Black Market

A true staple of the Sawtelle community, been a customer of theirs for nearly 20 years. Great place to shop and buy gifts for friends and family. Blackmarket LA has provided my family and I years of great memories through all the awesome gifts we got here. Half my wardrobe is also from them too! Great men’s clothes and my girlfriend often buys from here

Cute little vintage boutique! Love the decor inside. Good variety of men’s and women’s clothing. They even have a small selectio of baby clothes! A person a could easily spend an hour browsing through the store. They had some original Barbie’s there as well which were a big hit. Their prices seem a bit inflated but still fair. The evening I went they also had an art show in the back of the store. It looked like a lot of fun.

Very unique shop and fun to stop by while dining in Sawtelle. The staff here is very nice and helpful. They have an assortment of curated gifts and apparel for everyone. Their window display is also pretty amusing.

I asked the shop attendant if the jewelry was gold plated and she said yes. This is less than a week of wear. It must be simply gold coloring because this is not normal. $40. :(

This store had two workers follow me and stare at me. I was simply browsing and minding my own business. Is it because I’m brown and have visible tattoos? I didn’t see you guys follow the white people.

Got followed around the store by a thin bleached blond female store clerk. I'm a 50 year old female software engineer earning 6 figures a year. Do they get a lot of people with my background stealing from them? Or does wearing athleisure in all black automatically make you a criminal? Didn't appreciate the profiling. Read the lowest reviews and judge for yourself what kind of establishment this is...

Bought necklace wore less than 2 hours, broke instantly. I they think we're looking at it strangely when they put it in the box, so I'm not sure if they knew, but that's 20+ dollars down the drain and I didn't get to use :/ oh well.

this store holds a lot of sentimental value for me. i used to go here every summer pre-pandemic with my family since i was small. maybe the novelty simply wore off as i grew up, but it feels as though black market isn't very unique anymore; that is to say, it offers little in terms of differentiating itself from buying clothing/trinkets online or in other stores. its prices range widely, but for the most part, it's overpriced, often for goods that can be found cheaper elsewhere (such as amazon). although black market is still a cute store to stop by, and the staff are generally friendly (if a little ... intimidating? they make me feel paranoid), i would hardly call it 'eclectic'.

They have the most amazing selection of clothes, housewares, books, jewelry, you name it. I spent a good amount of time here just looking at everything, it was a lot of fun. The clothing, men's and women's is very nice and covers the gamut from classic to trendy. It is on the high side, but they do have sales! If in Sawtelle, make a stop and check it out. I really enjoyed my time there.

Love this store smack in the heart of a cute neighborhood called Sawtelle in West L.A. surrounded by tons of yummy restaurants. There's a cute kiddie corner when you walk in to the left. Then once out of that nook to the left is the women's side. Colorful and fun clothing varying in styles and super trendy. Lots of cute accessories. The middle part of the store has so many fun little home accessories and trinkets or collectibles. Lots of unique items you can gift. Some stuff seem vintage and some seem modern design but all very artsy. The right side is the Men's side. Very cool choices on tshirts, sweatshirts, jeans, and tons of sneakers and accessories. There was a man who I think was the owner that hooked my son up with wifi. He gave him some stickers as well. Very friendly and inviting atmosphere with no pressure. Loved the vibe and all the selection.

A lovely, curated store in the heart of sawtelle. The collection felt hand picked, and we found some great gems there! The staff was really friendly, and the try on experience was on par with luxury stores. The items are also priced well for the quality.

Customer service this evening was questionable, to say the least. I inquired about a necklace they had on display and was met with attitude about what necklace I was looking at since they, "had so many necklaces". One of the employees was literally standing a few feet away from me as I shopped, so naturally I felt inclined to ask about their products. I did not expect to feel demeaned for simply asking a question, especially if they are hovering around you as you shop. So shop here at your own peril.

What a cool little boutique! We stepped inside to kill some time in the area and were pleasantly surprised. Prices were relatively reasonable and they have interesting vintage and unique items. We ended up purchasing a Michael Jordan shirt. I don't think I can bring my small kids in yet since there was some age-inappropriate merchandise and art (I'm not even talking about the RIPNDIP cat). Maybe in a few years when they are teens :) Fun shopping experience!

One of the most unique gift boutiques in the area. Something for everyone to browse if not to purchase. many of the items are unique or handmade. A throwback to the old days in the best of ways

How would I describe this shop? It's like a combo of a thrift/flea market shop but with high contour prices. I guess it sells both. What I do like is that everything is displayed like a museum or exhibit. It's quite lovely, and majority of the items here are great as gifts. They have non-thrift items stuff too. They sell art, clothes, kids/baby items, toys, gift items and merch, jewelry, collectibles, pretty much anything that would be great as a gift. The shop is although quite spacious, you may want to carry your backpack in the front. They actually have their own parking lot right in front but it's super limited. Even if you don't intend on buying anything here, come to be inspired. It's quite fun here.

Cute little vintage boutique! Love the decor inside. Good variety of men's and women's clothing. They even have a small selectio of baby clothes! A person a could easily spend an hour browsing through the store. They had some original Barbie's there as well which were a big hit. Their prices seem a bit inflated but still fair. The evening I went they also had an art show in the back of the store. It looked like a lot of fun.

Cute shop! We were walking to the boba shop a few stores down and decided to drop into this place since they looked like they had a bunch of neat stuff from what we could see through the window. Walked in, I had an iced latte and I'm always aware of entering places since I almost always have a drink with me and a lot of places don't allow it. There weren't any signs but the worker noted that I can leave my drink on their little stand by the door, convenient! We walked around for a bit, really nice set up and it was busy! It's definitely a vintage type shop with a bunch of collectibles. Interesting apparel and little trinkets you can find in here. Some of them are a little pricey but really cool to see/have. We didn't pick anything up but there were a few things that caught our eye. Maybe next time! IG: @ammysalamii

Not friendly. Watch you like you're going to steal something. Did not feel comfortable browsing. Was in and out in two minutes.

Came in here after getting some somi somi around the corner. I love the book nook stuff & saw some in the window. So I figured why not go in & see which ones they have. Upon entering I was greeted very politely by a man & a younger female at the cash register. Was asked if I needed help with anything. Just said hi & no thanks because it was my first time & wanted to browse. Then a woman with short black hair in a bob haircut asked me if I needed help finding anything 2 seconds later when she was standing right there. . I didn't take offense right away as I figured they were all being hospitable. Told her I'd just like to look around. I noticed the guy who greeted me watching me a little.. then he looked away & started doing something else. But then the woman with the shorter black hair came back & followed me around the whole store. The reviews are no joke! I'm pretty covered in tattoos but I definitely don't feel like I look like a thief. She asked me 10 times if I needed help or if she could hold everything I picked up at the front for me. I was honestly so offended... I told her no thanks I'm not set on this being a purchase yet. I never have felt so harassed in a store or profiled so heavily. Because of my anxiety & always being outcasted for just being edgy my entire life, I stupidly bought something from them to prove a point that I am a paying customer. I regret supporting a business like this. Especially being that it's over priced!! Go somewhere else. Super sad about this shop & my experience. P.S. saw someone say they're potentially racist.. not trying to bring race into this but I'm pretty sure they're all Asian & IM ASIAN TOO.

Cute store but ridiculous price markup, found some of the items on Amazon; so not very unique offerings or one of a kind. Also, questionable pricing practices. I asked for the price of a ring, was told $65 (mother of pearl stone). I was charged $68 for a rose quartz labradorite. I am no jewelry expert but these are not the same stones. I wouldn't recommend this business not support it.

Very cute and unique gifts items. They have back outdoor space you can check out their art work.

This is my fav store near my house. I come here and it reminds me of my happy life from many moons ago. I always come here and spend too much money; I am paranoid that they are going to close which I don't want. They used to have a t-shirt only store across the street that I loved. This location has a mini outdoor art gallery in the back, through the glass double doors. The art gallery is new and is a nice touch...and it's free :)

Black market is a AMAZING place but a pit pricy I went to Dan modern Chinese and checked black market and am glad I did cause they had great service I was nervous at first cause some of the reviews said that they are racist and am asian but they were nice friendly and warm in was a great place and am pleased I checked out black market. They also had a nice kids corner and a art place. 100% going there next time

One thing that really brings me joy is finding unique clothes that are great quality, and you can DEF find that here. As I've gotten older, I've grown a bit discontent with more mainstream brands as their quality has gone down the drain and everything seems to look the same. Since I live in Sawtelle, BlackMarket is really easy to get to (although if you're driving, parking can be a nightmare). The owner is Korean and she really has a keen eye for fashionable, yet interesting items (think UO, but with a smaller selection). I've bought several items from them over the years, and here's a skirt I got from them recently. I. Am. In. LOVE. You'll find a variety of cute items, and it's a cute local shop. I would definitely recommend stopping buy!

Cute little boutique located in Sawtelle (West Los Angeles) Japantown (Japanstreet?) The owner has a nice taste in picking out indie unique clothing. Most of the time I go there I walk away with something I like. You can support smaller indie artists and not look the same as the person next to you... you get my point. The price is somewhat on the medium-high range (e.g., 40s-60s for a nice women's sweater) but I generally am pretty happy with I get. The nice thing about Black Market is that it's an indie boutique meeting the selections tend to change each time you're there : ) Almost like a treasure hunt. Did I mention the owner is super friendly and helpful? If you're here for lunch/dinner/hair etc. stop by, walk around and take a look : ) you may find some nice unique clothing or accessory : )

BLACKMARKET is located on busy Sawtelle Bl in West Los Angeles in the Japanese town area. Two decades and a thousand brands later, Blackmarket has become an establishment in West LA. To clarify, Blackmarket is not a Black Owned Business. The owner is Jisook Lee, a female, more likely of Korean/Asian descent. Initially started with vintage wear and over time, the owner Jisook Lee had foresight, offering a progressive unique perspective on what a lifestyle boutique should be. Blending the fusion of art, culture, design, and fashion. Upon looking at the merchandise for sale, it really appeals to the street wear, trendy, fad wearing types...initially looking cool until that look fizzles to insignificance, when the season ends or with that crowds moves on to the next 'it' wear trend. Some items are cool collectibles, while other items are not, maybe fun or even ridiculous. If you have the desperate need to look cool for the moment, this shop is perfect. Worth a visit.

Simply put: Uncomfortable. I walked in and was not greeted even though I was the only customer. The elderly man behind the counter kept giving me dirty looks. That's not the only thing that was dirty. The cleanliness of the store was not maintained as I noticed spiders crawling on the shirts. I went here to admire a cute art gallery in the back displaying Japanese Culture. At the gallery entrance there was a cotton candy machine, I thought how interesting let me try it out. $10 later, while peacefully enjoying my cotton candy when the same elderly man approached me. No manners, he just states: you cannot eat in here, eat outside. I find it bizarre how I purchased from their location yet I cannot enjoy it. If you want to be persecuted and disrespected come to this establishment. However, I'd rather enjoy a nice shopping experience where I'm respected as a customer, I recommend checking out any of the other stores on Sawtelle Blvd filled with nicer workers, better quality products, and friendlier environments.

Amazon and Temu junk sold at a 10-20x markup. If you're someone who has a taste for the TRULY unique, go to a flea market. This is some type of resale scheme. Looking for gifts for a friend? Walk 5 minutes down the street to hashimoto nursery for fairly priced beautiful potted flowers and plants.

I'm not one to be making reviews but i'm honestly appalled right now. One of the staff is incredibly rude and disrespectful. Me and my boyfriend called to see if they had something in stock. She was extremely rude and gave us attitude when we were super kind. She told us to just come to the store to see the price when we are 45 minutes away. Do better. When she finally told us the price after giving us attitude, they are extremely overpriced being $10 over when you can just buy 2 for $20 on the website not just 1 for $20 like at this store. She proceeded to hang up the phone while we were speaking! I would recommend to just buy off the sonny angel website and don't waste your money or time here. I wish I got her name, I would be reporting her, she needs to be fired now.

I was visiting LA for a bit and my family and I found this gem! It gives off this hip, vintage vibe. It's a really diversified boutique and there's even a food/drink stand to place your items at the front of the store since they don't allow any outside food or beverages in. I didn't buy anything but there's definitely a ton of things I could see myself spending money on. Would recommend to anyone to check this place out!

Dope spot for modern clothing. Kind of like an urban outfitters before they went mainstream.

They have such cute stuff and very antique unique things but the only problem is that they were being racist toward us the whole time! The guy kept on following us around and every time we would leave a section he would go look at the stuff and go accommodate the stuff that we were touching the whole time we were there we would be watched and followed by every move we would do honestly would love to buy something there but just don't understand the racism toward me and my friends just because we're Mexican! This was my first experience of someone being racist towards me and definitely did not feel good about it! Definitely wouldn't recommend coming here if u are Mexican or dark skinned lol

Ok this is such a cool store! Went for the first time just walking around. So many cool different type gifts and nicknacks as well as women and men's clothing and shoes. I noticed the women's sizes are on the smaller side though so not for curvey girls like me. But they also have accessories like cool scarfs and cute, jewelry that can make up for that. Cool books and journals with quirky titles. The store clerk said it's more Korean and Japanese style fusion so its kinda modern hip. I loved their candles and oils selections! Especially because I love musky scents like patchouli and sandlewood. The candle jars were decorative too. I liked the music the whole time I was in there. I was jamming along. Apparently they have a live DJ in there on Saturdays playing funky tunes! Awesome! They should sell the music they play as a mixed CD. I would buy it!

This is a nice novelty store to visit and go retail shopping for unique items, including some really creative and quirky merchandise. Check it out !!!

Great market in the Sawtelle area. They sell clothing, jewelry, bags, greeting cards and a lot of unique items that are perfect items for gifts. Prices are a little pricey but the items are not cheap quality either. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

Calling the sales people here "aggressive" is an understatement. I was in there 15 - 20 minutes and 2 people checked in on me 5 TIMES. Plus the place was busy with other customers. The new location is twice the size of the old and all open space. They have cute, unique gifts and some clothes for infants, women and men. Very organized and clean presentation. I come mainly for their jewelry which is good quality. Their stuff is overpriced so I go in for the "wow" factor jewelry and small gifts. They regularly add new merchandise, too. Just had a thought. Next time I shop here I should wear ear buds!

Located on Sawtelle, they have two locations a few feet away from each other. One has their Tshirt designs, while this one is more of a gift shop and clothing shop meshed together. In typical Sawtelle fashion, parking can sometimes be a challenge. Street parking is honestly the only option, but it can be very limited during peak hours. BlackMarket pulled me in because they have Jellycat plushes! And, of course, they have a ton of other cute stuff, like Tokidoki, random knick knacks, things that may be considered "hipster", books, and stationary. There are clothes for guys and gals, and even the little ones. Prices are a bit crazily high. Small tokidoki blind box is $13, where I can get it for under $10 at another mom-and-pop shop. Bouncy ball was $10, though it does light up. Retail items are definitely a few bucks over MSRP. Some of the items are from local artists, so that's kind of cool, too. Employees are okay. I haven't had anyone be super-aggressive with me, and they were helpful when I asked a few questions. I do like walking around the Sawtelle area, so may be back, but the prices don't really pull me in.

This is a great place to buy gifts if you don't mind spending a little bit extra and get in something that's more unique. I really like some of their hats and clothes although there really made for the younger crowds and slim people :-) definitely check the place out for something to buy for a gift or for yourself out of the ordinary.

Cool place to visit to find unique vintage items. Staff are friendly and personal! The owner is super friendly! Love the place!

I am DYING at all the reviews I have read about the aggressive sales people. OMG, I thought I was the only one who thought that! LOL A few of them approached me to see if I needed any help but there is one particular sales associate who approaches you, asks if you need help and then look at you confused and smug when you decline. And when you do ask a question, she acts like she can't be bothered. Since that happened three times, I just assume that is her personality. It won't stop me from coming in to shop. I LOVE this store! Curated items in one spot. I come here to shop for perfumes, baby gifts, accessories, books. It really is a gorgeous store and I have found a few of my favorite designers from BlackMarket. I'll come back and holiday shop here. I just know who to ask for help =)

Seems like it was an overpriced urban outfitters. Found some of the clothing to be cool and I would see myself wearing them, but not at the high price tag that they came in. Most of the brands were unknown to me and the quality didn't look outstanding or justifiable for the prices.

What an unexpected hipster, trendy, cute little boutique I stumbled upon post ramen coma! Upon first walking in I thought maybe it was consignment, but actually this store sells an excellent curation of trinkets and cute clothes, and reminds me of shops in the mission. A bit pricey, but I absolutely adored this store and recommend if you are nearby looking for a gift.

Bright store of artistic stuff, small yet variety choices for pretty much everything, from men and women's wear to accessories etc.

BlackMarket was on my list for a while to check out when I was in LA. This is a conception of Jisook Lee, and they offer a combination of clothing, shoes, jewelry, home decor, stationery, and little gifts in this two-part store. Brands that they carry for clothing include 10 Deep, BBC, and Diamond Supply; they even have some Limited Edition items, like G-Shock watches, animal suits (yes, animal suits!), and clothing that were collaborated with designers. I really liked their 'animal-esque' hats, which some had bear ears and one looked like a llama head :P The store itself was a little tight, and the staff were a bit inattentive and unhelpful. +animal ear hats

So, a little over a month ago I popped in this store because it looked interesting. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm and excitement was drained almost immediately by a store clerk, a young man, who made his way to the rack I started browsing. I expected "May I help you with something?" but that never came. It was just silence, lingering stares and an unwavering dedication to being no less than 5 steps behind me. I did a quick secondary scan of the place and, of course, I was the only black person there. Now, I'm not from a place where racial profiling is a thing, my country's motto is literally "Out Of Many One People", so this experience was disheartening. I left. I've spoken to other people about this store and apparently it isn't just a one off thing, at least with my sample group of 7. The others who recounted their experiences were also people of color and that has led me to posting this here as a quick review specifically for my fellow people. It may be called BlackMarket but it's not for us.

Fun little boutique with great merchandise at a great price. The sales staff is super nice and helpful, specifically Ryan. He had plenty of product knowledge and helped me find the right gift. Found some really cool graphic tees from their other store across the street. The manager Karissa even went above and beyond to order me a size they didn't have. They have lots of cool brands like ripndip, billionaire boys club, and obey. It's hard to find places on the Westside that actually carries these brands. Definitely worth bringing my friends or a date here. A lot of great places to eat in the area and it's an easy way to kill time waiting for a restaurant and if ur in a spending mood this is the place!

The customer service was great the first time I came here. Second time I came across a pretty rude female sales associate. I don't think as a customer I deserved her tone and rudeness when I was asking a simple question of if they checked their emails... they don't btw. Don't blame the customers for not calling..as if I KNEW that was the best way to contact you, instead, she should have KINDLY acknowledged and apologized for not checking the store emails that you guys have as a way to contact you on your website. I left the store immediately and was feeling like shit b/c I felt like I was scolded when I didn't even do anything wrong. sorry for the language but I was really upset and still am just thinking about it. I've worked in retail before and I would have never talked to a customer the way she did to me. I would never recommend anyone to come here solely based off that experience. The store itself is pretty neat but kind of overpriced. I think the store should be a three dollar sign not a two dollar sign.

Contrary to other reviews, I had great experience here with the sales people. Everyone was nice, knew how to give me my space, and were very helpful when I needed them. I love love lovee the jewelry here! If you are a fan of dainty, unique, gold/rose-gold plated jewelry then look no further! This is your place girl. I got a very dainty necklace with a small "Y" on it for $22. It was rose-gold plated over brass and it is my new obsession. If I didn't have anybody shopping with me I would go co-co-bananas in here and run my finances into the ground.

Stopped by the store cause it looked really cute inside! I was just looking around when an employee came by and literally started unfolding and refolding clothes near me and my sister. She followed us around the store and was hovering like we were gonna steal something! Extremely rude and uncalled for - I didn't even have a bag with me?? Also a lot of their products are overpriced.

Great store with unique finds. Reasonably priced. Always something unique and a great place to find gifts for everyone

This a wonderful shop located on Sawtelle. Its kinda similar to Giant Robot in that it sells books, t-shirts, toys and other nicnacs but it differs in that it is more clean and less stuffy. They have two sections in the store. One section sells nothing but clothes, watches and stunner shades while the other has books, gift items, toys and all other household stuff. I love the selection of stuff here a little better than Giant Robot and the prices are way better too though they don't have the collectibles that Giant Robot has to offer. The clothes section is pretty nice. They have a lot of modern clothes but too bad I don't really dress like a hipster, otherwise I might have enjoyed the store a lot better. I did, however, really like the watches that they had on display and the shades too. If I were to come back, it would definitely be to check out the watches and shades no doubt. As for the other section, I really enjoyed the various mugs and cups that they had on display. The books were all quite fun and whimsical. They even had a book with screenshots of stupid things people were saying on Tinder....quite funny. Its a cute little shop. I liked it a lot. PS awesome mug!!

I used to live on Sawtelle and frequented the old BlackMarket pretty often whenever I ate on the street. Visiting LA after a long while, I was really excited to hear that the small store moved across the street and expanded in size. However, I was completely underwhelmed. The old store had a bunch of interesting trinkets and gifts that, while overpriced, made the store a fun and unique way to pass time while waiting to eat at nearby restaurants. The new store is no more than an overpriced UrbanOutfitters. Moreover, I felt like the employees were hawk-eyed following me around as I walked through the store, which made me feel pressured and uncomfortable. Hopefully they improve their merchandise selection soon, because this is not the BlackMarket I knew during college.

Pretty interesting inside. Nice variety of items, nothing that stands out, all over priced but in a good location to find some ramen afterwards.

What happened to the old BlackMarket? I have shopped there since 2008 (when it used to be across the street). I've been in a few times this summer and fall, though, and the merchandise has just been getting weirder and weirder. I used to shop there all the time for nice candles, trendy jewelry, and unique luxury brands, but now every time I go in I see an elderly couple stocking the shelves with... weird vintage glassware? Just today I went in and the candles had been replaced with overpriced, thrifted Corningware cornflower bowl sets. (I actually collect vintage glassware and this stuff is extremely overpriced for what it is.) The only things that haven't changed are the store name and a few pieces of original merchandise that haven't been sold yet. A real shame in my opinion, in contrast to what it used to be.

BlackMarket is a hipster heaven and I mean that in a really great way. We were waiting for our table at Tsujita and walked over to browse this space. The clothes are fashionable and I could see the appeal. What I liked even more were random things you didn't know existed but want to buy. Yes, you can get many of them on Amazon for less but the markup wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The jewelry, for example, was surprisingly affordable. There's so much interesting stuff to browse through and is great for killing time.

In so few words, BlackMarket could be described as the smaller, Asian equivalent of an Urban Outfitters store. The place is hip, contemporary, and eclectic - and there's plenty to see inside, even if you're just window-shopping. ____________________ - There's plenty of menswear & womenswear to browse through. For us guys, the selection offered is stylish & varied; the items on display include multiple shades of denim by brands like Naked & Famous and Nudie. BlackMarket's also got plenty of graphic & pocket tees, plaid flannels, sunglasses by Super, etc. The selection is partly streetwear influenced and very "LA." - The most intriguing part of BlackMarket's setup is the shop's selection of gifts, which can be found by hanging a left from the store's entrance. The range of gift items offered spans everything from traditional (incense holders, silverware, calendars, etc.) to trendy. During our most recent visit, I stumbled upon some literary gems that I'd love to purchase for our coffee table; "Zombies Hate Stuff" & "The Pocket Guide to Dim Sum" would both make for fine additions to anyone's library! - The soundtrack in here is another plus. It's a blend of chillwave, house, and hip-hop. I may or may not have been caught trying to Shazam the store's soundtrack on more than one occasion. Again, the vibe is distinctly Angeleno! ___________________ - In keeping with the Urban Outfitters comparison above, the quality of customer service experienced here can be sporadic. Some staff members are ready and willing to provide assistance & answer questions, while you'd be lucky to even get a greeting from other employees. It's a strange inconsistency, i.e. "Why are you blatantly staring at my shoes yet not taking the time to offer even a 'hello'?" ___________________ Overall, a cool place to stop by if you're on or around Sawtelle.

I usually stop by Black Market when I am in the area. I have always found something cool to buy while I am there. I've purchased jewelry... I've purchased coasters and other toys for myself and as gifts. I was in here this weekend looking for something to buy. While Mikey and I were browsing the store, one of the employees kept following us around and staring at us like as if we were going to STEAL something. We moved from one side of the store to the other side, and the Asian guy stood watch over me the whole time. He was close enough so that if I reached out my hand, I could grab him. This entire experience was very off-putting. Granted, I was wearing a baseball cap while I was there so I may have looked like a hoodlum. I do not think I would ever buy anything form here again. I came close to buying something that day, but decided against it. I will take my business elsewhere.