WHO WE ARE

The Wasteland story begins back in the days of death rock and the mod subculture. Joe Swinney and Cheryl Cohen met and fell in love alongside soundtracks of U2, New Order, Nirvana, and The Psychedelic Furs. With an innovative perspective and some borrowed cash, the pair decided to open up their first vintage clothing store in Berkeley, California in 1985 – but not just any vintage shop. It would be a perfectly-curated, style haven that offers a fashion collection of authenticity and self-expression. A store that inspired shoppers to create looks in a unique, one-of-a-kind way every time they stopped. The doors opened and the store took off. Its growth was so widely recognized that magazines like Vogue, Rolling Stone, Details, Nylon, and Paper all sung Wasteland’s praises as a unique treasure trove of designer, contemporary, and vintage fashion. The rest, as they say, is history.

But Wasteland isn’t just loved by the media. Ask any fashion fanatic who shops our retail stores; they probably have a Wasteland story like scoring a coveted Chanel bag, trying on a one-of-a-kind Rick Owens jacket, or catching a glimpse of Steven Tyler dancing into the San Francisco store after hearing Aerosmith cranking as he cruised by. Almost every designer from Marc Jacobs to Vivienne Westwood to Miuccia Prada has come through Wasteland’s doors seeking inspiration. Those who shape the industry itself have combed through our racks.

Flash-forward to today: Wasteland store locations now exist on the top shopping streets in California. There’s one on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Haight Street in San Francisco, Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, and Figueroa Street in Highland Park. Every Wasteland location is shaped by the vibe and culture of their own neighborhoods. The residents inject a personality into each store location, resulting in a shopping experience that is always thrilling, of-the-moment, and unique.