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About Us
The Founder
Sonja Rasula A designer, writer and community activist, Sonja Rasula founded UNIQUE LA in order to bring together and support the creative community, encourage local shopping, and offer a large-scale event in which the mainstream could discover new artists, clothing designers, etc. Sonja is also the co-founder of the popular LA Street Food Fest. Before starting UNIQUE LA Sonja was an interior designer on HGTV and TLC’s ‘Trading Spaces’, and also starred as a Pop Culture Expert on the Canadian music television stations MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic.
A master of all things online, she has directed new media projects for HGTV, Food Network, Reebok, AT&T, Sony, Harlequin and more.
Passionate about community, Sonja lends her time on the Advisory Board’s of both 826LA and GreenWish. Sonja grew up in Echo Park (Los Angeles), where she learned to love music, the arts, diversity, skateboarding, shopping, and churros. She’s a Pop Culture Vulture and a fan of chocolate malts, sneakers, biking, and naps. She’s proud of UNIQUE and is happy you’re here.
Media Producer
Jonathan Sager produces the website and directs videos for UNIQUE LA. He attended CalArts, lives in Silverlake and is quite the sushi expert. You can follow him on twitter @jonathansager or check out his photo blog at jonathansager.com
The Volunteers
The event cannot run without a team of amazing volunteers. Happy to help with signing people in, making sure the media gets what they want, or leading the DIY Lab, UNIQUE volunteers are second to none. If you’d like to volunteer at the event or join the amazing (and fun) marketing Street Team, please email us at volunteer@uniquelosangeles.com.
UNIQUE LA’s History: Making Consumerism Count
Started in December 2008, UNIQUE LA is now the largest independent design & gift show in the country! We created the event to allow shoppers to discover great local, independent design while taking part in community and supporting the local economy. The coolest thing about the show is that attendees get the rare chance to meet and shop directly from over 300 hand-selected designers and artists. Our mandate is that 90% of the vendors are local (LA and California), with a sprinkling of amazing American talent from around the country such as Brooklyn and Portland.
It’s very important to us to introduce shoppers to the idea that consumerism counts. We want people to understand that when they buy locally and Made in the USA goods, they are helping to strengthen our city, state and country. ;) We are proud to say that 99% of the products at the show are proudly made right here in the USA – the few that are made abroad we’ve allowed to be at the show because we believe they are important such as Earthlust’s reusable beverage bottles. About 40,000 people attend UNIQUE LA every year and if you can believe it, close to $2 million is spent in just four days at the two shows. Now that is some serious change! Er, more like bills… ;)
Who’s Talking
Summer2011
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