California Apparel News

Hans (Hank) Pola died on May 27 after a short illness following a stroke. He was 78 years old.

A longtime member of the Los Angeles textile community, Pola worked as a textile sales executive and president of Pola Associates Inc. for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2004.

Pola Associates represented high-end international fabric mills, including Centenarie Zinelli, Billon Freres and Bossa. Before opening his own business in 1982, Pola served as vice president of Wamsutta Mills and as West Coast vice president for Brookhaven Textiles. Before moving to California, the East Coast native was the vice president of sales for United Merchants & Manufacturers in New York.

“Hank was one of the most professional fabric reps in Los Angeles,” said Ron Perilman, president of Montebello, Calif.–based Liverpool Jeans Co.; past executive vice president of Not Your Daughters Jeans; and past chief executive, president and co-owner of City Girl. Perilman described Pola as equally “knowledgeable about fabric trends and current street fashion.”

“I personally purchased over a million yards from him, and he was always the perfect gentleman to me and my design staff,” Perilman said. “Hank was a credit to our industry, and I am sure that I speak for everyone who knew and worked with him that he will surely be missed but never forgotten!”

Lonnie Kane, co-owner of Karen Kane Inc. in Vernon, Calif., said he’d known Pola professionally and personally for about 30 years.

“There’s one word to describe Hank professionally and personally: He was a true gentleman. He was a pleasure to do business with.”

Textile representative and past president of the Textile Association of Los Angeles (TALA) Ann Davis described Pola as “such a sweetheart,” adding, “He has a slew of friends.”

Pola made his home near the ocean in Marina del Rey, a Southern California community he loved, Kane recalled.

“Hank liked nothing better than living at the beach and hanging with his buddies,” Kane said.

An active member of the TALA board of directors and the Marina Peninsula Homeowners Association, Pola is survived by his wife, Ilse Metchek Pola; daughter Susan; grandson Spencer; three stepdaughters; and five step grandsons.

His remains will be scattered at sea, according to his wishes. A memorial “celebration of his life” will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Scholarship Foundation in Los Angeles in the name of the Hank Pola Textile Scholarship Fund.