Ed Fuentes

Selling the new decade in the Fashion District.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Sunglass entrepreneur Osman Mubark was in the Fashion District this afternoon sporting festive New Years Eve shades. He came to Los Angeles from the Sudan ten years ago and, thanks to working in and around Santee Alley, now does his sales pitch in both Spanish and English.

Even if holiday sales were slower than in years past, the Fashion District was busy on Christmas Day, says Graciano Fernandez. He was working in a shoe store that doesn't sell knock-off Sketchers and Adidas. "People came down just to walk around, or pick up something on the way in to see family."

Shopping on the day after Christmas was also about making an adjustment to economic times.

One mom was fulfilling a promise made to her two children. Translating for her mom, 10-year-old Rosario Ruiz talked about her family's Christmas morning. "We unwrapped presents and inside were new shoes. There was a letter from Santa that we can wear them the next day to come here [to Downtown] and pick two toys. We're going to the toy store next to Macy's next!"

As for Mubark's sporty 2010 glasses, they were offered up for an affordable $2.10.