The New Adventures of Claudia Grau


Claudia Grau has been a creative force in Los Angeles for over 30 years. In the late 70’s at the young age of 21 she ventured off into the fashion world starting her company Grau. In 1980 she opened her first store on the then very sleepy Melrose Avenue (with only 8 stores from Doheny to Highland). She was in the early days of a bustling hub of creativity on Los Angeles and a very exciting time for the now impomius street. She was an instant success with celebrities and stylists frequenting her shop. She was an early pioneer in deconstruction and collaged clothing . She was named an LA mover and shaker at the early age of 24. She costumed characters on TV shows, commercials, and movies. She opened up over 300 wholesale accounts and sold to many major department stores with her signature Japanese Kimono Jackets. Her Gaudi’seque store was featured in many magazines with it’s curved wood walls and cracked tile façade. Her work was collected by many of the most creative women for their distinct one of a kind character.
In 1994 after the birth of her second child Claudia closed her shop on Melrose and studio workroom on Highland Ave. In 1996 she open a studio in the beautiful Crossroads of the World complex. It was the first retail shopping center ever built in 1936 in the center of the historic Hollywood shopping district. Many great Hollywood moments have happened in this complex. Alfred Hitchcock had a space there as well as a famous recording studio(this is still there) for Crosby,Stills,Nash,Young, Jackson Brown,Arteha Franlklin,and so many notable musicians. Taschen Publishing has there LA offices in the complex along with many other creative industry types. There is a wonderful website of its legendary history.
For the last 14 years Grau has been an appointment only location for Claudia’s private clientele of interior clients like Matt Groening (Simpsons), Larry Charles and Barbara DiSantis(Borat), Dan Castelentta and Deb LaCusta (voice of Homer Simpson), Bill and Eileen Mumy , and her many fashion clients. She has ventured out of the studio to participate in Craft fairs with her one of a kind work mostly in California while raising her family with her husband of 21 years. Now she has taken up an additional spaces in the Crossroads and will be Re-opening her retail location. She is hoping to bring hand made crafters and unique collections of local Los Angeles and fellow artisans together to Grauhaus ,Schmalhaus ,and Grau. Her objective is to have happenings and pop-up stores featuring great works and collections for peoples hand made or carefully collected works of inspiration.” I want to create an enviorment” more than a store, where things change regularly.I also want to have salon type intimate gathering of small craft dinners and evenings spoken word and people of interest in LA . One month a bookstore, another month a mens store. I have a wonderful space that used to be a snack bar literally in the 30’s and 40’s that is perfect for books, or millinery , or accessories. Ms. Grau is looking to create a gallery type setting for great collectibles and hand crafted work.