5
ESSENTIAL RULES
FOR TOTALLY ENJOYING
DTLA
RULE
NO. 1
WALK IT! Welcome to the most walkable neighborhood in all of Los Angeles. By Degen Pener // Photography by Joshua Spencer
T
he phrase “Nobody walks in L.A.” is fast becoming dated. With a walk score of 95
Throughout the following pages, our model, Brianna Lopez, wears clothing by DTLA-based Venia Collection. Its designers—who keep their identity hidden, going by the names Eni and Nigma—use 3-D printing, sustainable materials and upcycled textiles to create their line. Brianna wears accessories by Kestan, a label with a commitment to ethical labor and environmental impact policies. Its flagship store is located in Costa Mesa, California, and they also sell at The Row’s Smorgasburg market. Styled by Chrstine Ko, hair & makeup by Lisa Lex.
6
DTLA BOOK 2018
(an increase of one point from the previous year), Downtown Los Angeles is a paradise for people who love experiencing a city on foot. People in DTLA can stroll
to an average of 33 restaurants, bars and coffee shops in five minutes—a welcome thing in a metropolis designed around car culture. According to a 2015 survey, 22 percent of DTLA locals live and work here, and 62 percent of that group walk to work every day. It’s a trend that’s sure to intensify. In the first nine months of 2017, Downtown saw a record 2,700 new apartments enter the market. Less than two decades ago—in 1999—the population of DTLA was just 18,700 people; it had more than tripled by 2016, hitting 65,185. New shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries pop up every week, inviting residents and visitors alike to hit the streets in search of the next great thing.
