Brand Equity
Cooper Design SpaceSuite 513(213) 438-0626
Brian Stark, owner of the Brand Equity showroom, is in the mood for change. “We’ve always been known as the jeans and T-shirts guys,” he said. Stark recently moved his showroom from the third floor to the fifth floor of the Cooper Design Space. Now, with a new 3,500-square-foot showroom, Stark has the space and the motivation to expand his offerings.
“We want to focus on adding new categories, specifically high-end womenswear,” he said. For the Oct. 20–24 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market, Stark welcomes two Scandinavian designer brands, Lundgren & Windinge and Munthe Plus Simonsen. Brand Equity will be the sole distributor for both brands in the United States. Packed with cute dresses, tiny jackets, flowing embroidered tunics and slouchy bottoms, the lines are sure to appeal to California’s specialty boutique buyers, Stark said. Waste of Talent, a Los Angeles–based line of hand-tooled leather handbags, belts and cuffs complements the showroom’s women’s offerings.
The showroom also carries Minus-Ung, a full collection for men and women from London, and Quintessence of Dust, a Los Angeles–based collection of men’s T-shirts with art-influenced graphics.
“Jumping up to this floor and snagging this space meant we had to step it up,” Stark said. Highlighting his commitment to growing this part of the business, the high-end women’s lines will be the first thing buyers see upon entering the showroom. Stark is currently hunting more brands to add to the category.
Denim and T-shirt buyers have plenty of selection. There are T-shirts from Los Angeles–based Cavern, Los Angeles–based Black Hearts Brigade and Canadian denim line Buffalo as well as cool hoodies, sweaters and T-shirts from Los Angeles–based True Love & False Idols. I-Jeans premium denim from Canada features stitch details and cool washes for men and women. Accessories buyers will find watches from Los Angeles–based Red Monkey and belts from Brave Leather from Canada. —Erin Barajas
