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Skin.Graft

Address: 125 W. 4th St. #102
Cross Street: S. Main St.
Phone:(213) 626-2662
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 11AM-7PM; Sat.-Sun., noon-5PM
Website: skingraftdesigns.com
Parking: Metered
Type: Retail Store


Los Angeles based designers, stylists and photographers lined the 100th block of West 4th Street Wednesday night hoping their name was on the list for the grand opening party of Skin.Graft's first store.

A DJ with a curled mustache, straight out of the movie There Will Be Blood, played a mix of house and alternative rock while models clad in all black walked around and posed for pictures, showcasing the designer's line.

As part of the renovation movement going on in downtown LA, Jonny Cota, Cassidy Haley and Katie Kay, all LA natives found the Old Bank District to be the perfect place to set up shop. With the intent to "make people cooler" when putting on a Skin.Graft garment, Skin.Graft's designers set out to give new life to traditional garments. The line mixes Victorian ruffles and feathers with motorcycle straps, leather and metal detailing.

The boutique is comprised of two rooms. The first a contrast of fresh white walls with colorful fabric draped throughout and animal heads mounted proud. Make no mistake--this is not the cookie-cutter Abercrombie & Fitch. The hanging racks feature rough, cutting-edge pieces that scream total bad ass like black studded leather jackets, leather dresses and side saddle skirts. It's wild west meets Led Zeppelin. The second room is a bit more subtle with fitted rocker corsets paired with tutu-esque skirts and peacock-feathered chains and earrings.

The storefront is the first launch for the company's men and women's collection, sharing the open space with ElmerAve, another designer that re-vamps traditional wardrobe staples by taking classic men's suits and tailoring them for a woman's body. With blazers donning the ElmerAve stamp on the side, medieval crests as buttons and bursts of color spray-painted down the spine of the back, (take your pick of crowns, skulls and microphone designs), androgyny never looked so good.