In the first episode of Hands On…with Moonstone, we sit down with Susan Lee, founder of Wilder Los Angeles—a vintage retail store once known as “The Secret Shop.” Susan shares her journey growing up in Los Angeles as a first-generation Korean American and how her upbringing shaped her path into fashion, denim, and entrepreneurship.
We dive into building Wilder from the ground up, the realities of running a small retail business, and creating a space rooted in community, storytelling, and intention. Susan also reflects on her father’s legacy in helping establish Koreatown—once referred to as Korean Village—and how history, identity, and place continue to influence her work today.