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Los Angeles has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around LA that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.
Photo via South Pasadena Patch
Jennifer Parry Dodge is the designer behind made-in-LA line ERMIE. Dodge also frequently collaborates with other designers and artists to produce handmade accessories and knitwear. Here, she reveals one of her favorite spots in South Pasadena for unique textiles, accessories, ceramics and more.
This is a tough one to give up, but my recommendation is Yoko Antiques in South Pasadena on Mission. It's filled to the brim with antique ceramics, textiles, small furniture pieces, tools, jewelry, etc. There's something for everyone. I've found amazing hand-woven indigo dyed textiles, books on traditional Japanese crafts, hand-painted kimonos and a funky statement necklace made of carved bone and wood. The owner is very sweet and we always chat about textiles when I visit. Usually, she is working on some kind of craft of her own (she makes small stuffed toy rabbits wearing tiny kimonos that she creates from scraps of vintage cloth). A bit of digging is involved, but that is part of the fun. I always find something unusual and beautiful each time I pay a visit.
· ERMIE [Official Site]
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