Night at the Gallery
The owners of Los Angeles boutiques Noni and Black Market LA feel that fashion is art. So when both stores hosted parties on June 25, it was no surprise that fine artists were at the center of attention.
Noni, in the heart of Larchmont Village, feted New York artists Edgar Ortiz and Skriblz with San Francisco artist Sam Flores, whose Aztec- and anime-influenced drawings hung on the wall.
A number of young up-and-coming designers joined Noni co-owners Elaine Lewis and Meghan Misaki. One notable was Daniel Green of Pasadena, Calif.–based Saddlelites, a new jeans maker on the block who started his business in the fall of 2003 and sells his line at Hollywood Trading Co.–Fred Segal Santa Monica and Colette in Paris. Claire Steele of Los Angeles–based Jessie Steel Aprons showed pictures of her hip kitchenware. Bod Boyle—chief of Garden Grove, Calif.–based Giant Skateboard Distribution, which will be launching a skatewear line with actor Jason Lee later this year—demonstrated his deejaying skills at the party alongside top underground deejays including Peanut Butter Wolf.
On the other side of town in West Los Angeles’ Sawtelle district, Black Market LA displayed the anime-inspired art of Wil Lin. The art mixed easily with streetwear by Costa Mesa, Calif.–based RVCA and clothing by Los Angeles designers including Grnappletree, Gentle Fawn and Femme Arsenal.
Black Market LA will move its mix of fashion and art on July 2 to a two-story, 1,400- square-foot store on First Street in Long Beach, Calif., in the heart of the Arts District. The store will be in good company. Edgy streetwear stores, including Seams and sneaker aficionado boutique Proper, are neighbors. —Andrew Asch
