Chantel's Wigs, Hair Extensions, & Hair Accessories

Wigs, hair extensions, and hair accessories can be purchased retail and wholesale at Chantel's. The Santee Alley store offers the best clip-in and weaving hair extensions, all 100% human hair and Remy virgin human hair. They also have an excellent selection of wigs in blondes, brunettes, reds, and black hair colors including lace-front wigs.

Available brands include Fashion Source, Eve Company, New World International, and Hair Republic

Chantel's
1015 Maple Ave. inside Santee Alley
213-746-4036
chantelsapparel@yahoo.com

Remy virgin hair is considered to be the best quality as it is natural human hair that has never been processed and is typically sourced from the first haircut a woman receives before she turns 30. It is especially recommended for women looking to perm their wigs. The cuticles in Remy Hair are not stripped, which makes them look completely natural.

Clip-in hair extensions are available in sizes 14"-22" and track weaving hair extensions come in sizes 8"-26".

To care for your wigs and hair extensions, Chantel's recommends conditioning as needed. Wigs and hair extensions can also be washed with soap and cold water (if needed) followed by conditioning and should be stored in a cool place. 

Chantel's is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

How to Lease Space in Santee Alley

Interested in opening a store in The Santee Alley? You've come to the right place! To lease a space in the alley you'll need to contact one of the various real estate groups representing properties in the area:

Kluger Properties
Lance Kluger
karana@msn.com
949-230-2530

Quantum Associates
I Hassan, Commercial Real Estate
213-745-4740
Ihassan@earthlink.net

North Alley Association
Santee Maple Alley Association
210 East Olympic Boulevard #202
Los Angeles, CA 90015
310-203-0101

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How much does it cost to rent space in Santee Alley?

Rent will vary by the size of the space and location. It is best to contact the leasing agents directly for rates.

How do I know what spaces are available?

The best way to see what spaces are available is to walk through the alley. Spaces that are for lease or will be on the market soon will have a banner with contact information for the leasing agent handling that property. If you cannot visit the alley, you will need to call the numbers listed above and inquiry are about vacancies.

The Story of Santee Alley

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.)

www.thesanteealley.com

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Weekly Fashion Finds: New Stores and Summer Clothes

The Santee Alley has discounted clothing and accessories for the entire family, including the kids. We especially love all the dresses we've been seeing lately. They're so unbelievably cute! The photo above is from Dulce, located at 1117-C S. Maple Ave. They carry clothing for both boys and girls, formal and casual. As you can see dresses start as low as $24.99 and they're currently running sales on boys clothing as well.

Obsession is one of our newest stores. We've seen multiple new stores open in the alley over the last couple of weeks. Most of them carry women's clothing, shoes, and/or accessories.

Trends: Short shorts and everything flag inspired. These two trends are shaping up to be two the strongest trends present in the alley. We've seen denim shorts in a wide range of colors as well as florals. Flag-inspired clothing is available for men and women. The American flag is an obvious favorite - tanks, hats, tops, shorts, and cell phone accessories.

My Secret Lingerie is located at 313 E 11th St.

Swimsuits and rave-style lingerie can be seen at most Santee Alley lingerie and hosiery stores. We expect to see more styles in the next few weeks as the weather gets warmer and EDC Vegas approaches.

Casual Cool at T & J Fashion Mart

Maxi skirts. Maxi dresses. Tank tops. Summer dresses. Leggings. Jean jackets. Skinny jeans. Flirty tops.

Located right by the 12th Street entrance of the alley, T & J is our go-to place for laid back style and closet staples, like the perfect maxi. This little corner store has great variety and a super friendly staff. John, the owner, usually rings up shoppers himself. He keeps inventory fresh and simple. Very "Cali-Cool" if you ask us.

T & J is open to both retail and wholesale shoppers. They are located at 311 E. 12th St. For purchase or pricing inquiries please contact the store directly at 213-746-9131 or email John at johnwa63@yahoo.com. Scroll down to see current styles...

FAQ: I'm visiting Santee Alley. Where do I find parking?

We get a lot of questions from first-time visitors regarding where to park, how much it costs to park, how far away are the parking lots from the actual alley, etc. If you are planning to visit Santee Alley and have parking concerns, read on! This post is for you!

There's two options for parking in the Fashion District: Street Meters or Private Lot Parking

Street parking near the alley can be difficult to find, especially on weekends when it is the most crowded here. However street parking can be good and is usually more affordable if you only have a quick errand to run. If you plan to shop for a good part of the day (as most people who visit the alley end up doing!) we recommend you park in a lot. Why?

• You don't have to worry about your meter running out and racing back to add more time. Or worst, forgetting about adding time to the meter and getting a parking ticket.
• Some meters have restrictions regarding how long you can be parked at any give space. If you do opt for street parking, always read ALL the signs!
• Depending on the time of day and location, private lots can actually be more affordable than street parking, and they are definitely more affordable for all-day shopping trips.

There were recent changes made to the meter rates and hours for Fashion District parking meters. You can read about those updates here.

Pricing for parking will vary depending on location, day of the week, and time of day. Private lot parking rates are usually lower in the evenings. In our experience, we've also found that parking rates tend to be lower on weekdays as opposed to weekends. The parking lot's proximity to the alley will also affect pricing. You can find a list of the nearby private parking lots here, and a general list of parking lots in the Fashion District here.

Most importantly, bring cash! Most of the parking lots will be cash only!

Santee Alley "Golden Egg" Sweepstakes

Join the egg hunt! Enter the Santee Alley "Golden Egg" Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $300 shopping spree! We'll be giving one lucky winner $300 in store credit and gift cards. The Sweepstakes will run through Easter Day, March 31, 2013. To enter simply go to http://woobox.com/spnpbg (make sure to like the Santee Alley Facebook page, you haven't already!) and enter your email address.

You must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of Southern California. The winner will be announced on April 1, 2013.

Cell Phone Accessories & Sunglasses

Royal Cell Phone Accessories is our go-to spot for cell phone and tablet cases. They have a wide variety of cases for all the new phone models, iPads, and iPad minis. With new inventory every week, this is definitely one of those spots where if you like it, you buy it on the spot, or you may never see it again.

Along with electronic accessories, Royal has one of the best sunglasses selection in the LA Fashion District. As a major wholesale sunglasses supplier, they tend to carry the newest styles before everyone else. Plus at only $5 each, who could resist? Added bonus, there's always "Buy X, get X free" deals going on here. The more you buy the more you save!

Cell phone and electronic accessories are retail only. Sunglasses are wholesale and retail. Pricing varies by item. For questions or purchase inquiries please contact Royal Accessories directly at 323-286-2084 or visit them at 1119-C Maple Ave. inside Santee Alley.

Royal Cell Phone Accessories
323-286-2084
1119-C Maple Ave. inside Santee Alley

Sensual Steps: Whoelsale & Retail Shoes

Sensual Steps is one of those stores in Santee Alley that make you do a double take as you walk by. It is, dare we say, quite sexy. That is if you are strongly attracted to sandals, pumps, flats, heels, flip-flops, and... well shoes in general. The best part? Everything here is $30 and under. Sandals range from about $10-$20 and heels are $20-$30. They also carry a smaller selection of girls shoes, as well as accessories and handbags.

Sensual steps sells wholesale and retail and specializes in young, trendy styles. They are located at 1117-D S. Maple Ave. inside Santee Alley. For inquiries, please contact them directly at 213-749-0704.

Sensual Steps
1117-D S. Maple Ave.
213-749-0704

FAQ: Thanksgiving & Black Friday

The Santee Alley has traditionally remained open for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. We expect the alley to remain open during the holiday and holiday weekend again this year. General business hours are also expected to remain the same, with businesses opening at approximately 10 a.m. and closing at around 5 p.m. If you are hoping to shop at a specific store or interested in special Black Friday deals, please contact the stores directly. The area around Santee Alley: Maple Avenue, Santee Street, the North Alley, and the Maple Alley, should be open as well. Please keep in mind, all our stores are independent businesses and we do not set hours of operation for our businesses.

If you have any questions please contact LA Fashion District Public Information Coordinator, Ariana Gomez at 213-488-1153 ext. 718 or ariana@fashiondistrict.org.

Discount Fall Fashions at Glitter Fashion

It's finally starting to feel like Fall here in sunny Southern California, which means it's time to replenish our Fall closets. Our fall must-haves this season consist of colorful blazers, long-sleeve chiffon tops (preferably with Peter Pan collars) and skinnies. Lucky for us, we found them all in one place and under $35 at Glitter Fashion.

Located at 142 in the Santee Alley, Glitter Fashion is filled with rows and rows of cute dress tops and jeggings and tights in every color.Tops range from $12.99 to $19.99, while jeggings and jeans range from $15 to $35. They even have coats starting at $15.99!

We love that that everything in the store is so well organized and they have by far one the largest selections of shirts for women in the alley. Many of their clothes can be found at stores like Forever 21, same quality and style for a fraction of the price.

Where to shop for Colombian shape wear in the LA Fashion District

Boasting one of the largest selections of Colombian body shapers and shape wear, Fashion Shop is a premier destination for wholesale and retail shape wear, lingerie, hosiery and intimate apparel in the Fashion District. Fashion shop carries post-surgery, postpartum, and weight loss shapers in sizes up to 5X plus size and Colombian hosiery, including support stockings for varicose veins. What you'll find at Fashion Shop:

• Intimate apparel by Coobie, Ilys, and Femina
• Lingerie, corsets and sexy costumes
• Hosiery, stockings, nylons, etc.
• Massage candles, lotion, and glow spritzer

Fashion Shop's expert staff can help you select the ideal shaper for your body type and needs. They carry six to seven different brands, with prices starting as low as $10 for a basic body shaper.

Fashion Shop carries Body Brand Organics' candles, massage oils, edible lotion and glow spritzer.

Halloween and role play costumes are in stock year round!

If you're looking a little extra shaping, try on a pair of Colombian butt shaping jeans, made specifically to help lift and shape the buttocks!

Visit Fashion Shop at 401 E. 11th St. Unit 110-111. Please contact them directly at 213-745-2082 for purchase and product inquiries. For exclusive deals and discounts follow Fashion Shop on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Naughty & Nice

Sugar and spice, and everything... naughty. Spice Intimates, in the Santee Alley, has Leg Avenue and Be Wicked costumes on sale now through Halloween. Costumes range from classic Halloween staples like cop and Wonder Woman, to new favorites: the sexy monster and cupcake girl. They also have plenty of stockings, hats and costume accessories for those of you looking to DIY your Halloween costume this year. Like them on Facebook to receive an extra in-store discount!

Spice Intimates is located at 1143 inside the Santee Alley. Questions? Give them a call at 213-741-9933.

Top 5 Tips for Shopping in Santee Alley

First-timers have no fear, the Santee Alley is here... to give you the inside scoop on how to shop the alley like a pro! Our veteran shoppers know there a few tips and tricks to follow to make the most out of your shopping experience. The Santee Alley is unlike any other outdoor shopping experience on the West Coast. If you've never been to the alley before, it's important to note it is actually an alley! The main entrance is on Olympic Boulevard between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, and we suggest you start your shopping here and make your way down. So put on your walking shoes and follow our lead for the ultimate Santee Alley shopping experience!

1. Check out the LA Fashion District website. The LA Fashion District website offers "Shopping Hints" for the entire district that cover all the basics, like wear comfortable shoes, bring cash, and don't be afraid to bargain. They also have a helpful listing of the most commonly used industry terms. For example, "overrun" refers to extra merchandise that's been left after retailers have filled their orders, and they are often sold at discounted prices. If you've never visited Santee Alley, we highly recommend you download a map.

2. Park in a lot. One of the most important reasons to bring cash is to pay for parking. There are meters throughout the district, but we suggest parking in all day lot. The most affordable lots are usually cash-only. There are multiple lots located around the alley. Look for the parking lot employees waving flags. They stand outside the parking entrance to wave cars in. Please note, all parking lots are privately owned. Locate parking lots near the alley here.

3. Everything is final sale. Most stores in the alley will not accept returns or exchanges. This means all items are final sale, as is. Make sure to inspect your items before you purchase them to ensure you have the correct size, they are not damaged, etc.  

4. Try it on!  Once upon a time, dressing rooms were basically non-existent. Now days, many stores in the alley offer fitting rooms for their customers. If fitting rooms are available, always try it on to avoid running into problems with tip number three. Insider tip: Special occasion/prom dresses are not all cut the same. You may be a different size in different dresses. ALWAYS try the dress you are going to purchase on, before you pay. Even if it's the same dress in the same size you tried on at a different store, try it on again!

5. Take advantage of wholesale pricing. "Wholesale" refers to the business of selling large quantities of goods, typically to be sold in retail stores. Wholesale buyers must have business licenses, and they are offered better pricing because they are buying in bulk. However, you don't need a business license to get a good deal. Many businesses in the alley will offer wholesale pricing to their regular shoppers so long as they meet the item minimum (the minimum varies by store). They will also allow you to mix-and-match sizes and styles. Insider tip: Take some friends shopping with you and combine your purchases to meet the item minimums. Many of the stores will allow it!

Where to Buy Handbags Direct From the Manufacturer

BIC Plus is a handbag manufacturer, importer, distributor, wholesaler, and as of recently retail vendor. After years of distributing to handbag stores in the Fashion District, BIC Plus finally opened to the public four months ago, offering retail customers the same pricing as large-quantity buyers. Prices for handbags start as low as $8 and go as high as $25 for better quality purses and materials. Wholesale prices are even more affordable. The average price for a higher quality purse is $18. Wholesale pricing is also offered to shoppers who purchase 12 or more pieces. Friends can combine their purchases and mix and match to reach the minimum.

Why is BIC Plus able to offer such low pricing? Not only do they import and distribute large quantities, they also manufacture many of their own styles. When you purchase from BIC, you are purchasing directly from the source, cutting out the middle-man costs. At any given time, you will find approximately 20 styles that are exclusive to BIC. You won't find them anywhere else in the district.

You can view their inventory or order online at www.FantasticPlus.com. Visit their Facebook page at www.Faceboom.com/FantasticPlus to stay up to date on the newest styles and specials.

Visit BIC Plus at 1030 Maple Ave. Los Angeles, CA.
213-741-1963
Open M-F 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.