Where to Shop For Artisan-made Accessories
21/02/2019
Where to Shop For Artisan-made Accessories
Gone are the days when the mall was mecca; discerning shoppers look to the artisan for lovingly handmade one-off pieces. Here are our favourite artisan accessory makers in LA.
Everyone from Vogue to Beyoncé is raving about the spec-tacular, limited-edition his n’ hers face furniture at Ahlem Eyewear, a trailblazing local brand from Parisian import Ahlem Manai-Platt. Conceived in Venice, LA, crafted in Oyonnax, France, the frames are painstakingly hand-carved from yellow, rose and white gold-plated palladium, with customisable Christian Dalloz hydrophobic lenses, and named for chic French place names – unsurprisingly, the ‘Pigalle’ is a so-hot pair.
Swing by sprawling WeHo showroom Roseark, the last word in edgy statement jewellery. More than 200 avant-garde designers feature, including LA-based upcomers like Jaine K and Daniela Villegas, as well as Roseark’s own distinctive line, with price points ranging from $200 to $20,000. The earrings selection is particularly delicious; plus there’s a lush private garden out back, should you wish to model any of your buys for an ‘impromptu’ Insta-shoot.
For a more intimate tête-à-tête, hook up with gempress Suzanne Felsen, who will see prospective punters by appointment only in her LA studio. Chunky one-off pieces pop with colourful a gemstones like green emerald slices, fire opals, rubellite crescents, and watermelon tourmalines, framed by your choice of 18K yellow, rose, white gold or platinum. Her range of black diamond engagement rings is particularly striking.
With two boutiques in LA, Gogosha Optique is all about giving good face. Eyewear expert Julia Gogosha prides herself on the fashion-god-given ability to select the perfect pair to frame your lovely mug, drawing from her hand-selected cache of local and worldwide brands, big and small – including the aforementioned Ahlem Eyewear, bien sûr.
Although designed, manufactured and impeccably handcrafted in Motor City, Shinola’s spiffy timepieces, leatherware, bicycles and jewellery are a style mainstay on the West Coast. Fittingly perched on Venice hipster strip Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the store showcases everything artisan from mother of pearl-inlaid watch faces to customisable Navigator leather messenger bags and steel-frame cruiser bikes.
Ahlem Eyewear / 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd / Venice / +1 424 268 4236 / 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat-Sun / ahlemeyewear.com
Roseark / 1111 N Crescent Heights Blvd / West Hollywood / +1 323 822 3600 / 11am-6.30pm Mon-Fri / roseark.com
Suzanne +1 323 653 / by appt only / suzannefelsen.com
Gogosha Optique / 8238 W 3rd St / Beverly Grove / +1 323 655 1122 / by appt Mon-Wed, 11am-7pm Thu-Sat, noon-5pm Sun / + branch / gogosha.com
Shinola / 1623 Abbot Kinney Blvd / Venice / +1 424 322 2177 / 11am-7pm daily / shinola.co.uk
Gone are the days when the mall was mecca; discerning shoppers look to the artisan for lovingly handmade one-off pieces. Here are our favourite artisan accessory makers in LA.
Everyone from Vogue to Beyoncé is raving about the spec-tacular, limited-edition his n’ hers face furniture at Ahlem Eyewear, a trailblazing local brand from Parisian import Ahlem Manai-Platt. Conceived in Venice, LA, crafted in Oyonnax, France, the frames are painstakingly hand-carved from yellow, rose and white gold-plated palladium, with customisable Christian Dalloz hydrophobic lenses, and named for chic French place names – unsurprisingly, the ‘Pigalle’ is a so-hot pair.
Swing by sprawling WeHo showroom Roseark, the last word in edgy statement jewellery. More than 200 avant-garde designers feature, including LA-based upcomers like Jaine K and Daniela Villegas, as well as Roseark’s own distinctive line, with price points ranging from $200 to $20,000. The earrings selection is particularly delicious; plus there’s a lush private garden out back, should you wish to model any of your buys for an ‘impromptu’ Insta-shoot.
For a more intimate tête-à-tête, hook up with gempress Suzanne Felsen, who will see prospective punters by appointment only in her LA studio. Chunky one-off pieces pop with colourful a gemstones like green emerald slices, fire opals, rubellite crescents, and watermelon tourmalines, framed by your choice of 18K yellow, rose, white gold or platinum. Her range of black diamond engagement rings is particularly striking.
With two boutiques in LA, Gogosha Optique is all about giving good face. Eyewear expert Julia Gogosha prides herself on the fashion-god-given ability to select the perfect pair to frame your lovely mug, drawing from her hand-selected cache of local and worldwide brands, big and small – including the aforementioned Ahlem Eyewear, bien sûr.
Although designed, manufactured and impeccably handcrafted in Motor City, Shinola’s spiffy timepieces, leatherware, bicycles and jewellery are a style mainstay on the West Coast. Fittingly perched on Venice hipster strip Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the store showcases everything artisan from mother of pearl-inlaid watch faces to customisable Navigator leather messenger bags and steel-frame cruiser bikes.
Ahlem Eyewear / 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd / Venice / +1 424 268 4236 / 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat-Sun / ahlemeyewear.com
Roseark / 1111 N Crescent Heights Blvd / West Hollywood / +1 323 822 3600 / 11am-6.30pm Mon-Fri / roseark.com
Suzanne +1 323 653 / by appt only / suzannefelsen.com
Gogosha Optique / 8238 W 3rd St / Beverly Grove / +1 323 655 1122 / by appt Mon-Wed, 11am-7pm Thu-Sat, noon-5pm Sun / + branch / gogosha.com
Shinola / 1623 Abbot Kinney Blvd / Venice / +1 424 322 2177 / 11am-7pm daily / shinola.co.uk