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Small Business Saturday: LA's 20 Coolest Indie Shops

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Now that the big box madness that is Black Friday has come and gone, it's time to toast Small Business Saturday—a day when shoppers across the country are encouraged to support small, local boutiques.

While we're definitely not above shopping at huge retailers for necessities (where else can you buy a juicer, iPad, and electric toothbrush all in one place?), the real magic takes place at LA's many independent stores, where inspiring fashion thrives and incredible shop owners work tirelessly to keep their dreams alive.

Give thanks to your neighborhood mom and pop shop today by paying them a visit and picking up one of their unique, hard-to-find offerings. Since our city is filled with an overwhelming amount of treasure troves, we've rounded up 20 go-tos, ranging from high fashion sanctuaries like Maxfield to cult designer incubators like TenOverSix to beautification stations like Violet Grey. Some are even hosting special deals for the occasion, so keep an eye out!

(Photo: Alchemy Works)

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Alchemy Works

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Part gallery, part retail shop and part events space, this menswear-happy concept space opened last year. Bonus for eyewear junkies: it's also home to Warby Parker's out-of-the-box showroom. [Photo: Alchemy Works]

Broome St. General Store

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The inspiring gals behind How You Glow said it best: "It's filled with some incredible home goods, teas, coffee, beauty products, and hand-picked vintage clothes, and not to mention some mouth-watering foods like delicious sandwiches, chocolates from Valerie Confections, and jams from SQIRL. Whether it's a new hand cream, a vintage top, or a new preserve, we always leave here with something special." [Photo]

Creatures of Comfort

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Every in-the-known fashion influencer knows that Creatures of Comfort's quaint Melrose shop is a holy grail for designer essentials. This is the place to find the perfect Acne Studios jacket, LD Tuttle flatform, Building Block bag, Karen Walker shades, and a whole lots more.

Des Kohan

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We love the clean and minimalist interior of juice-loving owner Desiree's designer-approved shop, which carries items from Helmut Lang, Jenni Kayne, Azzedine Alaïa and many more. [Photo]

Dream Collective

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Opened since 2012, the boutique showcases owner Kathryn Bentley's two jewelry lines including her fine gems and her Dream Collective costume line. For quality, handmade pieces, this Silver Lake shop is worth swinging by.
This home furnishings and personal accessories haven is filled with items from stateside and global design stars. Merch highlights include Amy Moss jewelry, Tom Dixon candles, and Max Lamb Crockery. [Photo]
Avant-garde style is alive and well here, thanks to an impeccable inventory for men and women that includes Acne Studios, Rick Owens Drkshdw, and Haider Ackermann.
This Elle-approved boutique is littered with Isabel Marant, Clare Vivier and Rag & Bone.

Maxfield

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Maxfield is frequented by tastemakers and big spenders alike (James Goldstein and the Olsen twins are regulars). Shop a new and vintage selection of goods from Chanel, Rick Owens, and Saint Laurent, plus plenty of intimidatingly-expensive Balmain. It's also home to the only Apple Watch shop-in-shop in the country. No big deal.

Mohawk General Store

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Wallets by Comme de Garcons, threads by A.P.C., and shoes by Rachel Comey are just a few reasons why this Silver Lake stop continually makes "best of LA" shopping lists. (Stop by its neighboring, Dries Van Noten-approved shop Mohawk Man while you're at it.)
The concept of this pink-walled boutique is simple: stock pretty clothes and accessories from lesser-known female designers. Shopkeep Whitney Bickers favors lines like Dusen Dusen, Clashist, Charlotte Stone, and Samantha Pleet. There's also a rack of carefully-edited vintage.
Tucked away in DTLA's Arts District, Poketo is the go-to destination for a variety of unique gifts. The husband-and-wife owned store features limited-edition vinyl artist wallets, adorable stationery, and crazy-enchanting accessories. (Don't forget to stop by their travel-inspired outpost at The Line Hotel in Koreatown, too.)

Satine Boutique

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Satine is a celeb stylist go-to. Known for offering wearable, cutting-edge fashion (they were one of the first to support Alexander Wang), this shop's current roster includes Isabel Marant, Kenzo, and Vanessa Bruno. (Be sure to check out both of Satine's Venice locations, too.)
Relocated to Melrose back in 2013, this shop features impeccably selected vintage and an edgy house line of destroyed tees and cropped sweatshirts. Don't miss the jewelry selection, which includes architectural finds and chunky handmade necklaces.

TENOVERSIX

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Playful and fashion-forward clothes, shoes, and accessories in a setting that's as artful and well-designed as the wares themselves. Brands include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Karen Walker, and Rachel Comey.

Anine Bing

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Danish model-turned-designer Anine Bing opened her LA flagship boutique last August, offering exquisite basics beloved by blogstars and star-stars alike. We're huge fans of Bing's super-thin tees, dainty bralettes, and badass booties.

Assembly Los Angeles

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Assembly's LA-raised designer and CEO used to own fellow Indie 38-er Scout. Now that the minimalist-cool retailer has made permanent fans out of the Olsens and Erin Wasson in New York, CFDA-approved Assembly has opened its second location here, offering sleek women's and men's apparel, as well as fine jewelry, select vintage, and accessories from a roster of emerging indie and international brands, including its in-house line. [Photo: Assembly]

Clare V. West Hollywood

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Although we're forever fans of LA accessories designer Clare Vivier's Silver Lake flagship, this new location is too charming for its own good. Located in A.P.C.'s former off-Melrose space, the Parisian-perfect shop hosts all of Clare V.'s best-selling accessories (monogrammable clutches, bags, tech covers, tiny leather goods), mixed in with some of the designer's favorite things, like books, vintage magazines, jewelry, and botany. [Photo]

Mixed Business

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If you haven't had a chance to catch Mixed Business at the Rose Bowl Flea, hit up its cool-girl-frequented permanent store in Silver Lake. Here you'll find high-quality creations from the in-house line, as well as a hand-picked selection of fine vintage clothing and contemporary brands for women, men, and kids. There's also dainty jewelry, perfect slide sandals, and a smart mix of home items. [Photo]

Violet Grey

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One of our favorite places to luxuriate on Melrose Place, Violet Grey offers a carefully curated collection of products plucked directly from the kits of Hollywood's leading makeup and nail artists. No wonder LA-based It girls like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Rumi Neely are superfans. [Photo]

Alchemy Works

Part gallery, part retail shop and part events space, this menswear-happy concept space opened last year. Bonus for eyewear junkies: it's also home to Warby Parker's out-of-the-box showroom. [Photo: Alchemy Works]

Broome St. General Store

The inspiring gals behind How You Glow said it best: "It's filled with some incredible home goods, teas, coffee, beauty products, and hand-picked vintage clothes, and not to mention some mouth-watering foods like delicious sandwiches, chocolates from Valerie Confections, and jams from SQIRL. Whether it's a new hand cream, a vintage top, or a new preserve, we always leave here with something special." [Photo]

Creatures of Comfort

Every in-the-known fashion influencer knows that Creatures of Comfort's quaint Melrose shop is a holy grail for designer essentials. This is the place to find the perfect Acne Studios jacket, LD Tuttle flatform, Building Block bag, Karen Walker shades, and a whole lots more.

Des Kohan

We love the clean and minimalist interior of juice-loving owner Desiree's designer-approved shop, which carries items from Helmut Lang, Jenni Kayne, Azzedine Alaïa and many more. [Photo]

Dream Collective

Opened since 2012, the boutique showcases owner Kathryn Bentley's two jewelry lines including her fine gems and her Dream Collective costume line. For quality, handmade pieces, this Silver Lake shop is worth swinging by.

Garde

This home furnishings and personal accessories haven is filled with items from stateside and global design stars. Merch highlights include Amy Moss jewelry, Tom Dixon candles, and Max Lamb Crockery. [Photo]

Guild

Avant-garde style is alive and well here, thanks to an impeccable inventory for men and women that includes Acne Studios, Rick Owens Drkshdw, and Haider Ackermann.

Lake

This Elle-approved boutique is littered with Isabel Marant, Clare Vivier and Rag & Bone.

Maxfield

Maxfield is frequented by tastemakers and big spenders alike (James Goldstein and the Olsen twins are regulars). Shop a new and vintage selection of goods from Chanel, Rick Owens, and Saint Laurent, plus plenty of intimidatingly-expensive Balmain. It's also home to the only Apple Watch shop-in-shop in the country. No big deal.

Mohawk General Store

Wallets by Comme de Garcons, threads by A.P.C., and shoes by Rachel Comey are just a few reasons why this Silver Lake stop continually makes "best of LA" shopping lists. (Stop by its neighboring, Dries Van Noten-approved shop Mohawk Man while you're at it.)

Myrtle

The concept of this pink-walled boutique is simple: stock pretty clothes and accessories from lesser-known female designers. Shopkeep Whitney Bickers favors lines like Dusen Dusen, Clashist, Charlotte Stone, and Samantha Pleet. There's also a rack of carefully-edited vintage.

Poketo

Tucked away in DTLA's Arts District, Poketo is the go-to destination for a variety of unique gifts. The husband-and-wife owned store features limited-edition vinyl artist wallets, adorable stationery, and crazy-enchanting accessories. (Don't forget to stop by their travel-inspired outpost at The Line Hotel in Koreatown, too.)

Satine Boutique

Satine is a celeb stylist go-to. Known for offering wearable, cutting-edge fashion (they were one of the first to support Alexander Wang), this shop's current roster includes Isabel Marant, Kenzo, and Vanessa Bruno. (Be sure to check out both of Satine's Venice locations, too.)

Scout

Relocated to Melrose back in 2013, this shop features impeccably selected vintage and an edgy house line of destroyed tees and cropped sweatshirts. Don't miss the jewelry selection, which includes architectural finds and chunky handmade necklaces.

TENOVERSIX

Playful and fashion-forward clothes, shoes, and accessories in a setting that's as artful and well-designed as the wares themselves. Brands include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Karen Walker, and Rachel Comey.

Anine Bing

Danish model-turned-designer Anine Bing opened her LA flagship boutique last August, offering exquisite basics beloved by blogstars and star-stars alike. We're huge fans of Bing's super-thin tees, dainty bralettes, and badass booties.

Assembly Los Angeles

Assembly's LA-raised designer and CEO used to own fellow Indie 38-er Scout. Now that the minimalist-cool retailer has made permanent fans out of the Olsens and Erin Wasson in New York, CFDA-approved Assembly has opened its second location here, offering sleek women's and men's apparel, as well as fine jewelry, select vintage, and accessories from a roster of emerging indie and international brands, including its in-house line. [Photo: Assembly]

Clare V. West Hollywood

Although we're forever fans of LA accessories designer Clare Vivier's Silver Lake flagship, this new location is too charming for its own good. Located in A.P.C.'s former off-Melrose space, the Parisian-perfect shop hosts all of Clare V.'s best-selling accessories (monogrammable clutches, bags, tech covers, tiny leather goods), mixed in with some of the designer's favorite things, like books, vintage magazines, jewelry, and botany. [Photo]

Mixed Business

If you haven't had a chance to catch Mixed Business at the Rose Bowl Flea, hit up its cool-girl-frequented permanent store in Silver Lake. Here you'll find high-quality creations from the in-house line, as well as a hand-picked selection of fine vintage clothing and contemporary brands for women, men, and kids. There's also dainty jewelry, perfect slide sandals, and a smart mix of home items. [Photo]

Violet Grey

One of our favorite places to luxuriate on Melrose Place, Violet Grey offers a carefully curated collection of products plucked directly from the kits of Hollywood's leading makeup and nail artists. No wonder LA-based It girls like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Rumi Neely are superfans. [Photo]