Fille
California Market Center B524 (213) 430-9114
The minute you step into Missy Arko’s Fille showroom in the California Market Center, it’s clear where she is coming from. The walls are pink and so is a Mod round seat that greets visitors. Bows and roses adorn blouses and T-shirts. This is girly heaven.
“That’s what I wanted to create,” said Arko, who opened Fille (French for “girl”) three months ago.
This is Arko’s first venture as a showroom owner. She previously spent six years with Laundry by Shelli Segal doing sales and merchandising and was a manager for the Bryan Wilson showroom. She also worked with BCBGMaxAzria.
With so much experience, Arko did not find launching her own showroom that daunting.
“I know all the stores and accounts,” she said. “I’m familiar with this building, so it’s all comfortable to me.”
Using her industry knowledge and keeping a pulse on what women in their 20s, 30s and 40s want in clothing, Arko picked up seven contemporary lines for her opening. She is focusing on vintage-style, edgy fashions that carry some shelf life.
“I didn’t want to get into junior,” she said.
Leading the way is Harvey’s, a line of vintage-inspired separates and lingerie. Harvey’s, based in Orange, Calif., is Fille’s top-selling line. Stores such as Nordstrom have purchased items from the collection. The line has also been getting play from actress Tiffani Thiessen and other celebrities. Harvey’s plaid cuff pants, halter tops and party dresses wholesale from $40 to $80.
Also getting lots of attention is My-Tee, a local line featuring embellished tanks and T-shirts. Popular items include shirts with mohair roses and monograms that wholesale for about $30.
Glitz is a line of vintage denim and cords with pieces that wholesale from $49 to $85. Jessica Louise features novelty tops, hoodies and other separates geared toward customers and celebrities such as Avril Lavigne and Halle Berry. Also in the showroom is Taxi, an edgy dress line with pieces priced from $80 to $98, and Lina Tsai out of New York, Arko’s only non-local line.
“These lines are all about being girly and feminine and a little bit funky,” Arko said. “If you’re a woman who’s very much into sexy, this might be too girly.”
Arko and her assistant, Alexis Hawthorne, are on hand daily in the Fille showroom. Call (213) 430-9114, or e-mail missy@filleshowroom.com. —Robert McAllister
