Friday, October 26
Tarrant Apparel Has a New CEO
Tarrant Apparel has a new chief executive officer. The Los Angeles-based maker of private-label apparel and parent company of the Jane Doe brand has promoted Eddy Tak Yu Yuen to CEO. Yuen was previous...
N.Y. Staffing Agency Goes West
New York-based placement agency 24 Seven is looking west these days.The year-old company recently opened a West Coast office in Santa Monica, Calif., to tap into Los Angeles’ cutting-edge crea...
Petro Zillia Joins Designer Collections
Los Angeles-based public relations firm SPR announced the addition of designer Petro Zillia to the lineup for Audi presents Designer Collections of Los Angeles Fashion Week,...
Economy Unlikely to Improve
The economy is unlikely to improve by year’s end, according to New York-based research firm the Conference Board, which found that its composite index of leading indicators declined 0.5 percent in Sept...
Saks to Reposition Dearborn Store
The Birmingham, Ala.-based retailer announced new plans for its Fairlane Town Center location in Dearborn, Mich., which currently houses a Saks Fifth Avenue and an Off 5th, the company’s outlet store. ...
U.S. Trucking Industry Suffering
The U.S. trucking industry is suffering, with volume dropping from about 148 tons in 2000 to about 139 in 2001, according to the American Trucking Association. A brief uptick in trucking foll...
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Planning New Stores
The Hampstead, Md.-based menswear retailer announced plans to open seven new stores over the next 30 days, bringing its total number of stores to 135. The company has already opened 14 stores this yea...
Mixed Message at L.A. Textile Show
Textile buyer turnout was good but fell below expectations at the Los Angeles International Textile Show, according to several textile reps and organizers who said they were hoping the Oct. ...
Modern Menswear: LRG Has Underground Inventive, Overground Effective
LRG Has Underground Inventive, Overground Effective ...
Babystyle Births New Deal With Bloomingdale's
Babystyle, a division of Los Angeles-based eStyle Inc., is making its first foray into national retail distribution with a new maternity linethe company is launching under a partner...
Distinctions in Denim: Serfontaine
Some designers rely on catchy or unique logos to help boost brand recognition. Mik Serfontaine relies solely on personal style, which imbues every inch of his denim line for women called
Frankie B. for Men
“Jeans are a staple, not a trendy item that will fade out of style,” said Daniella Clarke, the designer of Frankie B.’s ultra-sexy bootleg denim jeans for women....
Pasadena BID Launches New Campaign
With a million-dollar budget in hand, the Pasadena [Calif.] Business Improvement District (BID) is gearing up to roll out a multifaceted campaign to appeal to locals and to...
Tyte Expands to Bigger Showroom
Los Angeles-based apparel manufacturer Tyte has moved into a larger showroom at the California Mart to house its new girls’ 7–16 division as well as its junior bottoms collection....
Online Showrooms' Appeal Increases Since 9/11
As the fashion industry remains in a recovery mode following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the idea of conducting business online is becoming more appealing to some retailers, especially those reluc...
New Nostalgia: With The Band
With The Band’s novelty T-shirts emblazoned with vintage photographs reflect the rock ’n’ roll spirit of the label’s name, according to owner Felicia Arlin, who worked ...
ISAM Moves to Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
It’s official—the Los Angeles swimwear industry’s biannual swim show, International Swimwear/Activewear Market (ISAM), will move from the California Mart to the Santa Monica Civic Audi...
Self Esteem Targets Tweens, Expands Showrooms
Commerce, Calif.-based juniors manufacturer Self Esteem is expanding its apparel offerings to include a tweens collection after testing a group of tween-sized tops for Fall 2001. The manufact...
Friday, October 19
'Made in New York' Campaign
A “Made in New York” campaign is underway in a team effort between executives at Tahari and Nicole Miller and apparel union UNITE. The campaign features hangtags that read, “UNITE...
Gov. Gray Davis Cuts Budget
Gov. Gray Davis instructed all state agencies to cut budgets by 15 percent for fiscal year 2003, which begins on July 1, 2002. The governor said the state “is now experiencing the full impact o...
Fashion Week Benefit to Assist New York Orphans
Los Angeles-based accessory showroom Ben-Amun’s Fabulous will present The Fierce And The Fabulous, a fashion event on Nov. 5 to benefit the Twin Towers Orphan Fund, ...
Mothers Work Acquires iMaternity
Mothers Work has acquired iMaternity, operator of online e-tailer iMaternity.com and bricks-and-mortar Dan Howard and Mothertime stores. Mothers Work operates maternity stores Motherhood Maternity, A ...
Dollar Rebounds
On Oct. 10, the dollar rebounded and shot up to its highest level since Sept. 11, which sent the value of the dollar against the yen and the euro plummeting....
L.A. Textile Show to Open With High Hopes, Realistic Expectations
The Los Angeles International Textile Show will open with exhibitors hoping for strong turnout following less than stellar showings at other recent national and international textile shows....
Cherokee Going to Britain
Cherokee is going to Britain, following the signing of a licensing deal between the label’s Van Nuys-based namesake company and United Kingdom–based Tesco TLC....
Pola-Torres to Rep Symphony
New York-based converter Symphony Fabrics announced the appointment of Los Angeles-based textile firm Pola-Torres Sales Group as exclusive West Coast sales rep for the comp...
Otis Students Craft 9/11 Quilt
As a way to express their feelings about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, students at the Otis School of Fashion in Los Angeles built a wooden “quilt of life” bearing more than 75 indivi...
West Coast Fashion Summit
A group of designers offering a wide range of urban designs, from the street stylings of Sean John and Meoshe, to the African-inspired looks of Ghana...
East Heads West to New York
Hong Kong designers conveyed the essence of Asia on Sept. 8 in New York’s Bryant Park. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council sponsored five designers for their second showing at Mer...
Top Shopping Centers Still Reeling In the Tenants
Normally, plunging retail sales and a staggering economy might make potential merchants think twice about opening new locations....
Audi Sponsors L.A. Designers' Shows
The second run of Audi presents Designer Collections of Los Angeles Fashion Week, featuring shows by a new roster of designers, will be held during Los Angeles’ November market....
Levi Strauss & Co. Accuses Guess?
Levi Strauss & Co. has accused Guess? of violating trademark laws by appropriating its trademarked stitching. This is the second trademark-infringement suit filed by the San Francisco-based compan...
AB633 Regulations Debated in L.A.
A few dozen manufacturers and contractors gathered for a public hearing Oct. 12 at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Los Angeles to air out concerns about language used in a set of proposed stat...
Business of Fashion, Modeling Key at Fashion Summit
Fashion entrepreneurs turned out for business advice at the West Coast Fashion Summit, a conference program held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Black Business Expo, which ran S...
Stella McCartney to Launch Beauty Line
Stella McCartney will launch a beauty line after the signing of a long-term license with YSL Beaute, parent company Gucci Group’s beauty division....
Yokogawa Screens L.A. Fashion Week Film
California Apparel News fashion editor Joselle Yokogawa will debut her fashion film “Drive: A Documentary on Fashion in L.A.” on Oct. 25 at the Palace Theater in downto...
Columbia to Stop Counterfeiters
Columbia Sportswear Company is hoping to put an end to counterfeiters with the filing of a lawsuit against Ben Elias Industries Corp. and the Enterprises of CBJ Ltd. The lawsuit alleges that the compa...
Federated Stores' 'Spirit of America'
Federated Stores announced plans to increase its holiday assortment of patriotic-themed merchandise. The retailer’s “Spirit of America” collection for the holiday season will include jewe...
Friday, October 12
Garreaud Joins GLM Team
Veteran sales manager Julia Garreaud has joined trade-show manager George Little Management LLC as its new buyer services consultant. Garreaud is based in Southern California and will be re...
Rojas Joins Private Circle
Los Angeles contemporary designer Freddi Rojas has joined Los Angeles-based young men’s and young contemporary label Private Circle as head designer, and the company plans to turn Rojas...
Possible Move, Sluggish Traffic Hot Topics at ISAM
Both exhibitors and buyers reported feeling the ripple effects of the national crisis stemming from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the Oct. 8–11 run of the annual International Swi...
A Promising Supply-Chain Solution
Plus, Web trends point toward monopolies; tips working without travel...
International: Oct. 12, 2001
Mexico’s maquiladora output stands to decrease by 3.0 percent in 2001 following 12 years of steady growth, according to Rolando Gonzalez Barron, president of Mexico’s maquiladora trade associat...
Barbara Fields
Patriotic-themed apparel and denim took top billing among the dozens of trends illustrated at the annual...
Focused BuyingMarks Spring Junior/Contemporary Market
Cars were triple-parked in the California Mart parking lot for much of the week, and turnout was strong at the Directives West and Barbara Fields Buying Office fashion shows that also took ...
Ladies' Night
The following is an excerpt from Ilse Metchek’s speech given at the Fashion Industries Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center honoree of the year dinner. Metchek, the executive director of the C...
ISAM Cruise 2002
The International Swimwear/Activewear Market (ISAM) hosted its...
Directives West
The American spirit is at an all-time high—mentally, physically and fashionably—and retail-consulting firm Directives West reinforced that spirit on Oct. 8 with their...
Retailers Eyeing So Cal
There may be a recession, but not all retailers are receding from the marketplace. In fact, a number of apparel merchants are expanding into California, and most notably, Southern California....
Gen Art Names Fresh Faces for 2001
Gen Art, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing emerging talent in fashion, film and the visual arts, will present its annual showcase of young emerging West Coast...
California: Oct. 12, 2001
Irvine-based St. John Knits announced the resignation of H.W. Mullins as chief executive officer, a position he hel...
National: Oct. 12, 2001
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruled that subsidiaries of the El Paso Corp. violated federal regulations by using “blatant collusi...
Economy: Oct. 12, 2001
The United States shed 199,000 jobs in September, marking the steepest drop in a decade, according to the Labor Department; the September losses follow the department’s report that employers eliminated...
Friday, October 5
Fashion District Leads L.A.'s Urban Renaissance
As downtown Los Angeles’ fashion district prepares to undergo its most extensive makeover to date, members of the apparel industry will be watching its transformation unfold with more than curiosity. T...
GCA Retains Attorney to Contest AB633 Labor Law Requirements
The Garment Contractors Association (GCA), a Los Angeles-based contractor organization, has retained attorney Richard Simmons from the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Ham...
Teen SpendingUncertain inWake of Attack
Before Sept. 11, the most pressing issue for many American teens was what to buy for the new school year, but that all changed on the morning of that fateful day. For the current gen...
ISAM Considers Westward Move
The Los Angeles swimwear industry’s biannual swim show, International Swimwear/Activewear Market (ISAM), is considering moving its venue from the California Mart to the Santa...
Back in the Swim
Q&A with Liz Claiborne Swim’s David Burnett and Maxine Swim’s Vince Rojas...
Slow Traffic Marks Third Installment of Urban Suburban
Less than one month after the terrorist attacks that physically impacted New York and Washington, D.C., but psychologically impacted the entire nation and nearly every industry, the Urban Suburban t...
Cal Mart Quells Asbestos Concerns
Answering concerns about potential health hazards at the California Mart, building executives this week said that they are complying with all federal and state guidelines relating to the hand...
Commons at Calabasas
Developer Rick Caruso invested around $40 million in 1998 to create his open-air Commons at Calabasas as a core shopping center for the upscale residents of Calabasas, a valley suburb 20 mile...
TALA Issues Call to Action to L.A. Industry
The executive board of the Textile Association of Los Angeles (TALA) has issued a call to action to members of the Los Angeles apparel industry to work together to rebuild the local garment i...
New York Fashion Week Spring '02: Jared Gold
There are things about Jared Gold that some may not have known until now. Like the fact that he is a trained pianist, and also, that it runs in the family. Gold, along with his mothe...
International: Oct. 5, 2001
Construction was completed on the Shopping Mall at the Cancun Airport in Mexico on Sept. 28; tenants so far include Le Boutique, a duty-free store, and a mix of restaurants ...
Economy: Oct. 5, 2001
The Federal Reserve lowered the benchmark federal-funds interest rate a half percentage point to 2.5 percent in an effort to bolster the economy by prompting consumers to spend and businesses...
California: Oct. 5, 2001
The bride wore designer Duck Tape; when Los Angeles couple Kevin Thomas and Joyce Lotta were married Sept. 29, they were wearing a Duck Tape tuxedo and gown; the couple were...
WesternExposure
Jared Gold and Alicia Lawhon were among the few West Coast designers who were able...
Massimo Restaurant Closes
Massimo, the well-patronized Italian restaurant on the first floor of the California Mart, has closed. ...
New York Fashion Week Spring '02: Alicia Lawhon
Alicia Lawhon is perhaps best known for her quirky mix-and-match style, and this season, she continued that tradition. The designer showed her...
National: Oct. 5, 2001
Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores announced plans to open up to 325 stores next year and to relocate or expand 115 stores; about 310 sto...
Tukatech Opens Online CAD School
Los Angeles-based Tukatech Inc. is now offering free CAD (computer-aided design) training for pattern making, grading and marker making over the Internet....
