen Entrepreneurs On a Mission to Change Breakfast

• The Bolivian CPG Brand Taking Over U.S. Grocery Shelves

Want to be featured? Reply to this email with more info on your brand, and let’s set up a time for an interview.