LA Wholesale Fashion District
The LA Fashion District is where a lot of independent boutiques get their inventory. Roughly 100 blocks of Downtown LA hold more than 2,000 wholesale vendors, from fast-fashion showrooms that sell by the prepack to contemporary labels you see by appointment.
It’s a lot, and it isn’t laid out for first-timers. This guide covers the two places most boutique buyers start (the San Pedro Wholesale Mart and the showroom buildings at 9th and Los Angeles Street), plus what to bring, when to go, and where to stay so your first trip pays for itself.
How the district is laid out
Wholesale in the Fashion District comes in two kinds, and they work differently.
Fast-fashion marts and showrooms. This is the San Pedro Wholesale Mart and the blocks around it. Goods are in stock. You walk in with your resale credentials, buy by the prepack, and leave with your order or ship it the same day. Prices are low and styles turn over fast.
Contemporary showroom buildings. These sit at 9th and Los Angeles Street, a corner the district calls “The Intersection”: the California Market Center, The New Mart, Cooper Design Space, The Gerry Building and the Lady Liberty Building. Here you’re placing orders with brand reps for future delivery. They’re busiest during LA Market Week. The rest of the year, most showrooms want an appointment.
One thing that trips up new buyers: Santee Alley is retail. It’s open to the public and fun to walk, but it’s not where you buy wholesale.
The San Pedro Wholesale Mart
If you sell trend-driven womenswear, this is probably your first stop. The San Pedro Wholesale Mart has focused on women’s apparel since 1994 and lists more than 300 showrooms, mostly trendy womenswear and accessories at fast-fashion prices.
Where it is. 1100 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. The Mart has its own parking garage on the Crocker Street side, which beats circling for street parking with bags in hand.
When to go. Google lists the Mart’s hours as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individual showrooms set their own schedules, so get there early. The best pieces in a new delivery tend to go first, and the floor is calmer in the morning.
How buying works there.
- Credentials first. Most showrooms ask for a seller’s permit or business license and your tax ID before they’ll sell to you. Bring a photo ID and a card too.
- You buy prepacks, not singles. Styles come in fixed size runs, such as 2 small, 2 medium and 2 large. Know your size curve before you go, or you’ll end up with extra larges you can’t move.
- Minimums vary. Some showrooms want a dollar minimum, others a minimum number of packs. Ask before you fall in love with a rack.
- Walk the floor before you spend. You’ll often see near-identical pieces in more than one showroom at different prices. A lap first saves money.
- Check the goods. Look at seams, zippers and fabric content in person. That’s the main advantage of buying here instead of online.
This is also where a buyer earns their fee. Knowing which showrooms ship clean, which ones run small, and where the same top costs $3 less takes years of walking these floors. That’s the core of our wholesale buying services for boutiques.
Contemporary showrooms and LA Market Week
The showroom buildings at 9th and Los Angeles host LA Market Week five times a year, in January, March, June, August and October. It’s the one time most showrooms open their doors without an appointment, and you can see a season’s worth of lines in a few days. You’ll need to register with each building you plan to shop; the California Market Center posts current dates.
Outside Market Week, contact showrooms directly and book appointments. If you’re still figuring out which labels fit your store, start with our list of women’s wholesale clothing brands for boutiques.
Getting around the LA Wholesale Fashion District
The district is walkable, but it’s big, and a full day on the San Pedro Mart floors adds up fast. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a rolling cart or a large tote for samples.
A first trip can still be overwhelming. Going with a seasoned fashion buyer like LA Fashion Insider means you skip the trial and error and spend your day in the right showrooms.
LA Fashion District map
Where to stay in Downtown LA
Stay walkable to the marts. Our pick is Hotel Figueroa, a 1926 landmark (the first female-funded hotel in the U.S.) restored to Spanish Colonial glamour. Other strong Downtown LA boutique options: The Hoxton (a 1922 Beaux-Arts building with stylish, well-appointed rooms), Freehand Los Angeles (great DTLA views and a rooftop pool), the Ace Hotel (the historic United Artists Tower, with eclectic modern design), and the Downtown LA Proper (a Kelly Wearstler-designed 1926 Renaissance Revival stunner). All put you minutes from the wholesale district.
Plan your trip
The district rewards buyers who show up prepared: credentials in hand, a budget per category, and a clear size curve. If you’d rather have someone who already knows the floors walk them with you, or for you, tell us about your store.
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FAQs
1. Where is the LA Wholesale Fashion District located?
In Downtown Los Angeles, bounded roughly by the 10, 110 and 101 freeways. The San Pedro Wholesale Mart is at 1100 S. San Pedro St., and the contemporary showroom buildings are clustered at 9th and Los Angeles Street.
2. What do you need to shop the LA wholesale fashion district?
Wholesale vendors and showrooms typically ask for:
- a seller’s permit or business license, and/or your business tax ID number
- two or three purchase invoices from other industry vendors (common at contemporary showrooms)
- a photo ID and a payment card
If you don’t have a seller’s permit yet, California’s tax department (CDTFA) issues them.
3. What are the LA Fashion District hours?
The San Pedro Wholesale Mart is listed as open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individual showrooms set their own hours, and contemporary showrooms often work by appointment outside Market Week. Call ahead if you’re planning around a specific vendor.
4. Is the LA Fashion District open to the public?
Partly. Wholesale showrooms sell only to businesses with resale credentials. Santee Alley and the district’s retail stores are open to anyone, and the contemporary showroom buildings run sample sales most months.
5. When is LA Market Week?
Five times a year: January, March, June, August and October. The California Market Center posts exact dates and registration.
6. Is there parking in the DTLA Fashion District?
Yes. There are public lots, garages and street parking throughout the district, and the San Pedro Wholesale Mart has its own garage on Crocker Street.
7. Do I need to rent a car?
It depends on your plans. If you want to see more of LA or you’re hauling a big order, a car helps. If you’re staying Downtown and shipping your purchases, rideshare is cheaper and saves you from parking.
Further reading: Why you should partner with a fashion buyer
