Stepping into the new Sandast flagship in downtown LA, one will get the sense of the high-quality work and expert craftsmanship put into its line of leather goods. In an interesting ode to the brand’s vintage-inspired design philosophy, owner and artisan Milan Franeta chose to convert an old auto garage to stand as Sandast’s first store location. Blending that traditional premise with innovative crafting techniques, Franeta designs his USA-sourced leather bags to look aged, and its hardware to appear scuffed and well-worn.

The resulting collections, “American Rugged” and “Italian Vintage,” exude both elegance and toughness. Joining his two staple categories, Franeta has also launched a new “Artisan Collection”—everyday unisex bags and totes made with a new leather burnishing method. Complementary brands like Redwin, H by Hudson, Nudie jeans, G-Star, and Thom Browne sunglasses will round out Sandast’s namesake selections. Officially opening with a launch party on May 17th, Sandast will also feature a large workshop window for customers to view the entire bag-making process. 1205 South Hill St., Downtown LA; no phone at press time