DTLA Sample Sale Guide: Cooper Design Space, CMC & The New Mart

By Mereyah Smith · Updated October 19, 2026

Once a month, the wholesale showroom buildings in the LA Fashion District open their doors to the public for what locals call "sample sale Friday." It is one of the best-value shopping days in Los Angeles, and one of the most confusing if you have never done it. This guide covers the Cooper Design Space and its neighbors, using facts from the buildings and the LA Fashion District and from our own SoCal listings.

Where it happens: "The Intersection"

The main contemporary showroom buildings cluster around 9th Street and Los Angeles Street in Downtown LA, an area the LA Fashion District refers to as "The Intersection." The district lists five participating showroom buildings:

Cooper Design Space — 860 S Los Angeles St
California Market Center (CMC) — 110 E 9th St
The New Mart — 127 E 9th St
The Gerry Building — 910 S Los Angeles St
Lady Liberty Building — 843 S Los Angeles St

They are within a short walk of each other, so you can cover several buildings in one morning. Note that 910 S Los Angeles St is also the address listed for Eclipse DTLA, where the True Religion Sample Sale ran Oct 21–25.

When: the last Friday of the month

According to the LA Fashion District, showroom sample sales typically take place on the last Friday of every month, roughly 9am to 3pm, and become more frequent in November and December. Exact hours can vary by building and by showroom. Uncover LA, for example, listed the Cooper Design Space March 27, 2026 sale as 9am to 2pm. Cooper Design Space has also previously told shoppers to contact individual showrooms directly for their sample sale hours.

Our current listings match the pattern:

California Market Center Sample Sale — Friday Oct 30, 9am–3pm
The New Mart Sample Sale — Friday Oct 30, 9am–5pm
CMC Holiday Sample Sales — Nov 6, Nov 13 and Nov 20, with participating showrooms and free entry at CMC Building C

We have not yet listed a Cooper Design Space date for October, because we only add sales once they are publicly announced. Showroom buildings usually confirm the week of the sale, so check the tracker, Cooper's own channels and the Fashion District calendar the week of the last Friday.

What is inside Cooper Design Space

Cooper Design Space is a showroom building where independent showrooms and sales agencies represent many brands, mostly contemporary womenswear, menswear and accessories. On sample sale days, participating showrooms sell their samples directly from their suites. Uncover LA's March 2026 roundup listed participants including Pistola and Daze, Theo the Label, Andy K/Planet B, Connect Agency LA, Place Showroom and Lefties Showroom, among others. Participation changes from month to month, so do not count on any specific brand.

How to find out which showrooms are participating

Not every showroom in a building takes part. The LA Fashion District says participating showrooms typically post flyers in the building lobbies the week of or the day of the sale. Its recommended resources for staying informed are its events calendar, its Instagram, and Uncover LA. StealDrop compiles the building-level sales it can confirm into the SoCal tracker, and links the source on every listing.

A game plan for sample sale Friday

Arrive early. Doors around 9am means the best racks go in the first hour or two.
Start in the lobby. The Fashion District suggests picking up the pamphlet or reading the flyers of participating brands first, then mapping your route by floor and suite number.
Pick a building order. Cooper, CMC and The New Mart are close together. Prioritize the building with the most brands on your list, then work outward.
Bring cash and a card. Each showroom sets its own policy, and the Fashion District's guide specifically suggests bringing cash.
Dress to try on in the aisle. Showroom suites are not stores, and fitting space is limited.
Bring totes and water. You will be carrying purchases between floors and buildings.
Take a lunch break. If you plan to do multiple buildings, the district's own tips include a break for lunch.

For the full packing list, see what to bring to a sample sale.

Sizing and what you will find

Because these are showroom samples, sizing is often limited to sample sizes, and you will usually find one or a few of each piece. That is the trade-off for variety: dozens of brands in a few city blocks. Inspect items for wear from showroom use before buying, and assume sales are final.

Getting there

The Fashion District is in Downtown LA, south of the core. Street parking can be tight on busy days, so plan for paid lots or transit, and allow extra time. Check current parking and transit options before you go, as we do not track them.

Not just the last Friday

The showroom buildings are only part of the DTLA picture. Venue sales like the True Religion sale at Eclipse DTLA run on their own multi-day schedules, often with VIP early access. Filter the SoCal tracker by the LA area and look for "DTLA" in the city to see everything downtown.