Sale Rack: Unique Los Angeles bazaar returns with hundreds of vendors

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Unique Los Angeles, a bazaar featuring 275 mainly L.A.-based vendors that made its debut during the holiday season, returns Saturday for shoppers who’d like to stimulate the local economy by picking up a spring wardrobe or gifts for Mother’s Day at below-retail prices.

Women’s collections for this Unique edition include Eva Franco dresses ($50 to $200 for a few exclusive pieces) and Tucker Paisley dresses ($25 to $150), Taxi CDC’s reworked vintage ($35 to $45) plus local designers Christine Haynes and Rojas. Men can find colorful street wear from Durkl and Dim Mak and eco-fashion from Sub Urban Riot, plus biker-inspired jewelry from Spragwerks. Accessory lines include felt tote bags by Graf & Lantz ($50 to $200) and jewelry by Sasha Bell and Amy Olson.

Unique falls on the weekend beforeMother’s Day, and stationery vendors Joie Studio, JustJENN design and Anemone letterpress offer cards that carry a more personal statement than a store-bought note. Gift ideas for mom: lotions by Klean Bath & Body; organic made-in-USA pillows by Humble (starting at $26); Ezme handmade, microwave-safe dinnerware; and Rain Tees ($32), designed by youths living in Central and South American rain forests.

Sonja Rasula founded Unique to promote local talent, but her new goal is to encourage a community-based alternative to local shopping centers. ‘I want to create a mall where all the shoppers are getting deals and all the designers are making money.’

Half of the $5 entrance fee (children 10 and younger are free) goes to nonprofit CityLabs (founded by Rasula, along with Knight Foundation and Good magazine), a traveling fair that encourages community volunteering.

110 E. 9th St., Los Angeles. (323) 644-5516. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Credit cards accepted by some vendors. Discounted parking available at California Market Center. www.uniquelosangeles.com

-- Max Padilla

Photo: Graf & Lantz bag, $115