TOTEME has opened its doors to the LA flagship. Located on the iconic Melrose Avenue, the store takes cues from its Californian context and tributes the city’s Art Deco design legacy.

Channeling a sculptural serenity, the space combines natural materials, geometric shapes and art and furniture that speak of TOTEME’s Swedish heritage. Created together with long-term collaborators, Stockholm architect Halleroed, the store is composed in an Italian beige sandstone, extending from the exterior sandblasted façade to the interior arching passage. From the outside, bespoke signage with free-standing geometric lettering typical of 1930s Hollywood and large beds planted with Californian agave and cacti evoke a sense of place, while large circular windows invite a closer look.

Inside, the airy space explores light, space and the art of perception. Two arcing walls delineate dedicated bag and shoe areas, while a lounge area, with its low-slung sofas by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, is illuminated by a vast skylight. At the back of the store, the eye is drawn to an angled sky-blue corridor that represents the endless blues of the California coastline.

The space is decorated with art by female Swedish artists curated by the TOTEME founders. “Idrix III”, a striking melted bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Theresa Traore Dahlberg, is illuminated in a window.

“The Melrose Avenue store is rooted in our Swedish heritage, but also captures the airiness and sense of freedom that California’s broad landscapes and architectural history inspire. We wanted to give the space a distinct and distinguished character that paid tribute to downtown Los Angeles’ Art Deco past, as though the building was always here.”



– Karl Lindman, Co-Founder, TOTEME



The LA flagship is now open at 8910 Melrose Avenue.