The sleek mid-century modern design of Andana, a new high-end shoe boutique at 1045 Swarthmore, has been attracting attention from local business owners and residents this past week. The store opened last Thursday in the 800-sq.-ft. space that was formerly part of Emerson-LaMay Cleaners and is next to Tabitha, the new maternity clothing boutique. According to owners Andreea Benuciu and Daniela Vasile (whose first names, combined, inspired the name of the store), people initially have been drawn by the luminous space with its tall ceilings and fire-engine red furniture, including a quilted leather daybed. Then their customers notice the merchandise: handmade shoes by Italian and Spanish designers, leather handbags, wallets, belts, hats and jewelry, displayed on built-in shelving and in a tall glass display case. ‘It looks even better than we imagined,’ Andreea said. ‘It was hard to put a high-end design in this space. We had to have a great, ingenious design to attract customers.’ Because they do not own the exterior of the shop and could not put a sign outside, they came up with an innovative solution: hang a metal sign with the shop’s name in curvy Bauhaus-style lettering, over three tall bar tables and chairs in the front window. Andreea and Daniela will host a Grand Opening party with wine and music on Thursday, November 30, from 4 to 8 p.m., during which they will offer some special deals. The philosophy behind Andana is to provide women with footwear that is sexy and feminine but also comfortable. ‘The shoes are timeless,’ Andreea says. ‘They don’t follow any trends.’ Prices start at $379. Their first customer last Thursday was a local woman who usually has trouble finding comfortable shoes she likes in her size (11). She left the store wearing a pair of red suede pumps with a small heel designed by Chie Mihara. The shoes are designed with cushioned leather insoles that make wearing heels comfortable. About 80 percent of the store is shoes, including designs by Alberto Fermani and Twenty Two, and many of the styles are designed exclusively for the boutique so customers will feel as if they’re buying a collector’s item or piece of art, according to Andreea. Andana also carries handbags by Pia Tonna, jewelry by Double Happiness, Icon wallets and purses imprinted with famous paintings (by Da Vinci and Michelangelo), and unisex leather bracelets by Dillon Rogers, among other accessories. One PiaTonna handbag design that has been particularly popular with customers is a teal incised-leather bag decorated with Murano glass on the tassel. Andreea and Daniela have been friends for years after meeting at a church in the Valley; Andreea lives in Sherman Oaks and Daniela lives in Valencia. Andreea, a native of Romania, moved to the United States eight years ago and has worked in sales in the beauty industry. Daniela, a USC graduate with a degree in biology, works in the restaurant business; her family runs The Garden Spot, a health food restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Current store hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: 454-6515.
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