Shop DTLA’s Arts District!

From its humble 19th century beginnings as Jean-Louis Vigne’s vineyard and later, an industrial center for railroads and manufacturing, the Arts District has evolved to become one of DTLA’s hottest neighborhoods. In the 1970s, artists in search of cheap studio space began to occupy the area’s dilapidated warehouses, opening art galleries, redeveloping old buildings, and preserving a big part of L.A.’s industrial history. Today, you’ll find it all – from hidden gems to eclectic stores, creative concepts, and high end retail – when you shop DTLA’s Arts District!

Alchemy Works 826 East 3rd St. Los Angeles 90013

Alchemy Works is a lifestyle retail, gallery, and events space concept, highlighting designers and unique home wares, clothing and accessories, including the Warby Parker Glass House, where you can have custom eyeglasses fitted. They regularly host events, bringing a community feel to this sophisticated open-air design venue.

Dover Street Market 606-608 Imperial Street Los Angeles, CA 90021

Dover Market, one of the most exclusive and highly regarded retail trendsetters in the global fashion scene, opened DSMLA, its Los Angeles flagship store, in 2018. Housed in a white 15,000 square-foot renovated warehouse, DSMLA is the latest art-meets-retail concept from the Commes des Garçons label. The interior is laced with a warren of arresting visual displays, art installations, chain link fencing, and galvanized metal, creating distinct sections for coveted brands like Gucci, Palace, noir kei ninomiya, Chanel Fine Jewelry, Mark Jacobs, and Commes des Garçons Women’s and Men’s.

Malin + Goetz 300 S Santa Fe Ave. Suite S Los Angeles 90012

This New York-based beauty line and apothecary features high-end products for various skin types, combining trusted natural ingredients with advanced technology to create uncomplicated luxury skincare and fragrance for the modern, design-conscious individual. Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, the products are suitable for all skin types and genders. They never test on animals and are always striving towards more sustainable formulation and packaging practices.

Shinola 825 E 3rd St. Los Angeles 90013

Shinola is a luxury design brand with an unwavering commitment to crafting products that are built to last – from timepieces to leather goods, jewelry and audio. Founded in 2011, the company operates an in-house watch and leather factory on the fifth floor of the historic Argonaut Building in Detroit, where a team of artisans hand assembles luxury timepieces and crafts premium leather straps. The Arts District store carries a variety of watches, leather bags and journals – you might even find a Shinola bike!

Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co. 941 E 2nd St. Los Angeles 90012

A mens clothing store for the 21st century adventurer. Hatchet Outdoor Supply offers contemporary and lifestyle apparel influenced by exploration, nature, and the outdoors. You’ll find everything from parkas, pants, boots and backpacks, to tents and and other outdoor gear. They even carry candles and cabin spray scents that bring the outdoors inside!

Hennessey + Ingalls 300 S Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Since its founding in 1963, Hennessey + Ingalls has grown to become the largest art, architecture and design bookstore in the Western United States. In 2016, the store moved to its current location in DTLA’s booming Arts District. A landmark in the visual arts community, Hennessey + Ingalls counts many of the country’s leading architectural firms as clients, along with museums, collectors, art galleries, students, interior designers, graphic design firms, and schools. Even if you’re not an industry professional, it’s fun to browse the store’s in-depth selection of books, including art, art history, architecture, photography, interior design, graphic design, and landscaping. 

Apolis Common Gallery 806 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Doing good is in the bag! In 2004, brothers Raan and Shea Parton founded Apolis with a simple idea – that business can create social change. This model is founded on the simple idea that people can live better lives when they are given equal access to the global marketplace. Their signature customizable market bags are sourced and manufactured with partners in Uganda, Peru, Bangladesh, and even around the corner in Los Angeles. These long–lasting, everyday items improve the lives of the people who make them, and help shape our world.

Artist & Craftsman Supply 1917-1921 E 7th St. Los Angeles 90021

Where would the Arts District be without an art supply store? Welcome to the Artist & Craftsman Supply, an employee-owned company that has been providing artists with excellent materials at competitive prices since first opening in Yarmouth, Maine in 1985. The store carries a wide variety of supplies for all types of arts and crafts that are on average 15-20% off of the manufacturer’s suggested list price. Educators and student also qualify for 10% off their purchases. Any questions can be answered by the helpful, knowledgeable staff of artists.

Hue 300 S Santa Fe Ave. Suite G Los Angeles 90013

Hue is a new, specially curated shopping experience that features the latest trends for women’s, men’s, kid’s, contemporary and high-end fashion brands from around the world, such as Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Bally, Repetto, Zadig & Voltaire, and Jonathan Adler. They focus on creating a space where people can enjoy the wide selection of brands in a chic, relaxed atmosphere.

Photo credits: 

Photo #1: Alchemy Works

Photo #2: Alchemy Works

Photo #3: Dover Street Market

Photo #4: Malin + Goetz

Photo #5: Shinola

Photo #6: Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co.

Photo #7: Hennessey + Ingalls

Photo #8: Apolis Common Gallery

Photo #9: Artist & Craftsman Supply

Photo #10: Hue Los Angeles

DTLA Holiday Shopping: Big Brands, Hot Shops & Pop-Ups

This holiday season, DTLA is truly a shopper’s paradise! Big name brands are rubbing elbows with experiential stores, artsy concept shops, and an ever-passing parade of retail pop-ups. With so many options to choose from, it’s a good thing December has just begun!

Here are some ideas for Holiday Shopping that will bring good cheer to everyone on your list!

Dover Street Market

Dover Street Market 606-608 Imperial Street Los Angeles, CA 90021

Dover Street Market, one of the most exclusive and highly regarded retail trendsetters in the global fashion scene, recently opened DSMLA, its Los Angeles flagship store located in the Arts District just two blocks from the LA River. Housed in a 15,000 square-foot warehouse, painted a graphic white, DSMLA is the latest art-meets-retail concept from the Commes des Garçons label. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by a life-size hippo sculpture and there the fun begins! The interior is laced with a warren of arresting visual displays, art installations, chain link fencing, and galvanized metal, creating distinct sections for coveted brands like Gucci, Palace, noir kei ninomiya, Chanel Fine Jewelry, Marc Jacobs, and Comme des Garçons Women’s and Men’s. Holiday hours, parking and public transportation info here.

Jumpman LA Storefront

Jumpman LA 620 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA

Situated on DTLA’s “Sneaker Row,” a collection of athletic shoe and streetwear stores on South Broadway between 4th and 9th streets, Jumpman LA is a three-story 25,000 square-foot experiential retail space from Nike’s Jordan Brand–Michael Jordan’s shoe and athletic wear label, in partnership with footwear retailer Footaction. Serving as a hub for athletes, creatives and passionate Jordan fans,  Jumpman LA encourages customers to test drive their products in a sports-science-equipped Flight Lab weight training room and full regulation-size rooftop basketball court. After all that exertion, patrons can relax in the recovery lounge.

UNIQLO Bloc Opening Flyer

UNIQLO THE BLOC 700 S Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90017

OPENING December 13, 2018

A Tokyo fashion and clothing company with locations in 12 countries, UNIQLO is one of the five biggest specialty fashion retailers in the world. Owned by Fast Retailing, a Hiroshima based company, UNIGLO is known for making accessible, affordable T-shirts, jeans, outerwear, and casual wear for women and men. One of UNIQLO’s main products is HEATTECH–a thin, anti-static, stretch fabric that keeps in heat and dries quickly–perfect for wearing layers of clothing. UNIQLO parent company Fast Retailing is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, that fosters responsible action among companies and organizations and aims to materialize sustainable growth for the international community. As a signatory, the company will contribute to ongoing social progress in keeping with its sustainability statement, which is Unlocking the Power of Clothing to create a force of social good.

Gentle Monster

Gentle Monster 816 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014, USA

Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster takes the concept of immersive, artful shopping to new heights–marrying their signature experimental visual style with unique, boundary-pushing sunglasses. The Los Angeles store brings a zen mood to the core of DTLA’s historic theatre district with Gentle Monster Harvest, inspired by the spirit, emotions and oriental traditions associated with harvesting. The space takes visitors on a journey through the stages of harvest from paddy fields through threshing with captivating kinetic installations and handmade visual objects to create a unique and never before experienced space.

Made by DWC presentation photo

Made by DWC  325 S Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90013

MADE by DWC is a social enterprise operated by the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) to provide job training and transitional employment in product and retail environments for women transitioning out of homelessness. By purchasing from MADE by DWC’s signature line of products, you directly contribute to ending women’s homelessness in Los Angeles. Products include apparel, bags, candles, cards, gift sets, journals and soap. Want to give back this holiday season? Made by DWC’s volunteer program is run by Downtown Women’s Center. More details here.

Books on shelf at Marfa

Marfa Book Co Pop Up at ICA 1717 E 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90021

Marfa Book Co. is an independent bookstore, publisher, and project space based in Marfa, Texas. After 20 years as a brick-and-mortar shop, Marfa Book Co. opened its first experimental pop-up at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in 2018. The store offers an eclectic catalog from publishers such as Gato Negro, an art and poetry press based in Mexico City; Dorothy, a publishing project, a St. Louis-based publisher dedicated to prose works by women; Haymarket, a publisher of progressive political theory and social history; and Primary Information, a specialist in facsimile reproductions of artists books and writings from the 1960s and 1970s. Marfa Book Co. is committed to the belief that bookstores can provide their communities with spaces for generative cultural encounters. They will be co-presenting a number of public programs during their time at ICA LA, and will also continue ICA LA’s exceptional partnership with local bilingual children’s bookstore LA Librería.

DTLA IRL red logo

DTLA//IRL Pop Up LA Athletic Club 431 W 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90014

The Downtown Central Business Improvement District recently launched DTLA//IRL, a Holiday Pop-Up on the ground floor of the Los Angeles Athletic Club in the heart of DTLA. Curated by Handcrafted LA, the DTLA//IRL store features products from Handcrafted, LA Original, Sub-Urban Riot, LA Athletic Club, Skidrow Denim + Apparel, Downtown Women’s Center, Piece by Piece, Back2Garden, Cake Denim, Pocket Square and more. Need a break from shopping? Step into the Recharge Lounge, with furnishings and decor provided by partner West Elm, and enjoy free goodies to relax and refresh. DTLA//IRL is a permanent pop-up retail shop and an extension of downtown’s Pop-Up Connect Retail program, which aims to promote the retail experience and culture in Downtown Los Angeles and forge partnerships with retail owners.