'Bridging Cultures Through Sustainability'
East/West Shop was started in 2015 by veteran Los Angeles based designers and married couple, Erin & Dennys Han. The shop is a blend of over 40 years of apparel and footwear design expertise and a mixture of Asian, Brazilian and American cultures.
Our current brands include East West Stuff, Gentlemen's Fight Club and Opus Footwear.
East West Stuff's mission is to educate the community on the apparel lifecycle and how they can be approached sustainably. This stuff is for anyone trying to find ways we can do better for the Earth. It’s for people who enjoy clothing but want to consume it in a healthier way.
- We believe that by making better choices in our fashion consumption, we can immediately make an impact on our local environment.
- We believe that shared cultures can open awareness for other people and make a more meaningful life for everyone.
Gentlemen's Fight Club was started by Dennys in 2008 around the time he got his blue belt in jiujitsu. He is now a black belt under Nino Schembri and the brand has grown with him. Look out for the limited collections to sponsor up and coming fighters and other rad people in the martial arts community.
The brand is printed in South Los Angeles and many of the shirts are also made in LA. Sometimes we also do limited runs on vintage and deadstock. Our logo is the same since 2008 and we're hoping our brand will be future vintage re-sold and collected for years to come!
Opus Footwear is our latest brand release. Designed by Dennys for both skate and lifestyle. Ethically produced by a close friend and former factory employee turned factory owner in China. Opus focuses on classic style and timeless fits- that can be worn for both play and work.
Clothing Consciousness
Our first hand experience has shown us that the apparel industry is far too wasteful. At East West Shop we are fully committed to cutting waste, recycling unwanted materials, and using the best option possible in everything we do. Our purpose is to educate consumers to know where their money is going and to help them make more Earth friendly choices when stocking their wardrobes.
Buying vintage and one of a kind pieces is a sustainable act. Recycling, mending and repair - while slow and sometimes complicated and dirty - are a necessary part of the clothing cycle. We hope to inspire others to find your local resouces and help them find new life! New clothing purchases should be of quality – in product & in manufacturing, and be lifelong investments.
In our shop in Chinatown, Los Angeles we educate people on what goes into making their clothes. If a consumer knows how to customize a fit or style, the consumer’s life with a garment will increase. By teaching people how to care, mend & repair their clothes, it will add value and give storytelling through clothing.
To read more about the apparel lifecycle and our thoughts on this blog post.
About Us
Dennys Han was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil to Korean parents and immigrated to the US when he was 11. For over 20 years – he has worked in the apparel and footwear industry as a Graphic and Footwear Designer. He’s designed shoes for many California based skate footwear brands such as Huf, Etnies, Emerica, Generic Surplus and Lakai. While skateboarding is at the core of his lifestyle - his latest passion is in the martial art of Jiu Jitsu. Dennys earned his black belt under Nino and Peppe Schembri in 2019. While a blue belt in 2009, he started a clothing brand called Gentlemen’s Fight Club – which we carry both in store and online. He loves dogs, so you may find him in the shop snuggling the family dogs, Joan and May or teaching Jiu Jitsu at his gym Eastside Jiujitsu.
Erin Wignall Han is an Iowa native who moved to Los Angeles in 2001. She’s always worked and consumed in the vintage cycle – with one of her first jobs at Goodwill when she was 16. She studied fashion design and interned for Vivienne Westwood in London while attending London College of Fashion. She has worked in the LA garment industry for over 20 years and spent 11 as the Head Designer and Director for OBEY Clothing Women’s line. Her passion is in creating something from nothing and using materials at hand to create something beautiful and meaningful. Whether it’s studying the apparel waste cycle or learning about the healing properties of natural/medicinal dyes – she is a student of life. Erin loves to see people transitioning into clothing consciousness and to see the stories that clothing can tell when you care for and mend them when needed. The quote -posted on a sign on her favorite local hike - that gets her through life "May your journey through nature lead you to yourself..."
Listen to an interview with Erin:
Read More:
Popeye Magazine
Delta Sky Magazine
