Annual Clare V. Sale Draws Thousands of Shoppers to Los Angeles Mall
An annual sample sale for accessories brand Clare V. drew thousands of shoppers to downtown Los Angeles. For some fans, it’s the “Super Bowl.” The best day of the whole year. »
About 15 years ago, designer Clare Vivier launched the Clare V. accessories brand and its leather goods — classic silhouettes rendered in color combinations unexpected with flashing details and mid-tier pricing — quickly attracted a loyal following.
In 2014, the brand held its first sample sale at the parking lot near the offices of Clare V., then in the Atwater Village district of Los Angeles. Since then, the annual event has grown with the company, requiring larger spaces and longer wait times for fans hoping to get their hands on discounted merchandise and limited-edition pieces made from of excess materials.
In response to nationwide interest, the brand launched a sweepstakes in 2019 to send two winners to Los Angeles to benefit of the sale with credit. This year, more than 9,000 people registered.
Ms. Vivier attributes the designs’ appeal to access, quality and a unique perspective. "I launched the brand during an economic downturn, and it was the perfect time for me to do it because it was something special without being extremely expensive, and I feel like it is exactly still the case,” she said. /p>
Friday morning at Row DTLA, a shopping and workspace complex in downtown Los Angeles, fans began waiting in line at 4:45 a.m. When the doors opened at 8 a.m., the line stretched the length of the building and stretched out to a sunny parking lot.
The two-day sale, the brand's largest by any measure to date, had approximately 3,800 attendees, 20,000 pieces sold and wait times of over three hours. Some buyers came from Illinois, Missouri and Texas. But despite its scale, many noted that the event felt like a friendly community gathering. Strangers made friends while waiting in line; Clare V. employees, some of whom are known on Instagram, distributed water; and Ms. Vivier herself brought pieces from her closet when stock was low.
In the frenetic scene inside, shoppers - many of whom arrived carrying iterations of the brand's popular Grande Fanny Shoulder Bag — he showcased styles for his friends over FaceTime and carried dozens of handbag options on their arms. (There have been requests to hold the sale in New York, but Ms. Vivier wants the event to stay in her hometown.)
In the interviews below Below, dedicated buyers discussed what attracted them to the sale.
Carol DunnExecutive producer
Do you come every year?
Yes. I really like the clothes and the aesthetic. I feel like I'm wearing something from Clare V. almost every day.
An annual sample sale for accessories brand Clare V. drew thousands of shoppers to downtown Los Angeles. For some fans, it’s the “Super Bowl.” The best day of the whole year. »
About 15 years ago, designer Clare Vivier launched the Clare V. accessories brand and its leather goods — classic silhouettes rendered in color combinations unexpected with flashing details and mid-tier pricing — quickly attracted a loyal following.
In 2014, the brand held its first sample sale at the parking lot near the offices of Clare V., then in the Atwater Village district of Los Angeles. Since then, the annual event has grown with the company, requiring larger spaces and longer wait times for fans hoping to get their hands on discounted merchandise and limited-edition pieces made from of excess materials.
In response to nationwide interest, the brand launched a sweepstakes in 2019 to send two winners to Los Angeles to benefit of the sale with credit. This year, more than 9,000 people registered.
Ms. Vivier attributes the designs’ appeal to access, quality and a unique perspective. "I launched the brand during an economic downturn, and it was the perfect time for me to do it because it was something special without being extremely expensive, and I feel like it is exactly still the case,” she said. /p>
Friday morning at Row DTLA, a shopping and workspace complex in downtown Los Angeles, fans began waiting in line at 4:45 a.m. When the doors opened at 8 a.m., the line stretched the length of the building and stretched out to a sunny parking lot.
The two-day sale, the brand's largest by any measure to date, had approximately 3,800 attendees, 20,000 pieces sold and wait times of over three hours. Some buyers came from Illinois, Missouri and Texas. But despite its scale, many noted that the event felt like a friendly community gathering. Strangers made friends while waiting in line; Clare V. employees, some of whom are known on Instagram, distributed water; and Ms. Vivier herself brought pieces from her closet when stock was low.
In the frenetic scene inside, shoppers - many of whom arrived carrying iterations of the brand's popular Grande Fanny Shoulder Bag — he showcased styles for his friends over FaceTime and carried dozens of handbag options on their arms. (There have been requests to hold the sale in New York, but Ms. Vivier wants the event to stay in her hometown.)
In the interviews below Below, dedicated buyers discussed what attracted them to the sale.
Carol DunnExecutive producer
Do you come every year?
Yes. I really like the clothes and the aesthetic. I feel like I'm wearing something from Clare V. almost every day.
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