Inspiration LA 2019 - Who’s going? | Recommended spots to visit in LA

[jeo]

Will be going to inspiration this year for the first time. Was wondering who on the forum will be going too. Would love to meet some of you in person!

Also, besides Standard & Strange and Self Edge, what spots do you guys recommend I visit while I’m in LA?


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[dudewuttheheck]

I'll be going as always! I recommend going to the Freenote Cloth shop and maybe hit the Second Hand Revival event on Sunday. Railcar Fine Goods in Monrovia is good if you like denim. Walking distance from Self Edge is Mister Freedom which has not only Mister Freedom gear, but also vintage clothing as well. Some people may suggest a store in Long Beach. DO NOT go there unless you want the used car salesman treatment.

 

[handymike]

...and hit the Rose Bowl Flea Market...

 

[jeo]

I'll be going as always! I recommend going to the Freenote Cloth shop and maybe hit the Second Hand Revival event on Sunday. Railcar Fine Goods in Monrovia is good if you like denim. Walking distance from Self Edge is Mister Freedom which has not only Mister Freedom gear, but also vintage clothing as well. Some people may suggest a store in Long Beach. DO NOT go there unless you want the used car salesman treatment.

Nice! Not sure how big this event is but I’ll definitely come up and introduce myself if I see you.

And thanks for the recommendations man!


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[jeo]

...and hit the Rose Bowl Flea Market...

Definitely! I’ve heard about the Rose Bowl Flea Market..pretty legendary.

Looks like both the Rose Bowl and Second Hand Revival is on Sunday. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend both.

You going?


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[dudewuttheheck]

Definitely! I’ve heard about the Rose Bowl Flea Market..pretty legendary.

Looks like both the Rose Bowl and Second Hand Revival is on Sunday. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend both.

You going?


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I will try to go to Secondhand, but I work Sunday evenings so we will see. I want to go.

 

[nick123]

I'll be going as always! I recommend going to the Freenote Cloth shop and maybe hit the Second Hand Revival event on Sunday. Railcar Fine Goods in Monrovia is good if you like denim. Walking distance from Self Edge is Mister Freedom which has not only Mister Freedom gear, but also vintage clothing as well. Some people may suggest a store in Long Beach. DO NOT go there unless you want the used car salesman treatment.

Which place in LB??

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Which place in LB??

Won't name it publically. I don't want them to get any publicity.

 

[handymike]

Definitely! I’ve heard about the Rose Bowl Flea Market..pretty legendary.

Looks like both the Rose Bowl and Second Hand Revival is on Sunday. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend both.

You going?


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They aren't far from each other. The Rose Bowl is over by 1, then it's just a 10 minute drive through Eagle Rock to Runabout Goods. while driving by, stop at The Oinkster for the Oinkster Pastrami with Piggie fries and a peanut butter and jelly cupcake.

 

[Superfluous]

I will be at Inspiration on Friday late afternoon. Thats the best time to go, before the best stuff is gone.

Rose Bowl on Sunday is awesome. Runabout Goods is nearby and worth a visit afterwards.

Self Edge and Mister Freedom are great. General Quarters is also nearby and worth a visit while you are in the area. Might as well also visit American Rag across the street.

RRL has an Inspiration party -- worth a visit.

Freenote is cool, but a long drive. They will have a booth at Inspiration, so no need to visit the store.

Standard & Strange is in Oakland, 300 miles north.

 

[jeo]

Oh for some reason I thought Standard and Strange was in LA. Hmm....I’ve always wanted to do the scenic drive up PCH. Just looked it up, it’s about the same drive from Philly to Boston which I do a couple times a year to visit my uncle. Maybe this will give me an excuse. Can also visit Johnson Leathers since I’ve never been to San Francisco.

Well anyway, thank you for the recommendations and hope to see you there!


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[nick123]

I've been wanting to take my dad for the last 3 years. Keep missing it. I hope one day the lightbulb will go off in his head and he'll be able to better understand my weird hobby.

 

[Bfd70]

Can anyone provide a TFL appraisal of the event. Would you for instance pay to fly cross country to attend. Any photos (the web is strangely devoid). It sounds like fun. Might be too late for me this year but worth a trip next....?

 

[Ayeteael]

I hope you’re not referring to Snake Oil Provisions. I’ve only had good experiences with them and I find their YouTube videos hilarious, but ymmv.

 

[Superfluous]

Can anyone provide a TFL appraisal of the event. Would you for instance pay to fly cross country to attend. Any photos (the web is strangely devoid). It sounds like fun. Might be too late for me this year but worth a trip next....?

Historically, Inspiration has consisted of well over 100 different booths displaying both vintage and reproduction clothing, shoes, accessories, and various other stuff for sale. There is more vintage clothing/products, but also many repro clothing manufacturers, including Himel Bros., Real McCoys, Lewis Leathers, LVC, Freenote, Ooe Yofukuten, Nine Lives, White's Boots, Wesco, Beams, etc. Some of the booths are enormous and offer a huge assortment of products. Other booths are smaller, with many fewer products. If you are a fan of vintage clothing, Inspiration is unreal. In fact, some pay a huge premium to access the booths before the general public just so they can snap up the gems being offered for sale. On the repro side, it is a great opportunity to interact directly with the manufacturers and try on certain clothing that might not otherwise be available to you. Himel loves to chat about his wares. It is also a great opportunity to obtain discounts on certain repro products (e.g., RMC and Freenote offer their stuff at discounted prices). There are usually additional exhibitors that sign up late and are not on the list. Roy Slapper has exhibited there in the past, as has Nick the boot maker and Whitefeather. You never know who you might find there.

This is the first year that the show is being held at the old Los Angeles Convention Center. This is a larger venue which likely reflects a larger show.

Inspiration is also a great opportunity to interact and socialize with fellow enthusiasts. Many industry participants attend even though they are not exhibiting their products. I ran into John Chapman one year. Christophe from Mister Freedom. Mike from Runabout Goods. Kiya from Self Edge. Many, many others. Also, you may run into other TFL members. HandyMike, Dude and I are regular attendees, and a few others usually attend every year. Himel's booth is often a point of congregation.

There are gatherings before, during and after Inspiration sponsored by RRL, Freenote, and Runabout Goods.

Many people travel great lengths to attend. That said, it obviously depends on your level of interest in the foregoing.

 

[Bfd70]

Thanks for the detailed reply. It sounds fun. I also don’t need too much arm twisting to get out of here in the winter. Think i’m gonna start putting some nickles in the jar for next year.

 

[willyto]

What I've been told is that the prices of vintage there are just surreal and that the japanese will buy everything before anyone even gets a chance to look.

 

[Graemsay]

I don't know LA that we'll, but if you go down the street that Self Edge is on, there's a Schott store, Best Made Co, and Fjallraven.

 

[handymike]

The first time I went I was like a kid let loose in a mall-sized candy shop. I spent 3 hours talking with John Chapman, found an original 1930s Hercules, and met @Superfluous, David Himel, the people from Dehen, Clutch Magazine, Lewis Leathers and more...
If you can make your way out, DO IT!!!! (At least once).

 

[jeo]

Thanks for the detailed reply. It sounds fun. I also don’t need too much arm twisting to get out of here in the winter. Think i’m gonna start putting some nickles in the jar for next year.

Haha sounds familiar. I mean, my primary reason for the trip was to visit family in LA and I just made sure that it will coincide with this event, but escaping the winter here in the northeast was another big reason.


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