YMI Opens New Distribution Center, Headquarters
On Oct. 21, juniors apparel maker YMI Jeanswear debuted its new $18 million, 108,000-square-foot facility, which will house its 75,000-square-foot distribution center, showroom, design room and corporate headquarters.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand to participate in the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The move, which is part of a larger growth plan that involves licensing new categories of apparel and accessories, also marks YMI’s shift toward becoming a more environmentally friendly business. The new distribution center and headquarters are part of a high-performing building that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
“I would like to thank YMI Jeans for strengthening their commitment to Los Angeles by keeping their headquarters in our great city,” Villaraigosa said. “YMI already represents why we are the creative and innovative capital of the world—and now with their $18 million investment in a new building with LEED features, they also represent how we will be the cleanest, greenest city.”
The facility, part of the new Dynamic Spectrum center, a modern urban industrial park in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood, replaces YMI’s previous headquarters in nearby Vernon, Calif. YMI, a $50 million company, was founded in 2000 by David Vered, Moshe Zaga and Michael Godigian.
“I love Los Angeles, and I’m very proud to have started my business in this city. You can feel its energy and its innovative spirit,” said Vered, co-founder and president of YMI Jeanswear, during the ribbon cutting. “Our roots are here in Los Angeles, and it made good economic sense to stay here and promote L.A. in everything we do.”—Erin Barajas
