E.P.I.C. Lives Up to Its Name

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One of the things we love about the recent retail infusion in Echo Park is that it's not just a bunch of people lured in by cheap rent and access to a desirable market; the store owners take their time to create something nice that fits into the eclectic neighborhood while still maintaining a distinctive flavor. It's a field that includes recent entries like Future and Warwick; just-opened-on-Friday E.P.I.C. (Echo Park Independent Co-Op) is a great addition to the mix.

It's a simple, long-overdue concept: they've brought together a thoughtful collection of pieces from local designers. The pieces are daring, cutting edge, arty?it's as if founders Rhianon Jones and Tristan Scott have taken it upon themselves to bust the perception that all LA does is jeans and tees. (That being said, yes, you can get a few cool tees at the store.) Crazy hologram pants from Brian Lichtenberg. Feathered necklaces, fringed capelets, glam dresses, even chocolate bear heads. (Relax. They're small. Vanishing Creatures is the company that makes 'em, to promote conservation, sustainability, and good chocolate.)

The collection is wonderful, as is the way it all fits together. Jones and Scott have created a seamless environment for art clothing, art and entertainment. The store is a wide-open space—well, at least it is, normally, but it started filling up ten minutes after the doors opened on Friday night. Even though it's big and not necessarily intimate, it's the kind of place where you just want to sit down and hang out. As the store evolves, E.P.I.C. is one to watch for just-beneath-the-radar local talent.
· E.P.I.C. [Facebook]