Valley Star

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Valley Life

Sandra Reyes/ Valley Star

I have lived in Los Angeles for more than a year, but I still haven't gotten around to exploring what lies over the hill. With that in mind, and Spring just around the corner, I headed to the Los Angeles Fashion District.

Spanning more than 90 blocks of Downtown, the Fashion District offers textiles, produce, electronics, cosmetics and of course, all the fashion that you can lay your hands on.

My first stop was Santee Alley, which runs parallel to Santee Street, between Olympic and Pico. The alley is an orgy of color and sound, filled with sellers hocking everything from discount perfume to shoes of all descriptions. There are some good deals to be had, and sellers are willing to haggle with you, but there is a catch. The alley is notorious for counterfeit goods, so if the bargain sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The next stop was the flower market, located on Wall Street between 7th and 8th. The flower market charges the general public admission, so if you want to avoid the extra cost, there a plenty of florists on 8th Street to purchase from. Again, there are plenty of bargains to find - I would have bought an arrangement of lilies for $10 if I didn't have to haul them back home on the subway.

According to the Fashion District Web site, many wholesale sellers open their doors to the public on Saturdays, though on the day I went, this seemed not to be the case. It was disappointing that many stores were closed or not willing to sell to the public at all. The lack of food was also a let down. There were food carts dotted all over the district, but no matter how hard I tried to follow my nose, I could not pinpoint where the tantalizing smell of Asian cuisine was coming from.

There are several things a budding fashionista should know before trekking to the fashion district. Many retailers do not accept credit cards and ATMs are few and far between, so be armed with an adequate amount of cash. Having cash also helps in bartering with sellers for a better deal.

Visit fashiondistrict.org to plan your trip, as it has a wealth of information regarding trading hours, directions and special events. You can also view a map of the district, but if you want a free hard copy of the map, you will need to request it in advance as the version on the website is not printable.

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