East/West Shop

Since they moved into the DAT Music storefront in June, East/​West has been catching my eye every time I eat next door at Chego. (super often.)
After lunch today, I finally wandered in. Erin, the owner/​founder, was friendly, chatty, and super knowledgeable, and we wound up talking for over an hour about Japanese secondhand stores, her career at OBEY, the Koreatown food scene, and mutual connections in the Hong Kong rap industry.
Their stock was impeccably curated, with each rack themed differently: from customized vintage military fatigues to Americana chain-​stitched team jackets, to very ‘70s-​ish tie-​dye and peasant blouses, to a selection of #veryrare# pins and patches. All of the items are personally picked from vintage sources or buzzy artists like Stugazi. Prices are immensely fair — only slightly more expensive than Wastelands or Buffalo Exchange, with far more character and curation than the fun but uneven racks at those franchised thrift/​secondhanders.
The most expensive item, a very well-​made women’s leather jacket with ornate embroidery, was labeled $ 150, and accessories ranged from $ 1 – 25, with tees around $ 25 – 30, and outerwear $ 35 and up.
I wasn’t planning on buying anything when I walked in, but after our chat, I found myself debating between a $ 65 vintage Italian long military wool coat and a $ 45 M-​65 jacket. Since this is SoCal, I went with the M-​65 — but the next time I’m at Chego, I might leave Chinatown with a wool coat in tow.

A cute, intimate clothing shop hidden away in a shopping plaza.
They hosted a Pin & Patch Show that I attended about two months ago. It was successful and I copped some really dope pins, including a pin that my friend created. They showcased the pins and patches on a large table, numbering them individually. A checklist was provided to whomever desired to make a purchase. Just check off the box with the corresponding number of the pin or patch and then hand it over to the cashier. The space is a fair size but due to a large turn out, it was a little crowded.
In addition to the pins and patches, there was the usual clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. that was available for purchase.
The store is very open. The entrance is the size of a garage door and the large beach window makes the store very visible to passersby. Overall, the store is very inviting!
Copping a few pins, a lovely lady helped ring me up and alongside her was an adorable little boy. He was her helper and he was such a delight! He checked my list and relied the pins I wanted to the lady. After gathering all the pins I desired, he packed it all away in a paper bag, very neatly. He was so adorable!
I am looking forward to many more shows and regular visits when I’m around the area!

I found THE coolest vintage pieces at this store. The owner definitely has a great sense of style, and the clothes were all in good condition at a great price! I’m looking forward to visiting again.

Great collection of vintage pieces and a super friendly owner who knows what she’s talking about (she worked in fashion design for many years).