The LA Fashion District sprawls across 90 blocks of downtown Los Angeles, serving as the hub of the West Coast's apparel industry. The area is bordered by 7th Street to the north, the Santa Monica Freeway to the south, San Pedro Street to the east, and Spring and Main Streets to the west. This is where the business of fashion happens, as retailers, wholesale buyers, clothing designers, stylists, students, shoppers and local residents all converge, drawn by the convenience of "everything fashion'' in one location.
The LA Fashion District was designated as the city's first business improvement district (BID) in 1996. It is funded by more than 700 property owners who contribute over $3 million annually to sponsor maintenance, security and marketing programs aimed at making this community a clean, safe and friendly place to live, work, shop, and do business.
The main order of business in the LA Fashion District is wholesaling, with emphasis on designer goods. In fact, some 80 percent of the 2,000+ independent businesses here sell wholesale garments. The District hosts five major market weeks a year within the showroom buildings of "The Intersection.'' Other business events, such as frequent gift/home markets and textile tradeshows, are conducted in the California Market Center. Please note that the market weeks and shows are intended for trade representatives only and are not open to the general public.
In addition to finished apparel, the LA Fashion District is home to the country's largest selection of fabrics and notions in the United States. Gathered here are approximately 200 wholesalers and retailers offering trim, beading and materials for apparel, crafts and home decor. With prices ranging from 99 cents to thousands of dollars per yard, nearly every type of fabric can be found in the District, from novelty patterns to exotic silks and embroidered upholstery. Most of the textile and notion stores are congregated in a four block area, from 8th Street to Olympic Boulevard and between Maple Avenue and San Julian Street.
Even though the majority of stores in the LA Fashion District are wholesalers, there are plenty of shops serving retail shoppers, too. Bargain hunters will find some 1,000 places that sell apparel and accessories to the general public at discounts of 30 to 70 percent off retail prices. Most of these stores are independent, not brand name or chain stores.
Another feature of the LA Fashion District that helps it draw more than one and a half million visitors annually is the largest wholesale and retail floral selection in the United States, located along 8th Street. The LA Flower Market has special hours for the general public - Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 8am till noon and Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday from 6am till noon. Admission is $2 per person on weekdays and $1 on Saturdays.
For dining, over 80 restaurants and snack shops can be found around Gallery Row. They offer a wide variety of cuisines, from French, Italian and American to Asian and Middle Eastern. Numerous coffee shops, bakeries and fast food restaurants can be found here, too.
The LA Fashion District is easily accessible from the 110, 101, 10, 5, and 60 freeways as well as via public transportation. The district's administrative offices can be found at 110 East 9th Street, Suite A-1175, Los Angeles, California 90079. The heart of the district is Santee Alley, located between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, and stretching from Olympic Boulevard for two blocks to New Alley at 12th Street. Parking in surface lots and garage structures costs $8~$15 per day. Metered street parking is also available.
Many stores along Santee Alley and in the immediate vicinity are open 365 days a year. General business hours at the LA Fashion District are from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Sunday, including holidays. Saturdays are busiest, when many wholesale-only stores sell to the general public. On Sundays, about 30 percent of all stores are open. Individual shop hours may vary, so be sure to contact stores directly for details.
Review, comment, or add new information about this topic: