You may forget that there was a time way back in the caveman era when retail stores felt privileged to have your business. The employees actually said things that at least feigned interest in your current state, like: "Hello," "Are you finding everything alright?" and "How are you?" Times have changed. Why waste words? The guiding light for hip shops is that you, the consumer, are privileged to be able to shop in such an establishment and get your hands on exclusive Marc Jacobs designed Vans, to the envy of all those wannabe hipsters in Dumptruck, Oklahoma.

When in La Brea Avenue's Undefeated, another thing you may forget is that sneakers were once seen as footwear, to be worn in the grimiest and most punishing circumstances. However, those perceptions quickly dissolve with sneakers constructed from the same materials used to protect SWAT members, and collaborations blessed by Gucci, Vans and hard-to-find Japanese brand Visvim. The shop’s founder Eddie Cruz, of Stüssy and Union fame, shall go down in history as the first man to unite high fashion and basketball shoes. LA’s special edition kicks culture bows down and blesses his visionary toes.

Through its vast selection of obscure sneakers and collage homages to the gods of courts, diamonds, gridirons and ice, Undefeated resurrects childhood pipe-dreams and brings them up to speed with uber-modernist décor, including a tranquil waterfall flowing through the store and a constantly shifting billboard which sits atop the shop and has included art from Kaws, Barry McGee and Dennis Hopper. The clientele have egos equivalent to the pros who endorse the footwear they flaunt. But hey, when in Rome...

Undefeated Los Angeles
112.5 South La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.937.6077

Undefeated Santa Monica
2654-B Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310.399.4195

Undefeated Silverlake
3827 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323.668.1315