What Is Wasteland?

Wasteland is the original world-famous outfitter of style icons, artists, musicians, and anyone whose fashion creates and defies trends. Born from a tiny vintage shop in Berkeley, CA, Wasteland has grown into a four-store style empire.  

Every day, hundreds of fashion savvy shoppers make their way to Wasteland locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Studio City to sell their goods and score the latest steals. We handpick every designer, contemporary and vintage piece, and seek out new independent collections that align with our brand and express our spirit. As a result, Wasteland is always a reflection of the moment – art, music, history and the now. 

Our Story

Back in the days of mods and deathrockers, Joe Swinney and Cheryl Cohen met and fell in love to the soundtrack of U2, New Order, Nirvana, and the Psychedelic Furs. With an innovative perspective and some borrowed cash, the pair decided to open up their first vintage clothing store in Berkeley CA in 1985, but not any vintage shop, a perfectly curated style haven that offered a fashion collection of authenticity and self-expression. A store that inspired shoppers to create looks in a unique, one of a kind way every time they shopped. It took off. It’s growth was so widely recognized that over the years magazine such as Vogue, Rolling Stone, Details, Nylon, Paper, and others have all sung Wasteland’s praises as a unique treasure trove of designer, contemporary, and vintage fashion. The rest is history. 

But Wasteland isn’t just loved by the media. Ask any fashion fanatic who shops our retail stores, and they probably have a Wasteland story; scoring a coveted Chanel bag, trying on a one of a kind Rick Owens jacket or catching a glimpse of Steven Tyler dancing into the San Francisco store after hearing Aerosmith cranking as he cruised by. Almost every designer from Marc Jacobs to Vivienne Westwood to Miuccia Prada has come through Wasteland’s doors seeking inspiration. Those who shape the industry itself have combed through our racks. Every Wasteland has its own special vibe and culture, shaped by its neighborhood; the residents inject a personality into each store location, resulting in a shopping experience that is always exciting, fresh and unique.