A couple weeks ago the
LA Fashion District shared the story of how The Santee Alley came to be. We've come a long way since our very first days of bargain shopping and we are so excited to be able to share this with you. From the Fashion District blog...
The
LA Fashion District is broken down into various subsections (you can see the breakdown of the district
here), the most popular of these being
The Santee Alley.
Often referred to as "a bargain hunter's paradise", The Santee Alley is
an actual alley lined with over 150 stores selling apparel and
accessories for the entire family, electronics and electronic
accessories, handbags and luggage, and more. It is
located in the heart of the Fashion District and the majority of the district's retail vendors are centered around it.
Discounts
in the alley range from 30% to 70% off full retail prices. Some vendors
also carry brand name clothing and shoes, including athletic wear such
as Nike, Converse, Puma, Jordans, etc. Alley vendors are often wholesale
vendors, closeout buyers, manufacturers and/or importers who are able
to sell their merchandise at much lower prices by selling directly to
the public.
In fact the alley, or "Los Callejones" as
it's referred to by our Spanish-speaking visitors, is deeply rooted in
the wholesale businesses. Though it is now primarily focused on retail,
the area where the Santee Alley is located used to be the center of the
Los Angeles fashion wholesale industry. The wholesale vendors would
bring out their overstock items on the weekends and sell them to the
public through their backdoor. The weekend sales became so popular, the
alley became a full time retail destination open 7 days a week, 365 days
a year including holidays!
Over the years, The Santee
Alley has become a mecca for fast fashion, carrying the latest trends at
the most affordable prices, often before they even hit stores. Santee
Alley vendors get their inventory from the same manufacturers as large
department stores, online vendors, and retail chains. Often times you
can find the same items you would at the mall but with a different label
and at a much lower price.
The alley is truly a
unique experience, where the fashion industry and cultures from around
the world collide to form one big festival-like atmosphere. We highly
recommend it to those who love bargain shopping or those who just like
exploring in general. Make sure to
follow these shopping tips and wear comfy shoes!
The Santee Alley
Enter on Olympic Boulevard between Santee Street and Maple Avenue
Open 365 days a year from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Hours are approximate and can vary by store.)
