Imported Appeal : Owners of the Clothing Wear House knew ethnic attire was a trip. And the distinctive items have proved timeless.
One particularly frugal avenue to take in fashion is the ethnic look. It rarely goes out of style; it makes a statement, and could label you as a trend-setter.
Debbie and Steve Block recognized the timelessness and appeal of ethnic clothing 15 years ago and bought a few pieces for their Manhattan Beach shop.
After selling this shop to sail the Mexican waters for two years, they returned home, loaded with Mexican artifacts and apparel.
It was offered for sale at the Valley Swap Meet in Woodland Hills, along with some goods from Indonesia and some contemporary American-made clothing.
Eight years ago, they launched a store in Port Hueneme, the Clothing Wear House, that sells only ethnic apparel. In September, they opened a Sherman Oaks location.
The moment I walked into this Ventura Boulevard shop, I thought of the Damnern Saduak Floating Market outside Bangkok or the Casbah in Algiers. The prices are higher here, of course--but if you want to save bucks on the goods, you can always hop on a plane and shop in the country of origin.
For this shopping expedition, you would have to start with a trip to Arizona and New Mexico for Native American jewelry from the Hopi or Navajo reservations, which Debbie Block purchased to replace some Indonesian jewelry stolen by looters after the earthquake.
Then you would have to leave the United States and head for Guatemala, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Africa. A fabric called “mud cloth” doesn’t sound very appealing, but when you see the African mud cloth jackets for $200, you may change your mind. The designs are formed by the ebb and flow of African rivers, where the heavy cotton cloth is spread out on the riverbanks to catch the silt, which leaves a deep murky color in geometric designs.
Some wonderful vests and jackets composed of multicolored medallions of antique Cambodian silk crocheted together run $70 to $190. A hat of the same fabric is $32. These were purchased by Debbie Block in the Bangkok market of Jat U Jak, the Thai version of a swap meet, on one of her many trips to Indonesia.
If you were a devotee of designer Laise Adzer, you will be delighted with the loose, flowing designs made from a very lightweight cotton and rayon blend from Morocco--as Adzer’s fashions were.
Jackets and skirts are each $90, and a blouse is $36, about half Adzer’s prices.
Apparel made of ikat (pronounced ee-cot) is especially artistic and sought-after. Hand-woven by tribes from the islands of Indonesia, this fabric improves with age, becoming softer over the years. Very old pieces of ikat are quite costly and, being considered works of art, are usually framed. Each tribe weaves ikat of a particular color; one tribe will do only red, another brown and on down the line. At the Clothing Wear House, a unisex jacket of ikat is $90 and a long coat would be about $110--and will gain in value while you wear it.
For apparel, Indonesian jewelry and gift ware, visit the Port Hueneme shop; for apparel and Native American jewelry, stop at the Sherman Oaks location.
Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Friday in Valley Life! Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley Life!, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns. Geri Cook can be heard from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays on KIEV 870-AM.
WHERE TO SHOP
* What: The Clothing Wear House.
* Location: 14555 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, or 725 Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme.
* Hours: Sherman Oaks: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Port Hueneme, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
* Cards: MasterCard, Visa.
* Call: Sherman Oaks, (818) 783-7032. Port Hueneme, (805) 985-5352.
