Odd Future and Streetwear Employees Resent Fairfax Avenue Tourist Influx

But the collegial atmosphere that characterized this not-long-ago era has changed, says Diamond Supply Co. manager Sean Lyles. "You have a lot of outsiders from different states," he says, "people who wanna squeeze in and take photos. It's not a family thing like it was before."

Since Supreme has only two stores in the country — and because it produces limited quantities of its items — customers buying in bulk present a problem, says a different Supreme employee. It's not fair to a kid who's saved up to buy the latest limited-edition sneaker to be beaten out by an Internet hustler who's just going to jack up the price online.

ILLUSTRATION BY NOAH PATRICK PFARR

Related Content

• Mark Ryden Tells Us About His Design for the Tyler the Creator Album Cover
  May 13, 2013
• Jewish Shop Employees on Fairfax Embrace Tourist Influx
  October 1, 2012
• Tyler, the Creator: Horsing Around
  March 28, 2013
• Q & A With Soul of a Banquet's Wayne Wang: Cecilia Chiang Why the Best Chinese Food in the World is in the SGV
  April 6, 2013
• 30-Minute Lunch: Egg Slut Truck
  March 12, 2013

More About

• Val Caruso
• Fairfax
• OFWGKTA
• Skateboarding
• Extreme Sports

Odd Future's unofficial photographer, Brick Stowell, met the group members on Fairfax a couple of years back. His shots — which have the grainy look of '90s-era point-and-shoot cameras, complete with time stamps in their lower right-hand corners — largely compose their 2011 book, Odd Future: Golf Wang.

He's as much a part of the Fairfax scene as anyone but doesn't necessarily think its burgeoning popularity is a negative thing.

"Three or four years ago it was just a hangout. [Now], record executives, bloggers, photographers, artists all go there 'cause they know they'll see other artists. People won't admit it, but you go there to be seen and to see other artists. It's not bad, it's just different," he says, adding that he'll sometimes stop by the block if he's looking for one of his buddies, rather than call him.

But Lee Spielman, who works at OF and is the lead singer of hardcore punk band Trash Talk, wants to make it clear to outsiders that the community remains insular. If you're interested in applying for a job at his store, for example, well, you're probably out of luck.

"People bring in job applications," he notes with a smile. "We just tear 'em up."