French Sneaker Brand VEJA Opens First West Coast Storefront in Venice Beach
Located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the new space merges the brand's Parisian roots with the neighborhood's laidback California vibes.
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August 12, 2025 2:54pm
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French footwear brand VEJA has set up shop in Los Angeles, with a new boutique on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice.
Tucked away in a historic brick storefront (that still bears some former signage on the awning), the new VEJA space merges the brand’s urban aesthetic with the neighborhood’s laidback California vibes. It also marks VEJA’s third physical retail location in the U.S. — and first on the West Coast — after store openings in Nolita and Williamsburg.
VEJA
The VEJA store was designed by architecture firm OWIU (Only Way Is Up), who worked with the brand’s in-house design team to create a “minimalist and aesthetic space inspired by the California coast.” To wit: the store has an industrial and “mineral” feel, with exposed beams and concrete reflecting the sandy shores of nearby Venice Beach, while “California Gold” boulders offer both seating and display options for shoes and shoppers alike.
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The back of the store features a shoe repair workshop, where dedicated cobblers will restore old pairs of VEJA sneakers, as part of the brand’s efforts to promote sustainability and re-use rather than overconsumption. The cobbler will also repair other brands and styles of shoes, even if they were purchased elsewhere.
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Aside from being a footwear pioneer — known for its use of Brazilian and Peruvian organic cotton uppers, as well as Amazonian rubber for its soles — VEJA has long been known for opening doors, from its program at French logistics warehouse Log’ins, where it employs disabled and marginalized individuals, to creating new pathways for Brazilian laborers. Now, they’re opening a literal new door in Venice.
THR caught up with VEJA co-founder Sébastien Kopp (who started the brand in 2004 with classmate-turned-business partner François-Ghislain Morillion) to chat about landing in LA, the vision for the new store and how Angelenos stand out from the Parisian fashion set.
Why did you decide to open in LA?
For us, opening a place is always a question of feeling. We travel, we ask a lot of people on the way, and we feel. So we decided to open a place in LA two years ago. We had a lot of interest from VEJA fans to open a place on the West Coast, and [we] have been many times over the years, visiting, getting a sense of the city, and getting aligned. I would go to see the people at Patagonia, to speak about our organic cotton work, or to do conferences about VEJA. For Europeans, it is a kind of dream city. We know Los Angeles has been through a lot these years, and especially in 2025, and it’s meaningful to be joining this community.
Los Angeles has so many great shopping neighborhoods – why did you choose Venice?
We knew Venice especially well, and also Silverlake, Melrose, and downtown LA. But walking by Abbot Kinney persuaded us instantly. It is the more “European” vibe of LA, with a mix of tourists, surfers, artists. Some years ago, I went to Venice beach at 6 a.m. to surf, and I ended up surfing with dolphins. For a European, there is a kind of magic in Venice with the [Santa Monica Pier ferris] wheel, the stores lining the streets, the basketball players, skateboarders, and running crews. It was just evident that this was our spot—and even more so after the fires, and what is going on in the U.S. right now, we think that Los Angeles and California are super important.
What was the vision for the store, both in terms of aesthetics and feeling?
Like our other stores, the space itself has raw vibes, working with rocks and wood. It also has a cobbler to repair sneakers from all brands. We kept it simple but beautiful, and we did not destroy what was there previously, but rather, emphasized it. We like to take places and to respect the soul of them, and to adapt to each space more than to impose our way. This is why all the VEJA stores are different; we adapt to the place we find. It takes more time, but you feel better once you are inside. Beyond what we make and how we designed it, we will try to create a place where people can talk about ecology, economic and social justice. It is becoming more rare lately.
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How would you describe LA style and how is it similar or different to Parisian style?
It is so different! Paris is all about being dressed up, with a lot of accessories. LA is more a mix of cool, new world trends, from music to running. It has more of a link with the lifestyle of Brazil, with the cars, sports, and surfing. We just launched our new sandals, the Arpoador, made in Brazil with our wild rubber from Amazonia in the soles, and we already know it is a huge success worldwide. For our running shoes, we work with César Vilalba, a designer based in LA, who is our city guide here.
Aside from your new shop, what are some of your favorite places in LA to visit?
We love Silverlake, the Hills, Malibu, and also downtown LA. I’m a fan of Mohawk General store, and the guy is so inspiring in what he does. We’ve had the chance to meet many times. There are so many spots to talk about. I remember having sushi with friends downtown, in a super high tower, and this is what we love in LA: the city contains multitudes, and you can live a hundred lives in Los Angeles.
VEJA is now open at 1108C Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice.
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