Fashion District

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Fashion District

Overview: Everyone in L.A. knows that the real fashion bargains aren’t at the annual foo foo Barney’s New York sales in Santa Monica; rather, the real bargains are in the Fashion District (also known as Garment District) in Downtown Los Angeles. And, the prices are much cheaper than outlet malls. The Fashion District is located in the southwest quadrant of Downtown Los Angeles. It’s bordered at the south end by Venice Blvd and 16th St, Central Ave to the east, Broadway to the west and 7th St at the north.

Bargain hunters and fashion mavens beware: you may feel you’ve robbed a retail store after a spree in the Fashion District. Park somewhere. Anywhere. Perhaps at any of the Central Parking System locations or at a metered spot. Get to the Fashion District early – say about 10:00am. Bring a bottle of water and prepare yourself mentally to brave the crowds and moreover, the retail sellers. Start out at Pico Blvd or 12th St and Los Angeles St. Then, start your journey through the 90 blocks of clothing, trinket, perfumes and garment heaven. Over 1,000 stores and vendors are ready to dress you in some of the hottest knock-off attire. Some items are authentic name brands; the rest, well, just as good if no one knows.

If you miss the enormous open air markets and bizaars in Asia, you’ll find their sibling in the Fashion District. And, hands down, the retail king of downtown L.A.’s Fashion District is Santee Alley (and Fashion Alley), an expansive “alley” engulfing three blocks of retail madness between Santee Street and Maple Ave from 12th St to Olympic Blvd. The “alley” opens from 10am to 5pm. Over a 150 vendors and stores are await you. You can negotiate prices, especially if 1. you deal with vendors in open air stalls 2. if you purchase more than one item in an indoor store. A button down shirt for $20 will get you the next shirt for $10. And, remember, the shirts are already inexpensive or heavily discounted.

You’ll have to eat sometime during your venture in Fashion District. Food vendors are abundant on the sidewalks as well as some cute, makeshift roach coach mobiles. Hotdogs with bacon are commonly sold. Now, the poor hotdogs have some unfair and unsubstantiated reviews by people who have never tried them. The trick is of course, buy the hot dogs that are being cooked before your eyes. They are usually $3 with all the toppings, and then some, you can conjure up. How about some avocados and pico de gallo with your bacon-wrapped hotdog?
Santee Alley has restaurants you can sit down and eat at. Check out Mi Patio Mexican Restaurant.

Stands and outdoor vendors don’t accept credit cards. Some inside stores do but not American Express. Visa is the widely accepted in the larger, indoor shops. There are mobs of shoppers on the weekends. Be ready for the crowds and keep your belongings close to you.

Cost: Entirely up to you but be ready to bargain hard and walk away if you the seller doesn’t budge. The next store or stall will have the same items.

Parking: Central Parking structures on Pico Blvd and Los Angeles St. Plenty of metered parking spots on the streets but get to the Fashion District early.

Accessibility: The Fashion District is wheelchair accessible for the most part. There are the rare curbs that do not have ramps. Santee Alley is completely wheelchair accessible.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com