Friday, July 25
Alvanon Expands Management Team
New York–based dress-forms maker Alvanon has expanded and realigned its management team....
Gerry Building Back to Leasing Showrooms
The Gerry Building is back in business....
Agave's New D.C.
Los Angeles–based denim brand Agave has started construction on a 22,000-square-foot design studio and warehouse to be based on a two-acre parcel in Ridgefield, Wash., near Vancouver. The faci...
True Religion's Lubell Up for Entrepreneur Award
Jeffery Lubell, founder of Vernon, Calif.–based denim label True Religion Apparel Inc., has been named a finalist for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award...
Optitex Venture to Enhance 3-D Applications
CAD provider OptiTex has joined forces with Santa Clara, Calif.–based visual-computing specialist Nvidia to advance research-and-development efforts using 3-D technology....
New West Coast Offices for 24Seven
New York–based employment agency 24Seven Inc. has opened a Seattle office to supply the region with fashion-industry staff and other creative talent. ...
Fashion Showroom Gambles on Chinatown
Theoretically, a fashion showroom needs no more than a rack and the next season’s styles. The showroom’s surroundings could be as complex or as minimal as needed. Entrepreneur Willard Ford plans to test this th...
Intellectual Property for Sale on Web
A Troy, Mich., company has developed a Web site (
Obando Nominated for CFDA Award
Los Angeles–based designer Juan Carlos Obando is among the finalists for the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America’s “CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund” award....
Centric Adds Compliance-Management Features to PLM
Campbell, Calif.–based Centric Software, which specializes in PLM (product lifecyclemanagement) software, has entered into an agreement with San Ramon, Calif.–based Hokura LLC to deli...
Letter to the Editor: 'The Greening of Vegas,' a Clarification
In the July 11 edition of California Apparel News, Zachary Delbex-Smith and the foundingof his company, Greener Vegas, were featured in an...
Powerhouse
Dutch fashion designer brand Viktor & Rolf has a new partner. Italian businessman Renzo Rosso, the man behind Diesel, acquired a majority stake in the brand, which is headed up by Viktor Horsting and Rolf...
Showrooms for Sale in L.A. Fashion District
Los Angeles–based real estate developer the KI Group is taking on one of its most ambitious projects to date with the development of Stanford Regency Plaza, a 132-unit wholes...
Timbuk2 Inks Deal With CenterStone Technologies
San Francisco–based accessories company Timbuk2 is using the Internet to manage sales and orders. The company has signed an agreement with Denver-based CenterStone Technologi...
Off the List
Apparel maker Cygne Designs Inc. received notification from NASDAQ officials that the New York company may be delisted from that stock exchange. On July 16, the company received a letter warning executives that their stock h...
Dominican Textile Bill Introduced in Congress
The Dominican Republic might be getting an apparel manufacturing boost....
New Orange County Malls Follow Tourist Dollar
Consumer spending is forecasted to take a dip this year in Orange County, the home of venerable retail centers such as South Coast Plaza, yet the county’s newest malls are banking on ...
St. John Tapping Into New Ideas and New Markets to Grow Business
For St. John, the venerable knitwear company founded in 1962, the last year has been a time of evolution....
Full Circle Counters Hard Times With Robust IT
Laguna Hills, Calif.–based software developer I...
Thoroughly Modern Missy
Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Finds Niche in Denim Market ...
Pur the Couturier of Denim
Touted as a new approach to the world of denim, Pur Premium Denim is the brainchild of designer Hae Yong. An industry veteran with more than 20 years in the denim market, Yong has worked with Lucky Brand, James Perse...
Blue on Blue
Meeting the trials and tribulations of the denim industry ...
Volcom Buys Laguna Surf, O'Neill Opens Shop
Volcom Inc. announced on July 21 that it purchased two-store surf chain Laguna Surf & Sport for an undisclosed amount. Volcom founder Richard Woolcott said the multi-brand retail...
SwimShow Maintains Sunny Outlook for 2009
MIAMI BEACH, Fla—The mood inside the Miami Beach Convention Center was as bright and sunny as the skies outside for the July 19–22 run of the Swimwear Association o...
Sales Slump
Department-store clothing sales in Japan took a dive this spring. For the months of May and June, apparel sales fell 14 percent. Aeon department-store officials said the company has seen a sharp drop-...
Carol Malony Partners With Russell-Newman
Pacific Palisades, Calif.–based Carol Malony is on the edge of a growth spurt. The lingerie designer has formed an alliance with Russell-Newman Inc., the Denton, Texas–based intimate-a...
Surprising Turnout for N.Y. Textile Shows
NEW YORK—Roving packs of designers and buyers traversed New York during the city’s de facto Textile Week, browsing the international offerings at Texworld USA, Premie...
Ben Venuto
After spending years eyeing San Francisco as a top spot for retail, Prada recently opened a flagship store in the city surrounded by bridges and bays. For Prada, this is its 11th U.S. retail outlet and its first U.S. store o...
Charlotte's New Chief
Retailer Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. has a new guy at the top, even if it’s only temporary. Leonard Mogil, who has been on the San Diego–based chain’s board since 2001, will take over for Mark Hoffman, who is retiring ...
Friday, July 18
L.A. Designer Plans Third Annual Fashion Fund-raiser for Malaria Relief
Los Angeles–based designer M’Backe Seye will host his third annual fashion fundraiser, Defal Sa Walle, on Aug. 11 in downtown Los Angeles....
EBay Wins
A federal judge in Manhattan sided with online auction giant eBay in a suit filed in 2004 by luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. Tiffany was hoping to place the burden of maintaining and enforcing trademarks on...
BB Dakota Debuts New Juniors Line
Irvine, Calif.–based designer Gloria Brandes has made a name for herself creating runway-inspired fashion targeting the young contemporary market under the BB Dakota brand. Back-to-Sc...
Mid Year Financial Review: Few Bright Spots on the Economic Horizon
Election-year politics usually produce an upturn in the economy, even during tough times....
Nicola Bertti Diversifies and Expands Its Retail
Contemporary lifestyle brand Nicola Bertti is on the move....
Fourth Port Fee Would Add to Shipping Costs
The concern about crumbling infrastructure and clean air prompted the California Assembly to pass a $60-per-container fee to be imposed on the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland....
Nordstrom Signs On to Santa Monica Place
Nordstrom is moving to the seashore. ...
Fashion With an Eastern Perspective
HONG KONG—A four-day
Samantha Chang Reemerges With Two New Collections
Lingerie designer Samantha Chang’s new mantra for Spring 2009 is “simple and streamlined.”...
Shirley of Hollywood Launches Red Carpet Collection
Shirley of Hollywood didn’t have to search far for inspiration to create its Red Carpet Collection to celebrate its 60th anniversary....
French Surf Brand Lands in California
While American surf brands practice manifest destiny abroad, Oxbow, a 23-year-old French surf brand, is claiming its own corner of Southern California turf and is looking to expand its reach....
Looking for the Right Stuff
The winding hills of San Francisco are treacherous for the novice driver. You’re better off being the passenger of someone with a quick clutch foot and years of experience. ...
Shopping Online Could Be Hurt by Economy
High gas prices might be changing the way people commute to work and travel, but retail analysts and merchants are divided on whether the gas crunch will change the way people shop....
Trina Turk Gains an Investor
Greenwich, Conn.–based private investment company KarpReilly LLC has made an undisclosed investment in Alhambra, Calif.–based contemporary brand Trina Turk....
Swim Strategy: Keep It Simple
For beachwear retailer Diane’s Inc., simplicity is not only beautiful, it can help with sales strategy. According to the retailer’s merchandising manager, Janice Prescott, complex window displ...
Retail Merger
Two of North America’s oldest department stores will now become one. NRDC Equity Partners, which owns Lord & Taylor, has acquired the Hudson’s Bay Co., Canada’s oldest retailer. Rumors about a possible HBC sale had been circulating since April, fo...
Big Apple Time
Vernon, Calif.–based denim giant True Religion opened a retail store at Time Warner Center’s The Shops at Columbus Circle in New York. The 1,850-squarefoot emporium is the brand’s third New York City loc...
Port Productivity Declines During ILWU Contract Negotiations
The work climate at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is turning a bit chilly....
Juniors Brand Big Strike Merges With Space Girl-z
Big Strike, the Gardena, Calif.–based juniors manufacturer of the Soulmates and Heart Soul brands, announced a merger with Space Girl-z, a juniors bottoms brand....
Higher Prices a Sign of the Times at Hong Kong Fashion Week
HONG KONG—The beginning of 2009 marks the end of U.S. quotas on all Chinese apparel, which means that American buyers should have been flooding Hong Kong Fashion Week to survey the 1,...
Going Up
Los Angeles–based American Apparel announced its unaudited same-store sales for June and for the year’s second quarter, which ended June 30, 2008. June store sales at its 145 stores open for more than o...
Wednesday, July 16
Marysia Charleston: Swimwear From the South
For Maria Dobrzanska Reeves, everything is about motion....
Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier: Tattoo Art Makes an Impression
Designer Christian Audigier took the art of Don Ed Hardy, a San Francisco tattoo artist, and incorporated it into the Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier label in 2004. Today, the brand encompasses everyth...
Hotel Bondi Swim: Locals Only
Australian fashion has been making inroads on the global retail scene. Among the promising designers emerging from the pack Down Under is the husband-and-wife team of Damion Fuller ...
Belusso: The Marriage of Art and Fashion
Los Angeles designer Kirsten Ehrig-Sarkisian’s new swimwear brand, Belusso, was born from a love of art, fashion and all things French—the French Riviera, that is....
Waterwear 2009: West Hollywood
Square-cut swimwear styles a hit with West Hollywood’s fashionable set ...
Taking the Plunge
Over the years, Lunada Bay has grown from a one-brand house to a company juggling eight labels....
Jets by Jessika Allen: Coming to America
Jets, a long-beloved Australian luxury swim brand, saw a renewal in 2001 when it was purchased by designer Jessika Allen. Now, the brand is focusing its attention on the United States market with the ...
Swim Diary: Show Girl
Catching up with SwimShow’s Judy Stein ...
Luxe: Style Meets Function
Raj Manufacturing, the Tustin, Calif.–based manufacturer that produces a slew of juniors and misses swim brands, will target a new niche market come Cruise 2009. Luxe, a new in-house brand designed by ...
Friday, July 11
The Greening of Las Vegas
Zachary Delbex-Smith is on a mission to green the trade show industry’s capital....
Goody's Got Ashley's New Line
Knoxville, Tenn.–based retail chain Goody’s Family Clothing Inc. will launch a new plus-size line designed by actress Ashley Judd. Ashley Judd Plus will bow in August in 150 Goody’s stores. The retail chain has ...
PGA Golf Show Added to Vegas Lineup
The PGA Fall Expo, which highlights the latest in apparel and equipment for the golf industry, will, for the first time, take place simultaneously with the MAGIC Marketplace and sat...
Levi's Net Income Plummets 98 Percent in 2nd Quarter
San Francisco–based Levi Strauss & Co. announced dire second-quarter financial results on July 9....
Organic Cotton Growers Launch Sourcing Site
The American Cotton Growers, a farmer-owned denim mill in Littlefield, Texas, has launched a new eco-friendly denim product, SafeDenim, and a sourcing Web site where manufacturers of...
Dockers Testing Stores for Retail Rollout
For more than 20 years, Dockers San Francisco has been a key vendor for retailers such as Kohl’s and JC Penney. But the casual label will soon serve its easygoing, mainstream...
June Sales Surprisingly Good
Discount and off-price stores helped drive June sales to a surprisingly good performance, according to the New York–based International Council of Shopping Centers....
Wilson's E-commerce Sold to G-III Unit
Minneapolis-based Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. sold its outlet stores and e-commerce assets to G-III Apparel Group subsidiary AM Retail Group Inc. for approximately $22.3 million. Under terms of the deal, AM Retail Group...
M.Fredric to Open in Malibu
Despite a tough economy, Agoura Hills, Calif.–based contemporary fashion chain M.Fredric will open its largest store at the high-profile Malibu Country Mart retail center in Malibu, C...
Boot Barn's Western Addition
Orange-based Western footwear and apparel retailer Boot Barn Holding Corp. acquired nine retail stores in California and Nevada from BTWW Retail LLP. The new stores bring Boot Barn’s holdings to 43 stores—36 in...
Lectra Opens Subsidiary in India
Lectra has opened its first subsidiary in India in a move to capitalize on the growth of the country’s apparel and textile trade....
Sustainable Focus on the Slate at Texworld USA
When Messe Frankfurt’s textile show, Texworld USA, kicks off its July 14–16 run at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, eco fibers and sustainable apparel will be among ...
Connecting Fashionistas Through Social Networks
The Web and blogging are now bringing images straight from the runway to the consumer faster than ever. The Web has also become a place for like-minded fashion seekers to share their style and connect...
Invista's Latest Gives Wool a Sporty Twist
Invista has introduced a new variant on its Coolmax performance fiber for cold-weather applications. Coolmax Fabric for Wool is a new staple-fiber blend that incorporates th...
Uncertainty of Colombia Free Trade Agreement Hurts Apparel Industry
In the last year, Colombia’s apparel exports to the United States have declined by more than 27 percent....
Bishop of Seventh Launches Men's Collection, Expands Women's Offerings
In 2006, Bishop of Seventh launched with a collection of menswear-inspired premium denim and trousers for women. The line is designed by a husband-and-wife team of New York designers transpla...
West Coast Menswear Show at LAX
The second West Coast Trends Show, highlighting upscale menswear lines, will take place Aug. 3–4 at the Embassy Suites LAX in Los Angeles....
Co-Founder Kester Returns to Cherokee
Jay Kester was one of the co-founders of Cherokee Inc. but left in 1993 to pursue other opportunities. Kester was recently rehired as the company’s new executive vice president, marketing....
The House of Karl Lagerfeld
Designer Karl Lagerfeld will design limited-edition homes on Isla Moda, a planned fashion island community located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Lagerfeld is the first of five designers to strike a ...
Comeback Kids
Saddlelites’ founders return with new line and denim relaunch....
Thursday, July 3
Crooke Out of Hot Topic
After one month serving as the president of Hot Topic Inc.’s Hot Topic division, Michael Crooke parted ways with the mall-based retailer, which is located in City of Industry, Calif....
Fashioning School Spirit
Jannette Klein and Brother International put a fashionable focus on student competition and Mexico’s design community....
New HQs for Affliction, Famous Stars & Straps
Two streetwear brands are moving on up to larger, newer facilities to house their growing businesses....
Longshore Contract Talks Go Past Deadline
The six-year contract between West Coast dock workers and their bosses expired on July 1, with negotiations on a new contract continuing amid choppy waters....
eBay's $60 Million Damage
A French court has ordered eBay to pay 38.6 million euros, or $60.8 million, in damages to luxury house Moeuml;t Hennessy Louis Vuitton in a case over counterfeit goods sold on the online auction site...
Alstyle Heads to Agua Prieta
Anaheim-based black T-shirt maker Alstyle Apparel & Activewear, a subsidiary of Midlothian, Texas–based Ennis Inc., announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Acc...
Blue Art: The Art of Denim
Newcomer designer Femi Samuel isn’t afraid to bring his new denim line, Blue Art, to a struggling marketplace...
Salt Optics: Looking Beyond the Beach
The high-end optical market may seem like an unlikely place for two former professional surfers to land, but the fledgling glasses brand Salt Optics has a quality that can only spring from Southern C...
L.A. Retailers Facing Fallout From Possible SAG Strike
With a possible strike looming after the June 30 expiration of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) contract, fashion retailers serving Los Angeles’ film-industry neighborhoods have been dreading the...
Wal-Mart Ruling Reached
A Minnesota court has found that Wal-Mart Stores broke state labor laws by not allowing employees to take promised rest breaks and by having employees clock out for training sessions. The retail giant...
CMO Leaving American Eagle
Susan P. McGalla, president and chief merchandising officer of Pittsburgh-based retail chain American Eagle Outfitters Inc., announced she will not renew her contract with the company after it expires...
Dirty Red
San Diego–based designer Nicol Akins is an active woman. She mixes a design career with running marathons and races on the weekends and taking care of her two young children...
Stiska: Simple Shirts, Fashionably Complex
The market for casual fashion for guys is crowded. Yet, if casual shirts can be made complex with exotic details, even a man with a complete wardrobe will make room for another shirt, according to de...
Hit + Run: Coming Out of the Party
If you’ve been to some of the cooler-than-cool hipster parties, music festivals or concerts in Los Angeles; Tokyo; Miami; or Austin, Texas, you may have seen Hit + Run “perform.”...
Amazon Buys Fabric.com
Seattle-based e-tailer
San Francisco Fashion Week Takes a Vacation
For the first time in five seasons, San Francisco Fashion Week won’t be taking place this year....
Audigier Expands New L.V. Trade Show toInclude Outside Brands
Christian Audigier isn’t known for his subtlety....
SPESA Show Shifts to New Venue for New Customers
Organizers of the SPESA (Sewn Products & Equipment Suppliers of the Americas) trade show are hoping to capture a bigger share of business outside of the apparel industry...
Gray's Quiksilver Exit
Michael Gray resigned from Quiksilver Inc.’s board of directors after 17 years with the Huntington Beach–based surf giant....
FGI Examines the Profitability of Eco Fashion
The world of environmental fashion has grown increasingly popular, but crucial questions on eco business remain for entrepreneurs planning to get into this field, according to a pane...
Tuesday, July 1
Kenneth Cole Acquires Le Tigre
kenneth cole productions, le tigre, trademark, tiger, logo, license, intellectual property
New EVP/CFO for Ann Taylor
ann taylor stores corp, michael j nicholson, executive vice president, chief financial officer
Liz Sells Four to Li & Fung
liz claiborne, hong kong, Li and Fung USA Ltd
