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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Discounted Brand Name Clothing for Men

B. Matthew, one of Santee Alleys' oldest men's clothing retailers, is known for  it's authentic department store brands at knock-off prices. Here you'll find brands such as True Religion, RVCA, Indigo Star, and Volcom. Prices vary, but to give you an idea an RVCA T-shirt that retails for $30 at department stores is only $18.99 at B.Matthew!

B. Matthew offers a mix of casual and more formal men's wear including, t-shirts, dress shirts, jeans, jackets, leather jackets, tailored coats, blazers and sweaters.

For purchase or pricing inquiries please contact B. Matthew directly at 1123-C S. Maple Ave. or give them at call at 213-745-6409.

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.

FREE Marketing Workshop!

 
The LA Fashion District will be hosting a FREE marketing workshop for all Fashion District businesses on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 from noon to 2 p.m. The workshop is open to all Santee Alley business owners, as part of the Capital Connections program, in partnership with VEDC and PACE. For more information or to RSVP for the event, please contact LA Fashion District BID Public Information Coordinator, Ariana Gomez at 213-488-1153 ext. 718.

Wholesale and Custom Hats at Cap Zone

Cap Zone is a wholesale hat and accessories vendor offering fedoras, beach hats, caps, scarves, and hair accessories in both kid and adult sizes. The hat wholesale vendor will ship to any address and provides drop off services. They take custom orders and can provide manufacturing services for special order requests. For pricing, minimums, and order inquiries contact Cap Zone directly at 213-742-6664 or visit their online store www.capzonela.com.

Cap Zone is open seven days a week from 9 a.m to 5:30 p.m. They are closed on the last Sunday of every month. Take a look at their in-store inventory below!

Caps Zone
225 E. 11th St.
Los Angeles, CA
213-742-6664
capzone225@gmail.com

WHOLESALE ONLY

AP Design: Plus-Size and Custom Designs

Aaron Perez, a retired Mexican designer, set up shop in the Fashion District years ago to manufacture and sell his clothing line AP Design. The store has since expanded to four locations in the Fashion District and sells trendy women's clothing as well as some of Mr. Perez's unique designs. The family-run business prides itself in having the newest styles, with new inventory arriving in stores twice a week.

AP Design also makes custom-clothing for pageants, the Latin entertainment industry, and special events. They take custom in-store orders for quinceañeras, prom, and weddings. Everything is made in LA!

AP carries plus-size women's fashions for retail and wholesale. Much of their plus-size inventory (like the rest of their merchandise) is comprised of casual and party dresses. Super cute!

For wholesale and retail purchasing and manufacturing inquiries contact AP Design directly:

1223 S. Santee St.
213-747-0902

1229 S. Santee St.
213-748-2383

1059 Maple Ave. (inside Santee Alley)
213-765-0177

Look Sexy, Feel Confident in Ery's Party Dresses

It's no secret that what you wear affects how you feel, that's why Ery wants you to look sexy and confident at all times. Venezuelan actress Erikendy Aguilar, opened her boutique on Santee Street with the goal of bringing sexy fashion to all women. Ery Sexy Moda's Motto: All women are beautiful. Their Purpose: Making all women, regardless of age, shape or size, look and feel good in their own skin.

At Ery's you'll find party dresses and flirty tops in array of cuts, prints, and colors. It's not just body-con styles and plunging-necklines, so often associated with "sexy dresses". Though there are revealing styles, the boutique offers something for everyone, including more conservative looks in bold hues. For those of you who are a little more daring and looking for a an eye-catching number, check out the blue dress below - bold, daring, and definitely sexy!

Ery offers affordable prices with most dresses priced at $45 and below. The store also sells wholesale and allows buyers to mix and match pieces. This means you can select different, styles, colors and sizes to complete your order.

For wholesale and retail inquiries please contact Ery Sexy Moda at 213-746-4103 or visit them at 1016 S. Santee St. You can also find Ery Sexy Moda on Facebook!

New Tops, Dresses, Jackets, and Vests for Women at Santee Alley

You may remember Vickie's Fashion from our previous post, where we introduced you to Vickie and her amazing  boutique. As some of you may remember, Vickie stocks her store with new inventory every day and this week we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at her latest styles. Scroll down for some of our favorite new looks from over 50 of the newest styles now available at Vickie's Fashion, and check out our Facebook page to stay up to date on the latest trends and styles available in Santee Alley.

Questions? Contact Vickie's Fashion directly at 213-745-4336 or send them an email at vickiesfashion@aol.com.

Is fashion your passion?

The sparkling L.Apparel sign says it all. What you will find in the store will be girly, pretty, and definitely get people's attention. The newly relocated retail and wholesale store offers the latest casual and contemporary fashions for young women. They have everything from fashion tops to jumpsuits and are one of the few stores in the Fashion District who carry dance wear, offering authentic American Apparel jumpsuits and leggings at discounted prices. "Fashion is their passion" and they sure know how to show it! Just look at their current inventory...

We chatted with L.Apparel's owner who told us she actually got her start in the Fashion District early on, working at her parent's store, and eventually opened up her own location. One of the most important aspects of her business she says, is providing the best quality possible at the most affordable price and a touch of personality. While other stores may sell only "best-sellers", she stocks L.Apparel with everything that would be in her dream closet, mixing and matching current styles with staple pieces.

Bright colors and prints are really popular this summer. Another big seller - "the catsuit". The body-hugging jumpsuit is available in black, fluorescent lime, and blue. For all you jean-lovers out there, L.Apparel has "cosmetic jeans," which create the illusion of a great *ahem* rear end with a wider waistband, tapered leg and specially sewn seams.

And did we mention this place has air conditioning? So you can shop, save, and escape the heat. Sounds like a deal to us! You can visit L.Apparel at 323 E. 11th St., in the Santee Alley area. Don't have time to visit the alley?  Browse their online shop at www.laapparelstore.com.

For purchase and product inquiries please contact the store directly at:

L.Apparel
323 E. 11th Street
213-749-0370

It's a Casual Affair at Adrian's Shoes & Clothes

Adrian's Tenis & Ropa had it's grand opening on Santee Street last month. One of the newest retailers and wholesalers in the Fashion District, Adrian's offers causal men's and women's clothing and shoes and brings a different kind of standard to the retail experience in the Santee Alley area. The well-merchandised and very organized store offers buyers private fitting rooms and sitting area to try on shoes or relax while family and friends finish shopping. Adrian, who owns and manages the store, takes great pride in making the shopping experience as pleasant as possible for his customers. He grew up helping in his family's retail business in Colima, Mexico, and after a stint as a logistics engineer in Chicago, decided to move to California and continue with the family business. He hopes the family will open  new locations in the U.S., but in the meantime he'll be bringing the latest in street fashion and casual attire to Downtown L.A.

Looking for Vans? You're guaranteed to save at least $10 when you buy them at Adrian's, compared to full price at department stores. You'll also find a small selection of imported Mexican brands. One of Adrian's top-sellers are the Squalo flip-flops for men. He hopes to add more Mexican brands and products to his store in the near future.

Adrian & one his customers pose for a photo.

Interested in making a purchase? Contact the store directly at 213-259-4021 or visit Adrian's Shoes & Clothes at 1230 Santee St.

Cherry-4U, Shoes for Everyone

When we first realized we had walked into a shoe store called Cherry-4U we weren't sure what to expect. However, we soon discovered the name has little (if anything) to do with the products and styles offered at the store. What we did find, was a wide selection of women's shoes, a friendly staff ready to help, and unique styles in every color under the sun. Whether you like classic pumps or are looking for that statement shoe to make your outfit, Cherry-4U has it all.

Cherry-4U had an astonishingly wide selection of these heel-less wedges. We've seen increasingly more and more stores in the alley carrying this style of shoe. As the trend continues to grow, we can't help but wonder how hard or easy, it is to walk in these... What do you guys think? Is this trend here to stay?

Need help getting your size? Looks for the guys and gals in the red polos for assistance. Or contact Cherry-4U at 213-747-0199 or 818-943-1256.

Cherry-4U

1049 Maple Ave.

in the Santee Alley

Moose: The Place for Luggage & Accessories

Offering the latest styles in handbags and luggage for over seven years, Moose Luggage & Accessories is a staple of the alley. The big moose sign in front of the store welcomes shoppers into their newly renovated space. Though Moose has a great selection of quality luggage, handbags, and computer cases, their best kept secret is the select inventory of designer purses. That's right. Moose is the place to find authentic designer handbags at discounted prices. Designer bags are highly coveted and only a few are available at the store at time. Inventory changes every week with prices starting as low as $15.

Moose also offers a small selection of jewelry and accessories. They are a retail and wholesale business.

Moose Luggage & Accessories

319 E. 12th St. in the Santee Alley

Los Angeles, CA

213-745-6970

BZ Studio Offers Retail and Wholsale Men's Casual Shirts and Outerwear

For 20 years BZ Studio has been selling wholesale and retail menswear out of their 1145 Maple Ave. location inside the Santee Alley. The family-run business focuses on men's casual shirts and suits, but also imports leather jackets and offers customers a selection of men's outerwear along with their extensive shirt and suit inventory. The father-and-son duo are a testimony to the history and evolution of Santee Alley. They originally chose to relocate their business from New York to the Fashion District because they wanted to immerse themselves in the wholesale market. As the alley evolved to accommodate retail shoppers so did their business.

BZ Studio aims to give customers the best quality at the most affordable prices possible. The average price for one of their casual long sleeve button-ups is $20, and if something doesn't fit quite right they also offer tailoring services.

Pictured above: Some of BZ Studio's top-selling styles

BZ Studio
1145 S. Maple Ave. in the Santee Alley
213-746-2528