Meet Carla Weber of Hunter Gatherer in Mid City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Weber.

Carla came into this world, in Mexico City, as Frida Kahlo breathed her last sigh. Her father was an up and coming Mexican screen idol who collaborated with various Mexican luminaries such as El Indio (Emilio Fernandez), Gabriel Figueroa, Maria Felix and Cantinflas. During this period, Mexico City was well known for harboring a multitude of US expats and was a bohemian atmosphere punctuated by the likes of Diego Rivera, Rosa Covarubbias, and Luis Bunel. It was a furtive time to absorb the nuances of multicultural influences. Weber’s father eventually moved the family to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career, and a shift in culture was inserted into the dynamics of the wonder years. Some of these influences were good and many of them were questionable. Nevertheless, photography, film and art had already embedded themselves into the matrix of Carla’s DNA, creating a foundation that was hard to shake. The result was an interest in too many things, luscious and aesthetically intoxicating to the eye. She has shaped this amalgamation of eclectic visual feasts into hunter gatherer, ​layering artifacts into an inviting, textured warehouse to experience and explore! ​

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is not a smooth road. The struggles have been small and large, whether it be someone smashing into work van and totaling it; searching out unique objects of desire; finding treasures that are too expensive, tapping into shifts and tastes of a diverse population; or getting tech savvy – it’s all interesting and worth it. The learning curve is huge and worth educating yourself.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hunter Gatherer story. Tell us more about the business.
Hunter Gatherer​ is a bohemian, global boutique, nestled in the heart of Mid-City, Los Angeles. The collection brings unique, one of a kind furnishings and offbeat vintage, home decor into one showroom. ​We have textiles and clothing representing areas from all around the world such as the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America, North and West Africa ~ with 90% being vintage, meaning at least 30 to 100 years old. We have paintings, lithos, outsider art and sculpture that reflects the deeper unconscious aspects of all our shared emotions and experiences, which are, in my opinion, anthropological in nature. We have clothing from all points of the globe that are traditional, reflecting foreign designs and patterns; we also have jewelry, which nods to the unusual, if not downright distinctive.

I do everything! From shopping; photographing items; researching items; writing about the items; posting on Etsy, Chairish and our website as well as Social Media; although I confess I use interns to help me out. They are invaluable!

I am proud of the exotic and eclectic nature of the carefully chosen objects. I suspect our collection of textiles, clothing, jewelry and one of a kind furnishing sets us apart from most other stores. I strive to find truly unique, odd objects.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure I believe in luck…?

Contact Info:

• Address: 5424 West Washington Boulevard,
  Los Angeles, CA 90016
• Website: www.huntergatherer.biz
• Phone: (323) 855-5522
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: huntergathererbiz
• Facebook: huntergathererbiz
• Yelp: huntergatherer biz

Image Credit:
CCH Pounder, myself and Betye Saar
Randi, the intern in the kitchen @ Hunter Gatherer – where we work!

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.