Friday, August 29
Action Sports & Street Resource Guide
’Tis the season for action sports fashion with Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo and the Agenda trade show in San Diego (Sept. 4–6) and Surf Expo in Orlando (Sept. 12–14). In addition to showcasing more ...
Stock Return
The board of directors of Coach Inc. has authorized a $1 billion share buyback program to offer more value to shareholders and offset shares issued under the employee-compensation plans. The company e...
New at Old Navy
There’s a new president at Old Navy, a division of Gap Inc., in San Francisco. Tom Wyatt, who had been acting president since February, has officially taken the reins of the retail chain, whose clothes are tre...
Bankruptcy Sale
A bankruptcy court judge has approved the sale of Steve & Barry’s, a chain of stores that recently went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, to investment firm BHY S&B Holdings, an affiliate of Bay Harbour Managemen...
Catalogs Sold
Charming Shoppes Inc., based in Bensalem, Penn., sold its non-core misses apparel catalog titles as well as its misses apparel catalog credit-card receivables. The catalog titles are being sold to Orc...
The Greening of the Fashion District
The L.A. Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles is better known for its showrooms, creative design spaces and sewing contractors than for its abundance of green space....
British Flair
Los Angeles denim maker J Brand is creating a capsule collection of jeans for Topshop, a high-end retailer in London. The collection, which debuts on Nov. 30 at the Oxford Circus flagship store, will ...
Quiksilver Gets Bid for Rossignol
Surfwear maker Quiksilver Inc., based in Huntington Beach, Calif., has a binding offer to buy its Rossignol division for $147 million....
Mervyns Bankruptcy Financing Gets Thumbs Up
Ailing Mervyns, the discount department-store chain that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 29, has received final approval for its $465 million debtor-in-possession financing...
Ross 2Q Same-Store Sales Increase 6 Percent
A weak economy with shoppers looking for bargains set the stage for a strong second quarter of the fiscal 2008 year for Ross Stores Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif....
24 Seven Names New West Coast Manager
Anthony Donnarumma has been named West Coast vice president of operations for fashion-industry employment agency 24 Seven. ...
New Guy at Saks
Saks Fifth Avenue has named Eric Jennings as vice president, fashion director of men’s, home, food and gifts. He will report to Terron Schaefer, group senior vice president, and will be responsible for forecas...
Joe's Jeans Heads to San Francisco
Joe’s Jeans, the Los Angeles denim and casualwear line, is opening its second store this November, to be located in San Francisco....
New Man In at Seven For All Mankind
Seven For All Mankind, the Los Angeles manufacturer of high-end denim and casualwear, has a new president....
Anna Kenney at Otis: Being a Designer Requires Giving 120 Percent
Anna Kenney, director of design and operations for swim and surfwear label Hot Tuna International, chalks up much of her success to the incredible mentors who guided her along the way....
Keep the Discounts Coming
The year 2008 will be remembered as a boom period for the off-price market, said Peter J. Hayes, chief operating officer and chief merchandising officer of Variety Wholesalers Inc., based in ...
Politics and Apparel Go Hand in Hand
It’s an election year, and once again, apparel makers are taking advantage of the campaign to show off the latest political fashion and make statements on everything from the candidates to the environm...
Putting Some Entertainment Into the Fashion District
The urban renaissance taking place in downtown Los Angeles over the past few years has brought new residential and retail components to the city’s L.A. Fashion District. ...
Las Vegas Sizzles With New and Old Apparel Trade Shows
During a slow economy, retailers are often advised to provide added incentive to their customers—to sell the sizzle as well as the steak....
Wednesday, August 27
Blue Holdings Drops Life & Death, Set to Shutter Stores
Blue Holdings, premium denim, Antik, Life, Death, Glenn Palmer
Sock Safeguards Considered
Honduras, socks, safeguards, importing, DR-CAFTA, free trade, Renfro Corporation, Kayser-Roth Corporation
Friday, August 22
Putting the 'Hot' Back Into Hot Topic
Hot Topic’s Betsy McLaughlin is a busy woman these days...
Gramicci Heads North
Agoura Hills–based outdoor- and lifestyle-apparel manufacturer Gramicci inked a Canadian distribution deal with Recreation Outfitters Inc. The Vancouver, B.C.–based company has been distributing outdoor-apparel labels for more...
Calvin's New Deal
Calvin Klein Inc., a division of Phillips–Van Heusen Corp., has struck a licensing deal with G-III Apparel Group Ltd. for the Calvin Klein better women’s sportswear collection. Kellwood Co. previously held the license. The agreement gives G-I...
New at Nike
Beaverton Ore.–based Nike Inc. promoted Eric Sprunk to vice president for product, a new position for the company. Sprunk will oversee all Nike brand product across the company’s footwear, equipment and...
Guess Green Promotes Conservation Message
Guess by Marciano has introduced Guess Green, a line of organic cotton garments that will also carry a message aimed at educating consumers about conservation....
New Retail Center Brings More Luxury to Malibu
Once an isolated colony of surfers and artisans, Malibu, Calif., will strengthen its claim to being a center for luxury retail when the Malibu Lumberyard, a new upscale shopping center with a...
Santee Alley Boutique Files Suit Against Vuitton, Dior
A small boutique that once operated on Santee Alley is taking Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton to court, arguing that the luxury houses falsely accused the store owners of selling fa...
To Source or Not to Source Should Not Be the Question
In the clothing business, ongoing sourcing is necessary for an importer to stay competitive. The days of saying that you are “settled in” with your offshore supplier are gone. ...
Jones New CEO, Web Handle
New York–based Jones Apparel Group Inc. promoted Jay Friedman to chief executive officer of company-owned retail footwear and apparel. Previously, he was president of company-owned retail footwear and apparel....
Citations Issued in Labor Department Raid
On Aug. 14, 19 investigators from California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement descended upon the approximately 100 contractors in the 830 S. Hill St. building in downtown Los Angeles on the hu...
I.D.I. Expands Into Denim, New Categories
Los Angeles–based updated label I.D.I. may not be as familiar a brand as its larger rivals, but an expansion into new categories as well as a physical expansion of its headquarters may change ...
Online Sourcing Bridges the Gap for Buyers, Sellers
Finding offshore manufacturing partners is becoming a little easier for some apparel companies thanks to a growing list of online sourcing databases and matchmaking services....
Saving Money on International Shipping Means 'Buyer Beware'
In these rough economic times, businesses are examining a number of ways to save money and work more efficiently. ...
Class Reports Steady Buying, Relaxed Atmosphere
The Class trade show earned some high grades from retailers when it made a crucial change in schedule....
Taking Textiles Out of Landfills
Soex’s textile-recycling process comes to L.A....
Sourcing & Fabric Resource Guide
Branded apparel and accessory companies, importers, designers, and product development teams will find comprehensive global sourcing opportunities during the upcoming apparel trade week in Las Vegas. At the C...
Monday, August 18
Sourcing & Fabric Calendar
The MAGIC Marketplace will host several sourcing, fabric and trend seminars during the show’s Aug. 25–27 run at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. In addition, Fash...
Friday, August 15
People's Liberation Inks Deal With J. Lindeberg
J. Lindeberg—the high-end Swedish men’s casual apparel and golfwear line sold in better department stores, specialty boutiques and country clubs around the country—is coming to Los Angeles....
American Apparel Tops Online
While many fashion retailers have lagged in online advertising, Los Angeles–based American Apparel ranked No. 1—with 483 million ads in April—among apparel retailers, according to a recent survey by ComScore Inc. that w...
A Venue Change Drives Buyer Attendance at CurveNY
For its Aug. 3–5 run, CurveNY was held in the bright and airy Galleria area of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New Yor...
High-End Runway Show, New Brands Drive Traffic at Lingerie Americas
Lingerie Americas kicked off Intimate Apparel Market Week in New York with the 13th edition of the trade show at the Altman Building and Metropolitan Pavilion, which ran Au...
Las Vegas Resource Guide
This August, the apparel marketplace in Las Vegas brings not only new fashions and sourcing opportunities, but also new showcases for them. MAGIC launches two platforms at the Convention Center: S.L.A...
Survey: Buyers Rate Six Figures
Nearly 60 percent of buyers with 10 or more years ofexperience are earning more than $100,000 per year, according to a survey recently released by Career Management, a retail executive-search firm based in East Brunswick, N.J. Nearly 44 per...
Alternative Heads for Outside Lands
Atlanta-based T-shirt maker Alternative is teaming with Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival for the event’s Aug. 22–24 run in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park....
New CEO at Steve Madden
Edward Rosenfeld, former interim chief executive officer of Steve Madden Ltd., has been named chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the New York–based company by Steve Madden’s board of d...
Fashion District to Get Diagonal Crosswalks
Four intersections within the Los Angeles Fashion District will soon feature diagonal crosswalks and are expected to ease the flow of traffic among pedestrians and automobiles in the area....
Guild, New Menswear Show to Debut in Vegas
Come Aug. 25–27, menswear buyers will have another option for their Las Vegas shopping schedule. Guild—a new suite-based show produced by shoe designer George Esquivel, sales representative Ja...
Tyr, Speedo Lawsuit Treads Water During Olympics
While the world’s best athletes compete in Beijing, two leading swimwear makers that outfit Olympians will take a break from their battle....
Habitual Evolves Under New Ownership
It appears that after a turbulent start to the year, Los Angeles–based premium-denim brand Habitual has regained its stride, thanks to a new owner and a more conservative design aesthetic. ...
Critical Court Date Looms for Calif.'s Port Trucking Industry
For trucking companies picking up cargo at the local ports, Sept. 8 is their D Day—Deadline Day....
Hurley's High-End Move
After dipping a toe into the boutique market, Hurley is taking serious strides toward offering more high-end, fashion-forward apparel for men and women....
JCPenney Partners With Kaboodle
Plano, Texas–based retailer JCPenney is partnering with social-shopping Web site
Guez Opens Glitzy Store, Web Show at Live! On Sunset
Denim pioneer Gerard Guez plans to make fashion sing at his new Live! On Sunset store, located on the site of the historic Tower Records store in West Hollywood, Calif....
Back-to-School Blues
Sales for the Back-to-School season are shaping up to be a challenge for retailers counting on the new academic year to boost business....
Melrose Carves a New Fashion District
Melrose Avenue’s fashion retail is pushing west. The street’s up-and-coming fashion hub is Melrose Village, a short drive west from fashion neighborhoods Melrose Place and Melrose Heights....
Nationwide Retail Container Traffic to Fall This Year
A slowing economy and gloomy store sales mean that retail container traffic at the nation’s ports will dip 4 percent this year compared with last year, according to the National Retail Federat...
Conn Exits Iconix
New York–based Iconix—owner of the Candie’s, Bongo, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, Rampage, Mudd, London Fog, Mossimo, Ocean Pacific, Danskin and Roca Wear brands—announced Executive Vice President David Conn is lea...
Friday, August 8
New Lines: California Market Center
The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the California Market Center, located at 110 E. Ninth St., Los Angeles. The California Apparel News lists new tenants and new line...
New Lines: The New Mart
The following are new lines carried by showrooms at The New Mart, located at 127 E. Ninth St., Los Angeles. T...
New Lines: The Lady Liberty Building
The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the Lady Liberty Building, located at 843 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles.The California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines ...
Discounters Drive July Sales
Discount retailers had a lot to cheer about in July. Consumers flocked to stores such as Wal-Mart and Ross Dress for Less to find deals....
Daily Candy Sold
New York–based fashion-related e-newsletter Daily Candy has been sold to Comcast Corp. for an undisclosed sum. Published reports peg the sale price at about $125 million. About 2.5 million re...
New President for Sean Jean
Former Old Navy executive Dawn Robertson joined New York–based Sean Jean as president. Before joining the sportswear brand, Robertson was president of Old Navy, a division of San Francisco–based Gap Inc...
Room
The New MartSuite 611(213) 489-0796
New Lines: Gerry Building
The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the Gerry Building, located at 910 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles.The California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines each ma...
The Sundeck
824 Building824 S. Los Angeles St.Suites 303 and 304(213) 488-9264...
Patagonia Lobbies for the Environment
Patagonia is putting its two-cents’ worth into the upcoming presidential election....
Momzee
The Gerry Building910 S. Los Angeles St., Suite 703(323) 264-6080
Atlas Showroom
Cooper Design SpaceSuite 822(310) 728-6600
D&A Lining Up Labels for New Green Show
Designers and Agents, the bicoastal boutique contemporary trade show, has been lining up green-focused designer labels for its new show, D&A Green Market, a sustainable trade eve...
Container-Fee Bill Awaiting Governor's Signature
The California Senate passed a bill that would add a $60 fee to every 40-foot container passing through the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland....
Pebblestone, Sunrise Receive Microsoft Honor
Sunrise Technologies and Pebblestone Fashion International, two software companies that distribute Microsoft Dynamics ERP software products, were recently named to Microsoft...
Central American Cos. Lining Up to Buy Fabric From Mexico
At the beginning of August, two 40-foot metal containers filled to the brim with Mexican-made denim landed on the door step of Koramsa, the largest blue-jeans manufacturer in Guatemala....
Jams World Gets New Chief Exec
Honolulu-based Surf Line Hawaii, which produces Jams World sportswear, has named Mark Tsuda as its new chief executive officer....
New Venue for Fashion Fund-raiser for Malaria
The third annual Defal Sa Walle fashion fund-raiser, scheduled for Aug. 11, has a new venue....
Wilson in at Blass
Former Dolce & Gabbana executive Stephanie Wilson has joined Bill Blass New York as senior vice president of new business development and training. Previously she was director of sales at Milan, Italy...
Audigier's Sweet Dream Team
Los Angeles–based lifestyle brand Christian Audigier has added another musician to its lineup. Company owner and namesake Christian Audigier has partnered with musician and producer Dave Stewart, one-half of the ’80s pop duo the Eurythmics, t...
Frederick's Director Resigns
Rose Peabody Lynch, an independent director on the board of Frederick’s of Hollywood Group Inc., resigned from the Los Angeles–based retailer and wholesaler of lingerie and apparel on Aug. 1....
New Lines: Cooper Design Space
The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the Cooper Design Space, located at 860 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles.The California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines ea...
Avangard USA
California Market CenterC534(213) 623-2610...
Online Video Captures Indie Design
A meeting between a former Fox Television executive and a jewelry designer was the impetus for Shopflick (
Neimans Heads to Walnut Creek
Outdoor shopping center Broadway Plaza, located in the San Francisco East Bay city of Walnut Creek, will get a 107,000-square-foot Neiman Marcus store in late 2010 or 2011, according to Santa Monica–based Mace...
Layoffs at Gerber Technology
The parent company of Tolland, Conn.–based technology provider Gerber Technology is laying off about 6 percent of its workforce, which will result in the termination of about 135 employees across the ...
North Face Goes Solar
San Leandro, Calif.–based The North Face is installing a 1 million-watt solar-electricity system at its West Coast distribution center in Visalia, Calif....
Designer Hosts Live Online Video Talk
English Laundry designer Christopher Wicks hosted an online video chat on Aug. 1, using the live video stream as an opportunity to announce upcoming lines within English Laundry and to answer...
Calif. Fares Better Than National Average for Retail Vacancy Rates
Real estate insiders keep eyes on vacancy rates in the coming year. ...
More Charlotte Russe Execs Leave
There are several vacancies in Charlotte Russe’s executive office....
FIG's Fields Gala Sold Out
The Fashion Industries Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is already sold out for its Oct. 4 gala honoring Barbara Fields of the Barbara Fields Buying Office, acc...
BB Dakota Launches Activewear Spin-off
Shortly after debuting Jack, a juniors label targeting 15- to 19-year-old fashionistas, Irvine, Calif.–based young contemporary brand BB Dakota announced its latest spin-off,...
Friday, August 1
A Weak Economy Fuels Buyer Demands at Project New York
For its July 21–23 run, the Project Global Trade Show, owned by Advanstar Communications, returned to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan....
Famous Footwear to Build Tejon Ranch Warehouse
Madison, Wis.–based Famous Footwear is building a 350,000-square-foot distribution center in Tejon Ranch, a massive 422-square-mile master-planned development located in an environmen...
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swimshy;/Cruise 2009: Vix
Vix Swimwear celebrated 10 years of fashion with the debut of its
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Luli Fama
Designer and Miami native Lourdes Hanimian and co-designer Augusto Hanimian turned a mirror on the city for the duo’s July 20
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Red Carter
Red Carter, this season’s “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer, debuted the collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim on July 19 to a packed tent at The Raleigh hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. Carter gave a nod to both the Roaring ’20s and “Barbarella” ...
Interns Fecirc;ted at YMA Scholarship Event
Seven Californians were among the 60 fashion students who landed coveted internships with high-profile fashion companies this summer through the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund. Otis School of Design students Aimee Santos, Sin Yi
E-tail Site Specializes in Shirting
Benicia, Calif.–based Kingdom Fashion Management Inc. has launched
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swimshy;/Cruise 2009: ANK by Mirla Sabino
Designer Mirla Sabino’s July 19
Kmart's Online Ad Contest
Kmart, the subsidiary of Hoffman Estates, Ill.–based Sears Holdings Corp., is inviting “junior fashionistas” to create their own Kmart commercial in a promotion for new the ABC reality show...
Cotton Inc. Closes L.A. Office
For more than 30 years, Cotton Inc. has had an office in Los Angeles....
Torrid's Diva Search
Plus-size retail chain Torrid is on the hunt for its next diva. The City of Industry–based division of Hot Topic Inc. launched a nationwide search for the star of its new reality Web show, “Hous...
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Tibi
Tibi designer and founder Amy Smilovic left her imprint on Miami Beach, Fla., with the launch of
Mas Looking to Pioneer Silverlake Fashion Street
On any given day, there are cars speeding past the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Maltman Avenue in Los Angeles’ Silverlake neighborhood. But Shannon Benedetti is betting that motorists will slow down and take...
Tentative Agreement Reached on New Longshore Labor Contract
There’s good news on the waterfront....
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Cia.Mariacute;tima by Benny Rosset
For his second showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, Brazilian designer Benny Rosset brought some of the joy and simplicity that defines his South American lifestyle to Miami Beach, Fla. He also brought some o...
CIT Credit Facility for Trina Turk
New York–based commercial finance company CIT Group Inc. announced its CIT Commercial Services unit has provided a senior secured credit facility to Alhambra, Calif.–...
Sustainable by Design
Stewart + Brown discuss how to bring sustainability and economic growth to the market ...
Calvin Klein, Tukatech Develop Dress Forms
Calvin Klein Jeans is using Los Angeles–based Tukatech Inc.’s TukaForms fit system to help streamline its product-development cycle....
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swimshy;/Cruise 2009: Tommy Bahama
Nautical blues and whites, check. Safari-inspired spots and stripes, check. Tropical floral prints, check. With its July 18 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim at The Raleigh hotel,...
Comerica Relocates in Downtown Los Angeles
Comerica Bank has leased a 27,000-square-foot space at 601 Figueroa St., where it will house a ground-floor banking center and a 12th-floor commercial office....
Truckers Go to Court to Block Parts of Ports' Clean Trucks Program
A battle brewing over who can drive trucks in and out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach came to a head when a major national trucking association filed a federal lawsuit to block portions of the port...
Kane, Blue Tattoo Deal Falls Through
Womenswear manufacturer Karen Kane has decided not to buy Los Angeles denim maker Blue Tattoo after a deal was announced one month ago....
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Diesel
Diesel kicked off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim with a
Capsule Claims New Niche With the Underground Elite
New trade show Capsule is on a roll....
Men's Fashion Week Continues to Be the Major Draw at Blue
NEW YORK—For its July 21–23 run at Manhattan’s Show Piers, ENK International’s Blue trade show once again partnered with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week producer IMG to incl...
Kramer in at Kellwood
Former Abercrombie & Fitch executive Michael W. Kramer was named president and chief executive officer of St. Louis–based Kellwood Co.’s women’s-clothing business, which includes the Vince, My Michel...
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swimshy;/Cruise 2009: Ed Hardy
Ostensibly an Ed Hardy presentation, the July 19
Charlotte Russe Faces Challenging Frontier
It all started early this year, when Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. buyers rolled the dice and gambled. For pre-Fall, they decided to bring in a larger mix of subdued merchandise marke...
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Shay Todd
The Setai hotel was the perfect backdrop to showcase Shay Todd’s seductive gypsy-inspired collection. Todd and her husband, Shiro Gutzie, presented the collection on July 18 with an intimate cocktail party and...
Start-Up Denim Retailer Forecasts 200-Store Rollout
Jeanomix sees gold in denim bars....
Juleselin's Green Line
For this up-and-coming coat designer, it’s eco all the way ...
Catalog Purchase
New York–based private-equity fund Monomoy Capital Partners L.P. purchased the assets and operations of Redcats USA’s Missy Group of catalog and Internet retail from the Redcats Group Inc., a subsidiary of French congl...
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Pistol Panties
Glamour, pop colors and retro kitsch were the look of Deborah Fleming’s “Nights in Deauville” collection. The London-based designer presented her art deco–inspired collection on July 20 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swi...
Mervyns Must Remerchandise After Bankruptcy, Analysts Say
The ink is barely dry on Mervyns’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, and the industry is ready with advice to reinvigorate the mid-tier department-store chain...
TapouT Kicks Up Sales With Martial-Arts Boom
The latest craze in the world of extreme sports is mixed martial arts, or MMA, which pits fighters of various disciplines together into a circular cage where they fight until someone goes down—or out. The mad...
Hot Topic Exec Joins Wet Seal
Hot Topic’s chief merchandising officer, Maria Comfort, left the music-influenced mall retailer on July 31 to oversee merchandising for juniors chain The Wet Seal Inc....
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Belusso
“Project Runway” alum Kirsten Sarkisian presented her
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Syla by Sylvie Cachay
Sylvie Cachay’s signature vintage-inspired prints created the look of her
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim/Cruise 2009: Poko Pano
For her debut show in the United States, Poko Pano designer Paola Robba paid homage to the music and architecture of 1950s Brazil with her Summer 2009 col...
