SHOP: Downtown Muse A.D. Shopping Guide
Think you know where to shop in the Arts District? Think again! There’s lots of shopping in the Arts District – well beyond what’s listed in a recent Los Angeles Times article.
TODAY is #ShoptheBlock @ 3:00pm to 6:00pm on 3rd Street and Traction Avenue at many Arts District stores! That’s when I’ll be outside of The Pie Hole, hawking copies of my new book! BUY MY BOOK and GET A FREE PRINT! I have a limited number of prints and copies of MUSE-ings: Snapshots of the Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles (officially released and nationally distributed on January 15, 2014).
BELOW IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE (available to date) TO ARTS DISTRICT SHOPPING – in person and online! To ensure that you receive current information about Arts District, join my mailing list HERE to get insider tips, news, event announcements, and special promotions!
HOLIDAY SALES & POP-UP SHOPS
These Arts District-based businesses create and manufacture their goods in the neighborhood, and if they don’t have a retail storefront, often sell to the public throughout the year with their seasonal sample sales, open studios, and pop-up shops.
#ShopTheBlock: This event on 3rd & Traction features holiday specials and snacks at Alchemy Works, Apolis: Common Gallery, District Millworks, Hammer and Spear, Guerilla Atelier, Poketo Store, The Pie Hole, CAN CAN Cleanse, Wurstküche, and more!
Artafacts Holiday Boutique: Artist Bridget Vagedes
428 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 247-5774
Holiday Hours: Mon-Sun 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Black Halo
648 Mateo St., Los Angeles 90021
(213) 893-7600
Holiday Hours – LAST DAY: Sat 12/7 @ 9:00am to 3:00pm
Daily Dose Café Holiday Pop-Up Mart
1820 industrial St. #104, Los Angeles 90021
Holiday Hours – LAST DAY: Sat 12/7 @ 10:00am to 5:00pm
KAIN Label Sample Sale
584 Mateo St., Los Angeles 90013
Holiday Hours: Sat 12/7 and Sun 12/8 @ 9:00am to 5:00pm
Open Studio: Artist & Jeweler Valerie Mitchell
215 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles 90012
(213) 500-3717
Holiday Hours: Sat 12/14, Sun 12/15 and Mon 12/16 @ 11:00am to 5:00pm
ONLINE SHOPPING
Many of the Arts District-based businesses offer online shopping in addition to onsite sample sales (in fact, before they had their current storefronts, both Apolis and Poketo started as online wholesalers and retailers in the area and still offer wide selections of items online and through retail outlets nationwide).
Apliiq
Order one-of-a-kind, handmade clothing from the comfort of your home. Apliiq uniquely offers customers the opportunity to customize tees, hoodies, sweaters, and accessories by choosing their appliqué patches from deadstock and vintage fabrics to be handsewn on their selections. Learn more about Apliiq and founder Ethan Lipsitz HERE.
Artist Emily McDowell
Check out this fun line of greeting cards and gifts such as tea towels, art prints, temporary tattoos, and even scarves; all adorned with the clever and adorable illustrations of Arts District-based artist Emily McDowell!
Few Bits
Voice-over talent, “Would You Woodwork?” webseries star, and woodworker C.C. Boyce creates beautiful handcrafted goods with wood bits rescued from landfills: planters, candleholders, cheeseboards, and even menorahs! Be sure to pick up a 4-oz tin of her Wood Butter, an all-natural wood conditioner made of local beeswax, organic rosemary, coconut oil, and mineral oil. It makes a GREAT lip balm AND protects your cutting board, too!
Flowers & Bones
Check out daily $40 finds at this Arts District-based online boutique run by designer and finder extraordinaire Deborah Glovier who has a knack for discovering just the perfect vintage and artisan-made luxurious items – ranging from bracelets, necklaces, pins, rings, earrings, and handbags to custom furniture and interior accessories.
Green Dragon
Eco-friendly, Arts District-based Green Dragon pieces are made with organic, sustainable, and/or recycled fabrics (the company even repurposes fabric scraps for pillow stuffing, scarves, personal art, and other projects). It offers seasonal collections for women – dresses, tops, coverups, jackets, coats, skirts, pants, and leggings.
LALA Arts & Buckshot Prints
Affiliated with artist RISK and LALA Arts (which also sells prints by RISK and other popular street artists), Buckshot Prints is a direct manufacturer and publisher of the finest handmade large-format serigraph and fine art editions. Each artwork sold is signed and numbered by the artist and issued with a Certificate of Authenticity. Be sure to check out the selections of prints by D*Face and Ron English available for sale online at LALA Arts!
MATTEO Home
Buy direct from this Arts District-based manufacturer of locally made luxurious linens that are otherwise exclusively distributed by fine specialty stores and interior designers. Pssst …MATTEO Home’s showroom at 912 E. 3rd St., 90013 is expected to reopen in early 2014, which means onsite sample sales may reappear in the future! For the time being, enjoy 20% off MATTEO’s Vintage and Tat Linen plus FREE U.S. shipping!
Artist Melissa Ann Lambert
Check out Arts District-based artist Melissa Ann Lambert’s limited-edition prints!
Minor Thread™ Modern Variety
Artist Charlie Wright creates and sells organic tea and spice blends, lavender sachets, pillows, recycled paper pins and magnets, ribbons, sewing supplies, and more. Be sure to pick up my favorite Tom’s Savory Dry Spice, which Charlie’s father makes using a secret family recipe!
Pink Lotus
While the activewear collection of Arts District-based Pink Lotus is really designed for yoga, working out at the gym, or running around town, it’s perfect for artists and other creative professionals and entrepreneurs who work in their loft spaces. Designed with functionality and comfort in mind, Pink Lotus pieces are made with versatile, yet buttery soft fabrics that feel like a second skin.
Sour Girls
Through OpenSky where you can buy products online from creative independent designers and small businesses, visit The Sour Girls Store to buy locally made Antlitz Aussie Jewelry. Receive $10 credit for your purchase when you sign up as a member!
THVM
Arts District-based THVM (stands for This Here Very Moment and is pronounced “THEM”) designing and producing quality premium denim at affordable prices for men and women.
Unearthen Jewelry
Based in the Arts District (and in New York City), designer Gia Bahm is known for her “enchanting creations” that she seems to “effortlessly transform raw and organic materials into otherworldly objects.” If you missed their recent sample sale, you can still buy her jewelry online in time for holiday gifts.
DESIGNER SHOWROOMS & STOREFRONTS
By appointment recommended or preferred, many local artisans and makers offer limited public hours and some welcome public walk-ins. Call or email before going to ensure that someone is there to help and show you around.
Akai Ito Boutique
941 E. 2nd St., Ste. 101, Los Angeles 90012
info@akaiitoboutique.com
Hours: Tue-Sat 11:00am to 6:00pm and by appt
District Millworks
917 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90013
(323) 630-1828
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm and by appt
Replika Vintage
608 E. 1st St., Los Angeles 90012
(323) 251-7613
Hours: Vary … drop by or make an appt
Traction Press & Riitta’s Cards
837 Traction Ave., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 617-8190
Hours: By appointment only
Not open? Buy a gift voucher from Apolis – handmade by Traction Press!
RETAIL STOREFRONTS
Here’s the quick list of several retail storefronts in the Arts District; some mentioned in the recent Los Angeles Times article and others that were missed. Hours may vary by season, so be sure to check before going!
12345 Clothing
811 Traction Ave., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 221-7858
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00am to 7:00pm
Alchemy Works
826 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90013
Hours: Mon-Sun 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Apolis: Common Gallery
806 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 613-9626
Hours: Mon-Wed 12:00pm to 6:00pm and Thu-Sun 12:00pm to 7:00pm
The Artform Studio: Hair & Records
701 E. 3rd St #120, Los Angeles 90013
(213) 613-1050
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00am to 7:00pm
Audrey & Lenny Boutique
830 Traction Ave., 2nd Fl., #2H, Los Angeles 90013
(626) 380-7532
Cleveland Art
110 N. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles 90012
(213) 626-1311
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm and Sat 10:30am to 4:00pm
Guerilla Atelier
821 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90012
(310) 365-2194
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 6:30pm and Sun 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Hammer and Spear
255 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 928-0997
Hours: Tue-Sat 11:00am to 6:00pm and Sun 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Nadia Geller Designs Studio & Home Market
1801 E. 7th St, Los Angeles 90021
(213) 488-1081
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am to 5:30pm
Poketo Store
820 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90013
(213) 537-0751
Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00pm to 7:00pm and Sat-Sun 11:00am to 7:00pm
SCI-Arc Architecture and Art Supply Store
955 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90012
(213) 356-5309
Hours: Mon and Wed 10:00am to 8:00pm; Tue and Thu 10:00am to 6:00pm; Fri 10:00am to 5:00pm; Sat-Sun 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Urban Radish
661 Imperial St., Los Angeles 90021
(213) 892-1570
Hours: Mon-Sun 8:00am to 9:00pm
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: For only $25 or more, pick up one of Urban Radish’s “Made in L.A. Gift Basket, which features some of this local grocer’s most loved products. You can even customize it for yourself or the person to whom will be receiving it!
Woo HQ & Souvenir Shop
209 S. Garey St., Los Angeles 90012
(213) 687-4800
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sat 11:00am to 7:00pm