RAD Puts Fresh, Youthful Spin on La Jolla Shopping

When you think La Jolla shopping, you don’t always think youth, but you’d be surprised what you will find this season.

When many longstanding boutiques couldn’t weather the recession and closed the doors, their vacancy left an opportunity for fresh boutiques with young owners to set up shop.

Case and point, Peter Zhang is the owner and operator of the new boutique RAD on Prospect. A black sheep on a street stuffed to the brim with…stuff, RAD is simple, clean and cool in its design as well as its merchandise.

T-shirts, tanks and shorts line no more than four to five racks. On these bars hang a few local lines, an LA designer and then there is Enasni; the clothing line for men and women that Peter himself designs and has constructed in LA. (pictured)

“I’m pretty disappointed with what’s out there,” Peter mentions when asked why he started his own line. “There is not a lot of thought. Enasni is all about thought.” Simple in shape and patterns, Enasni focuses on the fit. “I wanted to make garments that put the spotlight on the person, not the other way around.” As a result, if you just look at one of his tees you think plain shirt, but that is the intention; in the fit is where Enasni shines. . “It doesn’t have much hanger appeal, but once you try it on…”

I can definitely deem his pride and joy from the collection a must-have item for San Diego fellas. A play on the baseball jersey, this short sleeve plaid shirt is collarless and needs another shirt underneath to wear in public, since there are no buttons. “I think buttons are tacky.” Peter explains. “You won’t see any buttons on my stuff.” Almost like a vest with sleeves, you put this cool item over a plain tee to accomplish a relaxed layered look San Diego has not seen before, but will simply adore.

Discover more of the best San Diego boutiques in our shopping directory, and keep up to speed on style trends in our shopping blog. For more fashion advice or a wardrobe consultation with a personal stylist, visit vanessavaliente.com.