Stories for November 2007

Friday, November 30

Police Confiscate Counterfeits in Fashion District

A multi-agency task force seized a large haul of suspected pirated DVDs, apparel, footwear and other intellectual property during a Nov. 29 raid near the Santee Alley area of the Los...

Industrial Market Tightens Up

The industrial real estate market remains challenged by the lack of new product and available land. The central Los Angeles vacancy rate of 0.7 percent for the third quarter reached a record ...

Tianello to Launch New Retail, Web Projects

At first glance, it looks as if Los Angeles–based sportswear line Tianello has been stuck in a time warp. The 16-year-old company still does all of its manufacturing in downtown Los Angeles. M...

Getting Into Shape

According to Australian designer Bruno Schiavi, the No. 1 characteristic women want in effective shapewear is comfort....

Demand for Premium Space Pushes Up Retail, Industrial Rents

Despite some slowdowns in employment rates, demand for retail and industrial real estate remained strong in California during the third quarter....

Riverside, Conn.–based lingerie trade show Curvexpo hired Xavier Le Borgne as sales manager for the biannual show, which launched last year in Las Vegas and recently added a New York edition to its schedule. French na...

Daughters of the Revolution: The Magic of Malibu

Growing up in Malibu, Calif., with a pair of freespirited parents gave designer Emily Cadenhead a unique perspective on affluent hippie-chic style. “It was a great place to grow up, magical. I had a gr...

Hippie Ink's 'Strawberry Fields' Collection

RETRO TEES: Los Angeles– based tops line HippieInk has released a new group of shirts under the “Strawberry Fields” collection. The series features about 20 retro prints...

Marisa K: On the Move

Designer Marisa Kenson spent several years designing for the Tarrant Apparel Group, one of the largest apparel makers in Los Angeles...

New Ownership for Biatta Intimates

Secret Fashion Inc.—which produces the lingerie brands Biatta Intimates, Peeping Tom Intimates and Miss Fifi—has been purchased by founding partner Mark Peniasian and...

Karta: Inspired by Jewelry

Bold jewelry is the center attraction on Karta’s polyester shift dresses and puffed-sleeve tops. Clusters of stones adorn the neckline of Karta’s dresses like brooches and, on the waist of anot...

FIG to Honor Fields

It will be one year until Barbara Fields is officially named “Woman of the Year” by the Fashion Industries Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but she is starting work on the ...

Gap Gets Hardy

San Francisco–based mega-retailer Gap Inc. announced a partnership deal with accessories designer Pierre Hardy for a capsule collection of women’s shoes in U.S. Gap stores. Hardy recently launched his first capsule col...

Saks Heads to Mexico

New York–based department-store retailer Saks Inc. announced plans to open a 150,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue store in the Santa Fe Shopping Center, an upscale development in Mexico City. Similar to Saks ...

Agent Provocateur Bought by 3i

The London-based lingerie manufacturer and retailer Agent Provocateur has been acquired by mid-market private-equity company 3i....

Holiday Kickoff

The holiday sales season began on Nov. 23—

Denim Retailer Takes on Financial Partner

L.A. Fairchild Denim Bar, a popular boutique in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif., has teamed with investment group Avalon Capital Group Inc. and restructured its upper ma...

Guess Appoints New Europe Chief

Los Angeles–based manufacturer and retailer Guess? Inc. has announced the appointment of Massimo Macchi as president of Guess Europe, effective December 2007. Macchi, who most recently held ...

Quiksilver Names New Marketing Chief

Quiksilver Inc. named Greg Perlot senior vice president of marketing for Quiksilver Brands in the Americas. A function of Perlot’s job will be to spread the word about Quiksilver far beyond it...

United to Offer Nonstop Flights to Guangzhou, China

United Airlines will begin daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Guangzhou, China. The carrier was recently awarded the route by the U.S. Department of Transportation....

Koi Suwannagate: From Art to Commerce

When Koi Suwannagate landed a coveted spot among the finalists for the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award e...

Creativity, Hustle to Drive Sales After Black Friday Frenzy

2007 was the year that specialty retail joined the Black Friday frenzy....

Crooks & Castles Brings Streetwear to Melrose

Los Angeles–based streetwear label Crooks & Castles will get its own retail manor. On Dec. 7, the label will open its first store on one of Los Angeles’ premier fashion streets....

WGSN's West Coast Hires

The Worth Global Style Network has added two editors to its West Coast office. Tasha Adams joins the international trade forecaster as associate editor. A longtime freelance and staff writer for several consumer and ...

Day in the Life of Rickey Kim: Tastemaker

Rickey Kim, creative director of the Evil Monito Intelligence Agency, wears many hats—and sometimes he designs them, as well....

Idol Radec: Neo Prep

Launched in 2007, Idol Radec debuted as a fashion-driven golfwear line for young men. “We put together a Fall/Winter collection to test the market,” said Nick Thomas, who, along with Da...

FGI Discusses L.A.'s Strengths

Los Angeles fashion and the city’s strengths were the topics of conversation when Fashion GroupInternational–Los Angeles hosted its biannual trend forecast and panel discussion....

Echo Park Shops Holiday Sale

On Dec. 8, select retailers in Los Angeles’ Echo Park neighborhood will host holiday sales in a party atmosphe...

Friday, November 23

7 Starts Retail Rollout on Robertson

Luxury denim brand 7 For All Mankind started its great retail leap forward....

Retailers Told to Light Up-in an Eco-Friendly Way

Wal-Mart and Bill Clinton want to shine a light on better ways to illuminate a store. It’s part of a wave to find more–environmentally friendly ways of lighting up a space. By 2009, tighter ene...

New Wave of Real Estate Growth Powers L.A. Juniors Biz

The intersection of 12th and Stanford streets in downtown Los Angeles is dusty and cramped with narrow two-lane streets that are overshadowed by tiers of scaffolding from new construction. It’s not pre...

CFDA and Vogue Fashion Fund Award Winner Named

Designer Rogan Gregory of the lines Rogan, Loomstate and Edun landed a $200,000 award and a year of business mentoring from the Council o...

L.A. Spectacular

With a crew of celebrity supermodels including Heidi Klum and Karolina Kurkova, lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret hosted its annual runway show on Nov. 15 at the Kodak Theater in Ho...

Browzwear's New 3-D Tool

Browzwear International has released a new tool for 3-D apparel visualization. The Fabric Testing Kit enables fashion designers and patternmakers to measure fabric properties requir...

Fashion Retail Beginning to Blossom East on Melrose

Until recently, Melrose Avenue’s fashion glitz stopped short of the east side of the intersection of Melrose and La Brea avenues in Los Angeles. However, since October, two fashion boutiques have opene...

Tart Noir: Upscale Intimates

JD Fine & Co.’s newest division of Tart, Tart Noir, is aiming for the top. The Concord, Calif.–based company’s stable of brands covers...

PAD Event Draws Interest in Home-Grown CAD

Even though a significant amount of pattern-making has moved offshore, executives at PAD System Technologies aim to create a new level of interest for domestic pattern design with the launch of a new—...

Arena Teams With Lectra for PLM

The Arena Group swimwear label is among the latest to employ emerging PLM technology as a way to streamline product development. The Italian company will use Lectra’s Fashion...

Dillard's Gets Tranquility

Little Rock, Ark.–based department store Dillard’s Inc. opened its new Tranquility department featuring yoga-inspired activewear in 25 Dillard’s stores throughout the chain. Some of the yoga, pilates and fitness...

Invista's Asian Initiatives

Invista announced plans to build a nitric-acid plant on Jurong Island in Singapore. Nitric acid is one of the components of adipic acid, which the company uses to manufacture nylon, polyurethane and other products. The facto...

LVMH Wins Music-Video Case

Luxury-goods maker LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA has won a trademark dispute against Sony BMG and MTV Online over a Britney Spears music video that features the pop star driving a Hummer upholstered in pink fabric bearing what...

JCP's Consumer Ed

Plano, Texas–based JCPenney has launched a new campaign called “Know Before You Go” for its e-commerce site (

Surf Monk: Covering the Endless Summer

A clothing label might change a surf tradition that is almost as old as the wave-riding sport....

Downtown Showcase

David Tupaz and Irma La Dolce were among the designers who showcased their fashions at the Nov. 12 Reflections 19 catwalk presentation organized by salon owner Monet Lu. Lu, who oper...

Tt: Luxe Tees From Day to Night

Los Angeles does not want for T-shirt lines. As a Los Angeles–bred girl who worked for Ella Moss and Splendid, Tiffany Saidnia knew this and knew all the players in the T-shi...

Surf Suffers in the Third Quarter

Three of surf’s biggest players—Volcom, Zumiez and Pacific Sunwear of California—forecasted less-than-sunny fourth quarters....

Local Organization Looks to Ports' Future

By 2027, more than 42.5 million containers will pass through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, compared with 15.8 million containers in 2006....

Crafting the Look of Disney's 'Enchanted'

Q&A with ’Enchanted’ costume designer Mona May...

Friday, November 16

ITAA Annual Conference Focuses on Los Angeles

The International Textile and Apparel Association, an educational association of students and educators in the apparel, textile and merchandising disciplines in higher education, held its an...

Knock It Off

The Jimmy Choo label—known for its high-end shoes, handbags and accessories—has reached an out-of-court agreement with a London retailer to destroy thousands of handbags similar to the “...

Jury Awards Caruso $15 million

Caruso Affiliated weathered a 2004 ballot referendum to approve its Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, Calif....

Arena Teams With Lectra for PLM

Swimwear label Arena Group is among the latest to employ emerging PLM technology as a way to streamline product development. The Italian company will use Lectra’s Fashion PLM software...

AAFA Takes Aim at Knockoffs

This year, Nike Inc., the world’s No. 1 shoemaker, won several battles in its pitched war against Chinese counterfeiters....

D&A Partners With CFDA

Boutique contemporary trade show Designers and Agents has partnered with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to showcase CFDA members at its New York and Los Angele...

Michael Stars Receives 'All-Star' Award

Hawthorne, Calif.–based Michael Stars was among a select group of apparel resources picking up All- Star awards during the Nov. 7 Apparel Magazine Technology Conference at th...

Future Fashion

Since 1998, DDCLab, a New York label, has produced contemporary fashion with fabrics that seem to turn convention upside down. On Oct. 25, it held a gallery-style party at its boutique on Los Ange...

Organic Exchange's Efforts Gather Steam

With 330 attendees from 39 countries, the Organic Exchange’s annual conference, held this year in Monterey, Calif., was a record success for the 5-year-old organization....

DBLA Clothing

DBLA Clothing faced off against DBLA Clothing at the second annual Fashion Walk Off, hosted by TDink magazine. The battle was a showdown of the brand’s Spring 2008 dresses versus th...

Anand Jon's Bail Set at $2.1m

Designer Anand Jon Alexander, in Los Angeles County Jail facing more than 50 charges of sexual assault, was granted a $2.1 million bail by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley dur...

Displays of Affection: Trade Show Booths Go Earth-Friendly

Trade shows are getting a little less wasteful thanks to Eco Systems Displays. The Grand Rapids, Mich.–based company has developed eco-friendly booths and displays made from recycled and sustainable re...

Getting Sporty

The Kohl’s Corp., the mid-tier department-store chain based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., has struck a multi-year licensing deal to be the exclusive U.S. retailer of Fila Sport. Kohl’s will collaborate with Fila on appare...

American Apparel Prepares NewRetail Concept, Updates Acquisition

As details of American Apparel's impending acquisition are solidified, the vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer announced plans for a new store concept launch in the United States. On Nov...

Internet Shopping

More people are using their credit cards to go shopping on the Web this year. According to ComScore Inc., which tracks Internet sales, e-commerce spending in October rose 19 percent to $10 billion ove...

LA's Edge

The fashionable crowd showed up early and stayed late for the debut of Metropolis—a new event mixing fashion, music and art—held in a loft space in South Los Angeles. The fashion mixed well-known names with up-...

Ilori Says 'Eye Do' to Robertson and Rodeo

Robertson Boulevard’s next luxury shop will buck the street’s latest trends. Instead of a premium-denim boutique or a national fashion company’s branded shop, the latest tenant on this chic retail street...

Newport Beach, Calif.: Tides Might Turn to Fashion at Balboa

For decades, Balboa Peninsula has been a magnet for partying and beach culture in Orange County. Unfortunately for many fashion retailers, shopping has been an afterthought at this laid-back enclave in Newpor...

Porridge Goes Home

Designer Laura Stang-O’Dell is known for the quirky retro prints and sweet silhouettes in her contemporary line, Porridge. Now, Stang-O’Dell is bringing her sunny sensibility to the home with...

Shades of Blue

Los Angeles–based Blue Holdings Inc. has reduced its payroll by $2 million and is in negotiations to modify its partnership with William Adams’ label, Will.i.am, as part of a cost-saving effort to make the blue...

No Go

The Kellwood Co., the Chesterfield, Mo.–based apparel giant that owns several labels—including Koret, Sag Harbor and Phat Farm —again rejected a $544 million takeover bid from the Sun Capital Securities Group. The company’s board met No...

Julie Chaiken Stars in Dallas

San Francisco designer Julie Chaiken of Chaiken was the guest of honor for the Fashion Industry Gallery’s Oct. 23–26 Spring I market in Dallas. Chaiken was in the spotlight during the ...

Tech Execs See More ROI on the Horizon

NEW YORK—Technology vendors have been talking up emerging products such as PLM (product lifecycle management) and 3-D design soft...

Looking at Sustainable From a Conventional-Cotton Perspective

How will the cotton industry evolve to become more sustainable? The question of cotton’s future brought together academics, retailers, farmers and scientists at Cotton Inc.’s recent S...

California Dreamin'

That the Los Angeles Fashion Market has grown tremendously in recent years is indisputable—and it’s a good bet it will continue to rise in 2008. From fashion shows all over the city to the third annual ...

Golden Great

According to Erika Gessin, San Francisco is a rising fashion capital. Enrollment is up at the city’s design schools, major fashion-forward retailers like Barneys New York have come to town

Shop & Dine: The ultimate guide to off-hours at market

LOS ANGELES...

Monday, November 12

Junk Food Strikes Deal with GapKids

GapKids division debuts collaboration with Los Angeles–based T-shirt label ...

Friday, November 9

Green Collective: Betting on Eco

Erik Stuebe crafted the styles of the Blue Marlin sportswear label with a nostalgic look. However, the 40-year-old entrepreneur said he believes that the future will increasingly belong to th...

From Vintage Retailer to Design Archivist

Retailer Shareen Mitchell has been known to shoo designers out of

RVCA Flagship Debuts in SF

Costa Mesa, Calif.–based fashion label RVCA always seeks to turn convention upside down. Instead of opening its first flagship boutique in its surf- and skateboard-crazy hometown, it chose to...

Ports' Clean-Truck Program Starts in One Year

Following steps taken by its sister port, the Port of Long Beach approved a clean-truck program that will eventually ban dirty trucks from picking up cargo....

Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Steps Forward and Back

The arrival of a Ralphs supermarket in downtown Los Angeles this summer was expected to iron out some of the rougher edges of urban living and pave the way for more retail in the area...

Iconix On a Roll

The New York–based Iconix Brand Group has struck a series of licensing deals for its London Fog, Rampage, Ocean Pacific, Joe Boxer, Danskin and Rocawear brands. Plus, the company announced plans to expand its Mossimo...

Premium Dilemma: Fighting the Fakes

Since the beginning of the year, Antik Denim, the Los Angeles–based premium-denim label, has gone on the war path to catch counterfeiters selling Antik knockoffs on the Internet....

BB Dakota: Rolling the Dice on Menswear

For Adrian Nyman, classic American fashion can be sliced and diced as an art project, or it can be reimagined as a new California look....

Sole Tech Contributes to Fire Relief

Flames from the recent Southern California wildfires could be seen from the Lake Forest, Calif., headquarters of Sole Technology, maker of Etnies, Altamo...

The Afterlives of Mannequins

Mannequin styles change almost as frequently as fashion trends, and when retailers want to get rid of last season’s mannequin, they often call a liquidator such as Mannequin Madness. The Oakland, Cali...

Thread Foundation: Fashionable Charity

With one successful sample sale under their belt, Rhonda Waller Bautista and Misty Ulan are gearing up for the holiday season....

Holiday Season Forecast: Slower, Economists Say

The economy’s engines slowed in 2007, and many forecasters have predicted that sales for the 2007 holiday season will fall short of those of the 2006 holiday season....

L.A. BID Launches Holiday Tours

The Los Angeles Fashion District Business Improvement District has several shopping programs rolling out for the holiday season....

Operation Bell Bottoms Nets Phony Clothing

Federal and local law-enforcement officials arrested a dozen people in the Los Angeles area Nov. 6 for allegedly selling counterfeit clothing, trafficking in narcotics and laundering money to Middle E...

Fashion Philanthropy

The California apparel industry is known for its glamour and glitz, but behind the scenes and often less recognized, there is another “g” at work—giving. The industry has a long history o...

Lingerie Americas Teams With WWDMagic

The

Sheer Drama

Los Angeles Fashion Week had its share of dramatic moments. From the exquisite gowns that ruled the runway at Kevan Hall’s show to the theatrics of Jeremy Scott, the week showcased the diversity of the...

Hot Weather, Chilly Sales in October '07

October retail sales grew by an anemic 1.6 percent, according to the New York– based International Council of Shopping Centers. The ICSC and many businesses blamed the month’s tepid performance on hot ...

Bohmo Launches Eco Web Site

Sarasota, Fla.–based Bohmo has launched an e-commerce Web site at

Ex-Yahoo! Executive de Luca Joins MyShape

Former Yahoo! Internet executive Mercedes de Luca has joined the staff of Pasadena, Calif.–based MyShape (

Warnaco's New Exec at CK

The New York–based Warnaco Group Inc. named Janice Sullivan president of the company’s Calvin Klein Jeans division. Sullivan was most recently president of Liz Claiborne Inc.’s NarcisoRodriguez division and spen...

Cooper Building Continues Showroom Expansion

Buyers at the recent Los Angeles Fashion Market were greeted by a floor newly packed with showrooms at the Cooper Design Space. The mezzanine, which has been anchored by Showroom Se...

First Stop: Melrose Avenue

In the past decade, Parke & Ronen, a New York–based menswear line, has made a splash with its fashion swimwear and premium clothes. The line’s designers—Parke Lutter and Ronen Jehezkel—have...

Nike Football, a.k.a. Soccer

Beaverton, Ore.–based footwear and athletic-apparel maker Nike Inc. named Bert Hoyt as vice president and general manager of global football (or American soccer). Hoyt has nearly 20 years of experience in th...