Anyone who has been to Los Angeles will tell you that it’s one of the best shopping cities they’ve ever been to. From interior design and florals to clothing and books, there’s no shortage of beautiful, unique designs and pieces for you to bring into your home and wardrobe.
Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite independent small businesses around the city to add to your next LA itinerary.
Teressa Foglia (Malibu)
If you’ve ever been interested in adding hats to your closet but don’t know where to start, a visit to milliner Teressa Foglia’s Malibu store is a must. They have plenty of ready-to-wear options available in both felt and straw, but where they shine is in their custom work. With the help of their team, you can design a hat from scratch, selecting everything from the color to the width of the brim and the height of the crown, as well as each adornment and charm that gets hand-sewn onto the piece. Though you’ll have to wait a little longer for a custom hat (they mail it to you for free!), you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece that will live in your wardrobe for years.
The Scent Room (Larchmont Village)
For those with the most discerning noses, visit The Scent Room in Larchmont Village. They specialize in niche perfumes and home fragrances sourced from all over the world, so even the most experienced fragrance connoisseurs may be able to find something they’ve never seen (or rather, smelled) before. The brands in The Scent Room focus on fragrance artistry and are typically crafted in small batches so you can find the perfect signature scent for yourself or a loved one.
Goodies (5 locations + the Rose Bowl Flea Market)
Furnishing your home with smalls can be expensive, which is probably why Goodies has made such a splash in LA. They originally started as a stand at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, offering unique home goods for under $25, and have since grown to five locations across LA and Orange County. And though their footprint has expanded, their price point hasn’t. They offer a range of versatile ceramic, wood, and marble pieces that can fit into any home.
Suay (Arts District)
It’s no secret that textile waste is a growing problem worldwide, especially in large cities like Los Angeles. Enter Suay, an eco-centered sewing and production shop that takes discarded fabric and upcycles it into streetwear and other goods. Their mission not only aims to reduce textile waste but also supports garment workers’ rights in the US and abroad. Stop by their store to shop for their one-of-a-kind, upcycled designs, or participate in their Community Dye Bath to give older pieces in your closet a new life.
Arcana (Culver City)
If you collect coffee table books, you can spend hours getting lost in the aisles of Arcana in Culver City. This specialty bookstore offers a curated selection of new, rare, and out-of-print books, catalogs, and ephemera on 20th and 21st-century art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, cinema, music, and food. They often host events, book signings, and exhibits in the space, so keep an eye on their social media and website to stay up to date.
Olive Ateliers (Arts District)
A few spaces in the city will take your breath away, such as the Olive Ateliers showroom in the DTLA Arts District. This cult-favorite home goods store curates vintage and antique furniture and smalls imported from all around the world. Their pieces are often imperfect and feel “found,” bringing character into your home with truly unique touches. The city’s most coveted interior designers source their projects from Olive Ateliers, so you can be sure that anything you find here will be worthy of a house tour-ready home.
Wild Flora (Studio City)
Just a short drive over the hills into Studio City is Wild Flora, a floral, plant, and home goods boutique. Not only do they offer traditional florist services for events, but you can also shop fresh stems to build your bouquets and their assortment of dried florals for forever bouquets. They also have home decor items, such as candles and bud vases, as well as any supplies you need to keep your plants and flowers healthy.
Heath Ceramics (Fairfax)
If you’re looking for handmade ceramics, you can’t pass up a visit to Heath Ceramics’ shop in the Fairfax District. They started as a mom-and-pop ceramics brand in 1948, offering their takes on pots and dinnerware, and have since expanded into ceramic tiles and more. Their store also offers a selection of textiles and furniture from other brands and other smalls like glassware and flatware made to complement their ceramics.
Flax Pen to Paper (Westwood)
Stationary enthusiasts won’t find a better shop than Flax Pen to Paper. It’s something of a Westwood legend (the original location opened as an art supply store in 1931), and has evolved into the specialty store it is today. Whether you’re looking for paper, cards, journals, or fountain pens, even the most experienced calligraphers will be able to find supplies for their stationery needs.
Form Los Angeles (West Hollywood)
Regardless of whether or not you are in the market for custom-built stone furniture, anyone interested in interior design needs to prioritize a visit to Form LA’s showroom in West Hollywood. The atelier designs and produces bespoke stone fixtures, from bathroom vanities to coffee tables and everything in between. Their showroom showcases their original designs, ornamented with lighting, textiles, objects, and more, to show how their pieces can fit into your home. You’ll leave with a camera roll full of inspiration for how to style your space.
