L.A. Manufacturer Julie Blatt, 84
Los Angeles manufacturer Julie Blatt died on Jan. 4 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 84.
For 40 years, Blatt manufactured apparel in California, including dress line Julie Miller of California.
“He was one of the greats,” said Hal Kaltman, owner of Hal Kaltman Textiles. “I learned more from Julie in a 15-minute session than I learned from 10 other people in an hour-long session. He was from that era of the strong dress manufacturers when this was known as the dress market as well as a sportswear market. He had a great eye for fashion and was an unbelievable salesman.”
Kaltman recalled Blatt’s sense of humor and habit of waving his hands dramatically while speaking.
“He was one of the funniest guys around. I called him ’Uncle Julie,’” Kaltman said. “He will be tremendously missed.”
Steve Peritz met Blatt in 1978 shortly after Peritz moving to Los Angeles from Montreal as a sales manager for Klopman Mills.
“He was an incredible businessman,” said Peritz, who today works in sales for SAS Textiles. “He was very smart and a terrific merchant. He was tough but fair and honorable. His word was his bond. In all my dealings with him—even after he closed Julie Miller and was in the jobbing business—he was always a man of his word.”
His daughter Rande Blatt Cohen followed him into the apparel business, opening the Rande Cohen Showroom in the California Market Center.
“My father was my mentor, adviser, cheerleader and best friend,” Cohen said. “He taught me so much about the business we both love. My success I owe to him. I will forever miss him.”
Donations in Blatt’s honor can be made to the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, Calif.
He is survived by his wife, Jewel, daughters Rande and Dana, and son David. —Alison A. Nieder
