Where? Des Kohan is housed in a 1920s warehouse in the mid-city neighbourhood of Los Angeles known as Miracle Mile. Owner Desiree Kohan avoided the trendier and busier Robertson Boulevard so she could provide customers with one-on-one service.
Who? Kohan majored in spiritual psychology at University of California, Los Angeles, and worked as a trend forecaster for Prada and Gucci in Milan. By travelling around the world - scouring Paris' flea markets, London's thrift stores and Shanghai's silk stalls - Kohan was able to put together a boutique
that synthesises high-end designers with finds from exotic locales.
Fashion finds: Des Kohan stocks a mix of avant-garde pieces, including those from European designers Hussein Chalayan and Jasmin Shokrian, as well as from Californian talent such as Joyaan and Ella Moss.
The store also offers its own line of urban knit tops and dresses with clean lines. Among the clothes are one-of-a-kind, semi-precious-stone rings from Brazil, pieces from local jewellery designer Morgan Jean and vintage home decor items and shoes by Carmen Ho.
The vibe: the 1,000 sq ft space has a warm yet minimalist decor, combining concrete floors, limestone, silk, exposed beams and modern furniture.