Melrose Avenue shopping area losing its cachet

This saturdays Los Angeles Times Business section front page talks about the good old very known Melrose strip. It is sad to read how this area once so popular is loosing money. If you go and walk its streets, you are able to see how every other store has closed down, or is being leased out due to the recession. People are not spending money they way they were. The article talks about how most stores have began bringing in wholesale clothing which gives more variety and also keeping the price points lower, however customers knowing that rather will go to downtown and places like santee and get these items at a much lower price.

It is very sad to see also some of the stores that actually have closed some like aardvarks which even though you are being vintage clothing stil kept their prices very in comparison to the over priced botiques there. The only bright side to this story is that now the square foot for leasing is $2-3 per sq foot. It makes it a little intimidating for some of us designers that even when you think you can just go out there and start making money right away there are these stores that have been doing it for years and there is no money to make out there ... for now.


*Image Credits: Michael Robinson Chavez, Los Angeles Times*
*Original Article:By Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times *

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Call of the Wild

La times magazine today was a fun read! The one thing that cough my eye was one of their articles or pictorial if you would titled "Call of the wild", which touches base on how sometimes inspiration does come from the source meaning animals. And this is exactly what they said...

"An indulgent assortment of fall fashion accessories inspired by an array of nature's most unique and beautiful creatures"

I checked back with the website...Latimesmagazine.com and to be honest I do not understand why people are so fuzzed about the article, leaving comments .. I think its beautiful and cute. Of course I do also understand these fashion accessories do come to a price to not us in general but to the animal who has put forth its own life to become a handbag or a coat for someone..

I am neither for or against the use of animal skin, fur, for the benefit of brand designers profits. It really starts at the root, it starts with actually the individual buying it. I believe if there is people out there who can afford it and do not see this as being a problem then this MARKET will always be in business. I also believe that since these animals are not endangered, nor is it illegal for these designers to be using that fur or skin, once it is i think it also has to do with our own system here and again MONEY, PROFIT, FASHION, AND THE DESIRE to have something so luxurious wins and prevails again...

I would definitely would love to hear any opinions on this matter because its an issue that still is debated all the time, ANIMAL CRUELTY...is there really such a thing?... or is it how the animal dies?OR what it goes through before being killed for the skin....?



*Credits:Photgraphs by Ilan Rubin Original Article: Latimesmagazine.com
Accessories Shown above:
Bottega Veneta Billiard Cocco tie-dye clutch: $9,500
Christian Louboutin Toundra black napa and coyote-fur platform ankle booty: $2,095
Louis Vuitton Damier Clair-Obscur fox-fur bag: $11,200
Yves Saint Laurent Palais Mohawk pump: $1,070
Brian Atwood Fiona leopard python closed-toe platform: $770
Van Cleef & Arpels Aliris ear clips with diamonds, cabochon turquoise, spinels and garnets set in 18K white gold