Before there was the Fashion District, there was Stanley Hirsh.

A man filled with passion and a clear vision for helping others, not only in business but in his endless generosity toward others. A shrewd businessman with a heart for giving, Stanley’s reputation was iconically one of success, as well as of service.

From humble beginnings as a clothing salesman in downtown Los Angeles, his business savvy and passion for helping others quickly flourished in new forms – developing into an eponymous collective of fashion companies, then continuing to evolve into an interest for creating spaces for other fashion houses to grow and thrive like his own.

Not long after meeting his wife, Anita, in the mid-1960s, the couple began investing in historic buildings within the garment district, as it was known at the time. It was in these spaces that they would root their own business and Stanley would take it upon himself to make necessary improvements to each before inviting other garment manufacturers, designers and merchandisers to join him. His mission to ensure that every tenant’s creative and concrete needs were met in order to flourish still lives on within the Hirsh Collective today.

Within a few short years, the Hirsh’s owned five of the most prominent buildings in the neighborhood, housing some of the most creative minds in fashion in Los Angeles in mid-twentieth century. Not only was Stanley a visionary for creating such spaces to foster creativity, he also championed the improvement of the district as a whole, pioneering the effort to create the Business Improvement District that was dubbed the Fashion District of Los Angeles, which now represents 100 blocks with a budget of $1.6 million. It was this ardent activism that paved the way for the neighborhood’s ongoing revitalization and boosted the entire business community that continues to prosper today. In recognition of such service and contributions to downtown and the city at large, the intersection of 9th and Los Angeles street has been historically commemorated as ‘Stanley Hirsh Square’.

From Stanley’s modest origins to his legendary legacy of generous philanthropy, the impact of his accomplishments endures as prominently as the historic buildings and charitable endeavors that bear his and Anita’s names. Whether it was within his direct relationships with tenants and employees, or his greater civic endeavors, Stanley left an indelible mark on his immediate and greater neighbors. His drive and compassion fostered the success of – and paved the way for – one of Los Angeles’s most creative communities that continues to grow and evolve over half a century later. Today, the Hirsh Collective continues to be owned by the Hirsh family and it is through this stewardship that his legacy of success and service endure.