What Goes On In LA, Stays In LA Panel At The PSFK Conference Los Angeles

For the PSFK Conference Los Angeles, we invited a panel of writers and journalists to discuss the cultural trends in LA. The panel, chaired by Adriana Parcero of Nokia discussed how LA has always led green issues; LA as center of fashion with its independent spirit; what defined a center for LA; the possibility of Downtown becoming downtown and LA as a metaphor for the internet. Joining the panel was Tony Pierce of LAist, Emmanuelle Richard of the French daily Liberation, Jeff Miller of Thrillist LA and Shana Nys Dambrot of Flavorpill LA.

ON SUSTAINABILITY AND FASHION

SHANA – I think of all the green stuff that started 20 years ago – stuff like hemp – we used to be a punch-line in the rest of the country but now all of that is now mainstream. The green movement started on the West Coast. All the experimental stuff that was funny to the rest of the world, actually is now important to the world.

EMMANUELLE – This new green craziness is fueled by the stars but also because Swartzenegger is leading this. For the world, LA is California and Swartzenegger therefore brings a lot of green ideas to the rest on the world

In regard to ethical fashion – American Apparel have a lot of influence around the world. It’s incredible the influence. LA has become a big influential center of fashion. This is not about stars or green. It’s more about people like the Cobrasnake and his photography. People are coming all round the world to his site to get inspiration. People are taking photos into hairdressers around the world with his photos to get haircuts which aren’t really haircuts,

TONY – Cobrasnake is anti-fashion and Cory Kennedy is the anti-model. They have tons of flaws. Is LA thumbing its nose at the rest of the world over fashion? These are my friends being hipsters and hanging out in Silverlake – it’s work mixed with punk rock attitude.

SHANA – Everyone is talking about authenticity and that you can’t sell to the new generation. They’re so cynical about any attempt as presenting yourself is cool, but it’s the authenticity that people respond to.

ON THE CENTER OF LA

TONY – They keep trying to make malls and walks in LA but they fail. Some people think that the Grove is working and it’s a center for LA. The center of town is where you protest and write. La Brea and Sunset. We’re writing around Vermont & Ten. Protesting is the same way – weird riots at Macarthur park. It speaks to LA on how truly diverse we are and there isn’t a center. That fuels the independence of LA.

SHANA – If you asks someone where the center of NYC it depends on their values and sensibility. In LA, you need is help navigating where you need to go. But all the neighborhoods are all fantastic and are all different. And everyone is zealous about where they live. There’s a tribal thing and people put effort into building culture into their neighborhood.

JEFF – Maybe the city centers are streets. If you live in Silverlake, the hipster culture is a certain street.

TONY – Maybe the city centers are the freeways – the 405 and 101. We don’t want it to be like that, but hey. I’m so against building downtown without a huge traffic solution. They built all these condos – but how do people get around. What’s going to happen when the Lakers are good and everyone wants to go there to see them?

TONY – I’ve been very skeptical of the downtown renaissance and I can’t imagine living there. But there’s a Ralph’s open to 2am – people must be living there. I’m slowly beginning to believe that Downtown could happen. I think if it does, we’ll be in a very different city in 10 years time.

SHANA –People are beginning to think about what a new train line might do. Everyone is also moving East and maybe Downtown might become the real Downtown.

SHANA: I see LA as one big metaphor for the internet – a sprawl with nodes but not one center.

Keep an eye on PSFK for the video of this panel.