Fashion Museum on the Burner Again at City Hall
With a new administration in place at Los Angeles City Hall, local fashion icon Irene Kasmer hopes to finally bring to fruition her dream of getting a fashion museum built in Los Angeles. Where it will be built, however, remains a big question.
Kasmer recently appeared before the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) requesting funds for a temporary home as well as a permanent one for the museum, which is officially known as the Museum of Fashion Designers and Creators (MODAC). The CRA took note of the action and is expected to vote on the issue in the coming weeks.
The vacated Herald-Examiner building at 11th and Hill streets in downtown Los Angeles has been targeted by Kasmer for a permanent home for the museum’s collection of more than 250,000 items. That site, however, may now be out of reach because of recent moves by building owner Hearst Corp., whose real estate arm, Sunical Land Co., reached an agreement with local developer Ira Yellin and his Urban Partners LLC to develop and market the nearly century-old building as office space.
Kasmer likes the building because of its 150,000 square feet of interior space, its Mission revival architectural style and its proximity to the fashion district.
Some city officials think the price of the building is too high for the museum, and Yellin’s group is already fielding interest from architectural firms and other potential tenants. Still, Kasmer isn’t giving up.
“The Examiner building was originally part of the city’s strategic plan to house MODAC,” said Kasmer. “We just want the city to keep their promise.”
CRA deputy administrator Don Spivac said that while the strategic plan served as a guideline for public policy, it did not specify that any specific building would be acquired nor did it appropriate any funds for any building.
Still, city officials have long supported the concept of MODAC. When Kasmer launched the idea several years ago, she gained the support of then-mayor Tom Bradley. And in a recent letter to the City Council, Spivak wrote, “The agency recognized the importance of the fashion industry to the history and development of Los Angeles...and the museum could be a worthy and important addition to the destinations in and around downtown Los Angeles.”
MODAC has also received support from numerous fashion entities, including the Textile Association of Los Angeles (TALA), the Garment Contractors Association and others.
“This is one of the design capitals of the world,” noted Leonard Horowitz, executive director of TALA. “Fashion and textiles are an important entity. It’s important to the education of upcoming generations. Why not display it properly?”
Kasmer said she is worried that if MODAC doesn’t find at least a temporary home to properly house the collection in an archival fashion, many of the fragile garments may be permanently damaged. The proposal before the CRA is for funds of at least $250,000 for temporary storage. Many companies have either lost or have little space to house their classic collections, Kasmer said, noting Cole of California as an example.
Speaking before the CRA, Kasmer said, “This is the best way to showcase the industry all year-round, to make Los Angeles even more world-famous. The fashion industry does in excess of $80 billion a year and this is a museum that will teach the new generation of graduating students what the history of the fashion industry is all about.”
The proposal still needs approval from the city’s economic development committee and the CRA before it goes to the City Council. Kasmer has renewed hope with the entry of a new administration under Mayor James Hahn. “They have been wonderful. In the past, we’ve gotten lots of excuses, but we’ve been getting good responses from this administration,” she said. —Robert McAllister
