Friday, August 29
Foot in the Door
Shoe Business
At the invitation of the California Fashion Association’s Ilse Metchek, I sat on a panel organized by the CFA on behalf of Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles and Abicalçados, the Brazilian Footwear Association.
Gap Wants You to Dress Normal
Fashion Advertising
The Gap has hired David Fincher (director of “The Social Network,” “Fight Club” and the U.S. version of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) to direct a series of ads it is calling “Dress Normal.”
Thursday, August 28
Cruise Watch
Trends
When swimwear designers showcased their latest Cruise ’15 collections in July in Miami Beach, several key trends stood out. Look for everything from laser-cut details, activewear silhouettes and edgy leather to color trends such as yellow, gray, and pastel shades of pink and blue.
Building a Better Boardshort
Beach Lifestyle
Modern surfing was born in Hawaii, took root in California and spread across the world. Since its early days, surfers have been on a quest to find the right gear to wear while surfing.
Run Wild With the Ponies
Isle Poni Lo
In her first luxury swimwear collection ever designed, Ashley Morgan Foster knew she wanted it to be as ecologically viable as possible.
Sophisticated Swim to Social Hour
Le Swim
Le Swim is in its sophomore season offering sophisticated swimsuits and après swimwear across the globe.
Denim Trends: How Unskinny Can Denim Get?
Manufacturing
Trend forecasters say there is a shake-up occurring in the denim world as we know it.
Focused Buying for the Season at Las Vegas Shows
Vegas Shows
The apparel industry converged in Las Vegas to shop for apparel, accessories, footwear and sourcing resources at the biannual trade shows anchored by the giant MAGIC shows.
PacSun Reports 2nd Quarter
Retail
Pacific Sunwear of California reported a 0.3 percent increase in same-store sales for the second quarter of its fiscal 2014 year.
Surf Alternative
Don’t Care
For Joe Huebner, the spirit of fun, which was one of the touchstones of the surf scene, is being ignored by a culture obsessed with competition.
West Coast Dockworkers and Port Employers Make Progress in Negotiations
Import & Export
The long and drawn-out contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association took a giant step forward.
Luxury From Fit to Fabric to Finished Details
Lezard Swimwear
A photo shoot brought swimwear designer Leah Shlaer and swimwear model Alyssa Smith together, and the two discovered a shared background in dance and a passion for luxury swimwear.
Columbia Signs Licensing Deal With Dallas Cowboys
Manufacturing
Portland, Ore.–based Columbia Sportswear has inked a deal with the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys for a collection of co-branded sportswear, outerwear and accessories for men, women and children.
Guess? Net Earnings Drop By Half
Retail
Guess? Inc. reported that its net earnings dropped 50.5 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 and that it will be closing stores.
WWIN Caters to Specialty Stores
Trade Shows
All six ballrooms were packed at the Women’s Wear in Nevada (WWIN) show, which took place Aug. 18–21 at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Capsule Is Compact
Trade Shows
Many exhibiting and wandering through the Capsule show, an edited collection of everything hip in the world of apparel and accessories, enjoyed the airy feeling of the event, held Aug. 18–20 at The Venetian ballroom along with the other five shows that make up the relatively new Modern Assembly group.
Pooltradeshow’s New Site
Trade Show
Last February, the trade show for emerging brands at MAGIC was located at a ballroom in the lower level of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. For its Aug. 18–20 run, it moved upstairs to the Mandalay Ballroom on Level 2 of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
New Sources at Sourcing at MAGIC
Trade Shows
Walking into Sourcing at MAGIC at the Las Vegas Convention Center is a little bit like taking a trip to the United Nations. It seems that just about every region or country in the world has sent a group of apparel or shoe manufacturers in search of new business.
International Retailers and Specialty Buyers at CurveNV
Trade Shows
On opening day of the Aug. 18–19 run of CurveNV at The Venetian, a crowd of spa and resort buyers were given a tour of the upscale lingerie and swimwear trade show before participating in a panel discussion about the needs of the spa and resort market.
ENKVegas Provides a Home for Contemporary
Trade Show
The ENKVegas show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Aug. 18–20 included a special section called Oasis, which featured brands that the show curators considered to be on the leading edge of contemporary design.
Crowded Aisles, Separate Cash-and-Carry Section at Offprice
Trade Show
While many of the Las Vegas trade shows opened on the same day, the Offprice show always kicks things off early, and this season was no exception. The Aug. 16–19 run at the Sands Expo and Convention Center marked the 40th Offprice show.
Upscale Looks at MRket, Stitch and Accessories the Show
Trade Show
On opening night of the Aug. 18–20 run of MRket, Stitch and Accessories the Show at The Venetian, buyers ended the day browsing the three shows’ upscale men’s, women’s and accessories lines with glasses of complimentary wine in hand.
Big Mix at Agenda
Trade Show
Action sports, streetwear and fashion brands shared the show floor at Agenda, which ran Aug. 18–20 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Liberty: New Section, More Booths
Trade Show
For its third Las Vegas show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs, held Aug. 18–20, added a new section and a surge of new brands.
Project Looks for Newness
Trade Show
A statement released before the contemporary fashion event ran Aug. 18–20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center said 30 percent of the brands at Project and its satellite shows were new brands. Established brands also debuted new lines at Project.
Appointments and New Lines at WWDMAGIC
Trade Show
The aisles at the Aug. 18–20 run of WWDMAGIC at the Las Vegas Convention Center appeared lighter than usual, but exhibitors reported a strong appointment-driven show where buyers arrived looking for proven brands as well as new lines.
Scouting Caps at Project
Some fashion reporters are always on the look-out for what is new in jeans. I seem to always be on the lookout for caps. Outside of the Project show, there was some headwear that caught my eye.
Wednesday, August 27
Undefeated Ready for Its Big District LaBrea Move
Next month, Undefeated, a pioneering streetwear label, will open its long-anticipated shop at District LaBrea.
Kitson: Ice Ice Baby
Can anyone really get enough of the ice bucket challenge? Joining the tidal wave of people and businesses accepting the Ice Bucket Challenge last week was the Kitson emporium in Las Vegas. Check it out.
Tuesday, August 26
Accessories in Charge
Fashion Tech
Part tech, part accessory, the QBracelet is a lightweight aluminum bracelet with a rechargeable lithium ion battery inside to charge a cellphone.
Monday, August 25
The Hello Kitty Convention in L.A.
Fun stuff
The first-official Hello Kitty fan convention will be held in downtown L.A. in late October.
Friday, August 22
MAGIC Feet
trade show
With 20 shows spread out over several venues in Las Vegas, I decided to put trade show mileage to the test.
Bemo Takes A Bow
Bemo is a small camera designed to capture images and quickly post them on social media. Last week, it hosted a party with the Ron Robinson boutique.
Thursday, August 21
Oak Opens on L.A.’s Beverly Boulevard
Retail
On Aug. 14, a big nightclub-ready crowd showed up for an opening-night party to celebrate the new store, which is the second Oak to open in Los Angeles.
New Direction for Barbara Lesser as Company Revamps
Manufacturing
Designer Barbara Lesser, who for more than 20 years ran the Barbara Lesser and Fibers by Barbara Lesser labels with her husband, Mark Lesser, is restructuring the company to a smaller model.
Africa Could Be the Next Frontier With AGOA
Import & Export
China may be the apparel factory to the world, but one day Africa could be right up there with the powerhouse manufacturer.
Remembering Lip Service and Kill City Founder
Drew Bernstein
Bernstein, who died on Aug. 18, was the founder of the Lip Service collection of punk rock, Goth and fetish apparel; Kill City, the edgy contemporary men’s and women’s line; goth line Widow and graphics-driven 24 Hours.
Billabong Sells Swell.com
Retail
Australian surfwear giant Billabong International Ltd. announced on Aug. 20 that it will sell its e-commerce businesses, Swell.com, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and SurfStitch.com, which is based in Australia.
Gap Stores Headed for Expansion in India
Retail
Gap Inc. plans to tap into the purchasing power of 1.2 billion people in India with the debut of 40 franchised stores that will open next year.
Exhibitors Report Buyers Writing Orders
Las Vegas Trade Shows
LAS VEGAS—With more than 20 events spread across five venues, the Las Vegas trade shows offered just about something for every buyer—from juniors and streetwear to upscale menswear and lingerie.
Opening in Vegas
Fred Segal Collective
Fred Segal, a pioneer and landmark of Southern California’s boutique scene, will take its first bow outside of Los Angeles County.
Avery Dennison RBIS Joins Forces with Chinese Knitwear Manufacturer
Manufacturing
Avery Dennison RBIS—which specializes in apparel-industry branding, labeling, packaging, embellishments and RFID solutions—and Ningbo Shenzhou Knitting Co., a vertically integrated knitwear manufacturer in China, announced a joint venture to facilitate heat-transfer innovations.
Attorney Deborah Greaves Joins Ezra Brutzkus Gubner
Legal
For years, Deborah Greaves made headlines by busting counterfeiters trying to knock off True Religion jeans. When True Religion was purchased in May by TowerBrook Capital Partners for $835 million, Greaves left the company and started her own practice.
Tuesday, August 19
Lip Service, Kill City Founder Drew Bernstein, 1963-2014
Obituary
Drew Bernstein, the founder of the Lip Service and Kill City brands, died on Aug. 18 in Los Angeles. He was 51 years old.
Sunday, August 17
Levi’s DTLA Commuter Space
Levi’s is biking to downtown Los Angeles. It opened a pop-up shop for its bicycling friendly Levi’s Commuter line at 157 W. 5th St in downtown Los Angeles.
Curio X Echo and Air
Call it an unofficial 1-year birthday party. Downtown L.A. boutique Curio and fashion line Echo and Air are both about 1-year old. So they had a party.
Parke & Ronen Spring '15
Menswear Line Parke & Ronen will go into its Spring ’15 looks with a yen for linen, said co-founder Ronen Jehezkel.
Friday, August 15
Schaefer In The Fashion District
Downtown L.A. Artist Alexander Schaefer gained notoriety with his "Burning Banks" paintings during the Occupy protest. On Aug. 14, another side of Shaefer went on display. Some of his new paintings were included in a group gallery show in the Fashion District, and they don't have a political theme.
Oak’s New L.A. Boutique Goes Big
New York’s Oak boutique went big when it opened its newest Los Angeles boutique.
Thursday, August 14
At 25th Waterman’s Ball, Surf Business Protects the Ocean
Events
The Waterman’s Ball has been described as the surfwear business’s excuse for a prom, a chance to party at the stunning Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, Calif., and a thank you to the ocean for providing the raw materials for the surfing lifestyle.
Whats Checking: Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue: Luxe and Local
Retail
Off the beaten path and unfamiliar to most tourists, Montana Avenue is a 10-block stretch on the north side of Santa Monica, Calif., where locals lead active lifestyles and like to shop local. With an even balance of corporate retailers and independent boutiques, most shops cater to an upscale crowd, as reflected by the surrounding neighborhood.
Big Star: European Heritage, Los Angeles Design and Environmental Philosophy
Denim
Established in 1974 in Europe, Big Star denim has been Los Angeles–based since Koos Manufacturing picked up the line in 2003, first as a licensed brand but now as one of Koos’ company-owned trademarks, which also include AG Adriano Goldschmied.
Fashionable Fitness Gear for the Active Minimalist
Olympia Activewear
A fan of minimalist home design and fashion, designer Kaili Lickle was turned off by standard offerings of highlighter-hued tank tops and complicated leggings she saw when shopping for activewear clothes.
Showtime: Retailers Discuss Trade Show Plans and Preparations
Trade Shows
With more than 20 apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing trade shows taking a bow in Las Vegas starting on Aug. 18 and a trade show season that continues on until the end of October, retailers are gearing up for the serious work of finding the brands that might hold the key to big profits.
Manhattan Associates Acquires GlobalBay Technology
Technology
Manhattan Associates Inc., the Atlanta-based supply chain commerce solutions provider, has acquired the assets of GlobalBay Technologies from San Jose, Calif.–based VeriFone in a move that will extend Manhattan Associates’ omni-channel inventory and order management solutions offerings.
Cheyann Benedict’s Way
Denim
When Cheyann Benedict, co-founder of the C&C California brand, made a return to fashion in 2013, she wanted to run her self-named Cheyann Benedict company her way.
FIDM Students Get Advice, Inspiration from Some of Denim’s Best
Denim Master Class
Denim pioneer François Girbaud is credited with a lot of firsts in the industry—from stonewash finishing and industrial washing to stretch denim and new silhouettes such as the baggy jean, the pedal pusher and engineered fit.
Increase in Resources Has Swim Collective Outgrowing its Venue in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Swim Collective
Traffic was steady and brisk at the Aug. 12–13 run of Swim Collective at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, Calif., which featured a 20 percent increase in resources.
The Fight Against Retail and Cyber Crimes: Better Cards, Better Security
Retail
Cyber crimes are skyrocketing—there are estimates that more than $3.5 billion in fraud was committed online in 2013—but security organizations protecting retailers and consumers are pushing back.
North Face Sets 100 Percent Certified Down Goal
Textiles
By 2017, The North Face plans to have all its down 100 percent certified and responsibly sourced using the Responsible Down Standard, a third-party standard.
Barneys New York Opens at the Americana at Brand
Retail
Barneys New York is alive and well at The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, Calif.
Stanford Shopping Center Gets Makeover
Retail
Stanford Shopping Center, a Simon-owned mall located across the street from Stanford University, is in the midst of a big renovation.
American Apparel Announces New Board Member and Quarterly Results
Manufacturing
In preliminary results for its second quarter, American Apparel reported it reduced its net loss over last year even though revenues were relatively flat.
Simone Michele Takes A Bow
After a career designing bags for other people, Michelle Queza will debut her own bag line. It’s called Simone Michele.
Made in LA Lingerie Is Just the Foundation
Noe Undergarments
When twin sisters Bonnie Rae Boyes and Shelah Jean founded Noe Undergarments last year, they wanted to create a line that would fit in both lingerie stores and contemporary boutiques.
California Heritage, Classic Designs
Farr West
When Manuka Clarke purchased Farr West in January, she wanted to reinvigorate the company’s classic designs while keeping all production in the United States at the highest quality with ethically sound standards.
OTB: Old-School Graphics
Made in America
It is relatively easy to get into the T-shirt business, said Eric Byrne, who spent a good part of his career selling T-shirts. You just need screen-printing equipment and some blank T-shirts. The hard part is making good-quality shirts and putting the right graphics on them.
Serendipity at the Heart of Necessitees
Necessitees
Necessitees came about 12 years ago when Hallie Shano was sitting in her self-named multi-line showroom at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles when a man in a baseball cap, T-shirt and shorts walked in and asked if she was interested in starting a T-shirt line.
Simparel Taps IT Operations Veterant as L.A.–based Senior Project Manager
Technology
New York–based Simparel Inc. has hired Lawrence Mora as senior project manager.
ICIX Releases Product Safety Compliance Application
Technology
ICIX has introduced Direct Test, a cloud-based application to help retailers and manufacturers collect and manage third-party product test results to meet safety and regulatory requirements.
WFX Launches Business Intel Platform
Technology
WFXOnDemand, a software solutions provider for the apparel and consumer-goods industries, has launched WFX BI, a business intelligence platform to help customers manage and share data across internal teams and departments.
Vietnam’s Apparel Industry is on a Rapid-Expansion Plan
Import & Export
China and Vietnam are still the top two providers of apparel and textiles to the United States, but Vietnam is growing quickly as an apparel powerhouse.
Apparel and Footwear Importers Concerned About Changes in First-Sale Rule
Import & Export
U.S. apparel and textile importers are rallying to push back a new proposal that would require more stringent record-keeping requirements to bring in goods under the so-called “First-Sale Rule,” which went into effect more than 25 years ago.
Nester Hosiery: Diving into the U.S. Supply Chain Feet First
Company Profile
A North Carolina sock manufacturer has fully embraced the “made in USA” trend and has taken it to the ultimate level. The company, Nester Hosiery, based in the textile region of Surry County, N.C., has achieved considerable success with its U.S.-centric supply chain.
Cargo container Volumes Rise at U.S. Ports as Contract Talks Continue on the Waterfront
Import & Export
As contract talks between West Coast longshore workers and their employers continued into their 14th week, importers were playing it cautious and bringing in as much merchandise as they could to fill holiday orders.
Wednesday, August 13
Deckers' New Headquarters Shines With Energy Efficiency
Footwear
The makers of Uggs, Tevas, Sanuks and other footwear goes all out in constructing its new headquarters in Goleta, Calif.
Volcom: True To This...On Film
With its old motto “Youth Against Establishment” retired, Volcom has been rolling out its new brand tagline “True To This.” To mark the occasion, Volcom has released some short films.
Tuesday, August 12
The Controversy Around the Singer Sewing Machine Patent
The Singer sewing machine was patented on Aug. 12, 1851.
Selfies Go Pro
I, photographer
Park City–based iStabilizer has introduced “the perfect selfie creator,” a monopod and a shutter remote system that lets you take your own photo without the fisheye look that comes with an extreme closeup.
Monday, August 11
Craig and the Big Clean-Up
Steve Craig, president and chief executive officer of Craig Realty Group, donated more than $10,000 on Aug. 9, to non-profit groups. Craig Realty also participated in day of service for Commerce where volunteers seek to clear out garbage and clean-up graffiti around Commerce.
Thursday, August 7
Denim Trends
Point Break
Surf’s up. From easy cut-offs to bleached denim and boyfriend jeans, denim designers take inspiration from So Cal’s laid-back lifestyle. Catch a wave for the hottest looks of the season
Small Holiday/Resort Market in LA
Drawing in Local Buyers
Always the smallest market on the calendar, the Aug. 4–7 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market drew local buyers and a handful of bigger retailers looking to get orders in before the big trade shows in Las Vegas later this month.
July Sales Strong
News
Retail sales for July, often considered a harbinger to the Back-to-School season, increased 5.4 percent, according to Jesse Tron, spokesperson for International Council of Shopping Centers, a prominent trade group for the mall business.
Retail Moves: COS, Rebecca Minkoff Scheduled to Open Los Angeles Stores
Retail
COS, a division of H&M, recently signed a lease for a 13,000-square-foot store in Beverly Hills, Calif., said Jay Luchs, the broker who handled the deal. It will be among one of COS’s first stores in the United States.
Survey Finds M-Commerce Revenue Doubled in Last Year
Technology
Shopping using a mobile phone, or m-commerce, nearly doubled in the last year as smartphone revenue rose 97.6 percent to $18,237,133, according to Pittsburgh-based mobile commerce platform Branding Brand, which recently released its Mobile Commerce Index.
Surf Pop-Up at Ron Herman
Vissla
With surf music playing in the background and boards being shaped on site, new surf label Vissla showcased its debut collection on Aug. 2 with a pop-up shop at the Ron Herman boutique at the Fred Segal boutique compound in Los Angeles.
Intertextile Shanghai Offerings to Include Premium Fabrics from Europe and Asia, and Swim/Lingerie
Trade Show
During its Oct. 20–23 run at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will host more than 3,500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. Offerings include a lingerie and swimwear area with more than 80 lace, embroidery and swimwear and lingerie fabrics suppliers.
Activewear with a Sustainable Edge
Move By Alternative
Alternative Apparel rolled out two flagship boutiques in the past 12 months, and, on July 21, the basics company introduced Move by Alternative, a woman’s activewear line with unique silhouettes and a sustainable edge.
UPDATE: Boardsports Shop Val Surf Shutters in Pasadena
Retail
Val Surf, one of California’s pioneering boardsports shops, is scheduled to close its Pasadena, Calif., location by the end of this month, leaving the retailer with four locations, said Mark Richards, a co-founder of the family-owned retailer.
San Francisco Clothing Label Isda Closes After 25 Years
Manufacturing
Isda & Co., an updated misses line founded in 1989 by designer Isda Funari, has suddenly stopped operations and closed its doors after showing its Fall 2014 collection earlier this year in New York and Las Vegas.
Banana Republic’s New Look
Clothiers always introduce new styles during the Fall season, but for Banana Republic, Gap Inc’s upscale retailer, Fall is all about a new direction.
Premiere Vision N.Y.: All-Time High Turnout at New Expanded Venue
Trade Show
More than 300 vendors gathered for the Fall/Winter 2015/16 Première Vision New York and Indigo New York shows at Pier 92.
UPDATED: Kingpins at 10: Curated Denim Selection
Trade Show
Kingpins, a show devoted to all things denim, celebrated the event’s 10th anniversary during its New York show.
Sourcing & Fabric Textile Trends: Gray Day
Trends
Designers find inspiration in sophisticated shades of gray for double-face knits, geometric prints, traditional menswear designs and ethnic designs.
Sourcing & Fabric Textile Trends: Bouquet
Trends
Designers find inspiration in flower prints from ditsey florals to more traditional floral sprays.
Sourcing & Fabric Textile Trends: Glam & Tan
Trends
Who says tan can’t be glam? Look for added texture, a touch of shine and crisp geometric patterns.
Sourcing & Fabric Textile Trends: Hothouse Flowers
Trends
Flower prints are lush with oversize blooms and warm shades of pink, red and orange.
Sourcing & Fabric Textile Trends: Textured Metallics
Trends
Textured fabrics with plenty of surface interest go upscale with metallic yarns and shiny coatings.
Texworld USA: Sourcing the Supply Chain from Fiber to Fabric to Finished Garments
Trade Show
The sold-out show had more than 180 exhibitors, including pavilions from Colombia and Mauritius and—for the first time—Guatemala. Ten U.S. mills also participated, which buyers like using for their “quick response and duty benefits,”
Wednesday, August 6
Val Surf Shutters in Pasadena
Val Surf, one of California’s pioneering boardsports shops, is scheduled to close its Pasadena, Calif., location by the end of this month, leaving the retailer with four locations, said Mark Richards, a co-founder of the family-owned retailer.
American Apparel: “We Have Good Ethics”
American Apparel offered no apologies for its risqué billboards which have long proven to be lightning rods for criticism. But the vertical retailer’s newest billboards seemed to be testing a new pitch; see the brash company in a different light.
Tuesday, August 5
Etsy Sellers Go From Retail to Wholesale
B2C Goes B2B
Etsy is helping its B2C sellers take the plunge into B2B with Etsy Wholesale, a new program that connects Esty sellers with retailers.
Mighty Healthy’s Party at PacSun
For the Mighty Healthy brand, the way to celebrate a decade in business was this; design a capsule collection with a favorite artist Kevin Lyons, and sell at it Pacific Sunwear.
Business Tools for Capitalizing on Trend Information
Redesigned WGSN/Stylesight Website
Global trend and style intelligence firm WGSN relaunched its website to combine its strengths with Stylesight, the New York–based trend forecasting firm it acquired last November.
Monday, August 4
All-Time High Turnout at New, Expanded Venue
Premiere Vision New York
More than 300 vendors gathered for the Fall/Winter 2015/16 Première Vision New York and Indigo New York shows at Pier 92.
Sourcing the Supply Chain From Fiber to Fabric to Finished Garment
Texworld USA
Visitors to Texworld USA in New York could see several components of the apparel-industry supply chain from fiber makers to yarn suppliers to apparel mills, converters and representatives. The show was held alongside the International Apparel Sourcing Show and the Home Textiles Sourcing
Uniqlo Pops at Beverly Center
A Uniqlo emporium is scheduled to open at Los Angeles’ Beverly Center on Oct. 10, but to take the sting off of the building anticipation (or perhaps to stoke it a bit more) the Japanese clothier opened a pop-up shop at Beverly Center on July 31.
Grumpy Cat Scratch Fever
The real star of the season isn’t a super model or an action star – it’s Grumpy Cat! The feline with a sour puss made an appearance at Kitson in Santa Monica on Aug. 4.
Friday, August 1
Luxury Basics and LA-Made
Lanston
Lanston is a Los Angeles–based luxury basics collection made from ultra-soft fabrications.
The Edgier Side of Boho
White Crow
White Crow, the contemporary collection by Irvine, Calif.–based Z Supply Inc., has always had a few graphic tees in the collection. But for Spring ’15 and beyond, the company is giving the category a featured spot in the line.
Leggings and Beyond
Poprageous
When Cher Park launched her Poprageous collection in 2013, she had to persuade Los Angeles factories to take her small orders. So Park purchased her own sublimation printer and press, which is housed in her new two-room studio in downtown Los Angeles.
Yoga Gear for Fashion Lovers
LVR
Established in 2010 originally just as a line of basic T-shirts, LVR has organically gained a strong following of loyal customers who embrace healthy, active lifestyles. Today, the brand offers full seasonal collections of flattering and functional yoga pants, shorts, tops, maxi and mini dresses, hoodies, wraps, and scarves.
Graphics-Driven Since the Start
Kersh and Press
Ever since sister brands Kersh and Press launched, the two collections have included graphic tees.
Customization Program Lets Customers Build Their Brand
Alstyle
Alstyle Apparel & Activewear, the Anaheim, Calif.–based blanks provider, is putting the focus on its custom apparel program with plans to launch a Web application to help Alstyle clientele customize their orders by fabrics, color and style.
LA Maker of Lux Tees Expands to Menswear
Michael Stars Men's
Michael Stars is branching out into menswear by launching a limited 34-piece collection for Fall in September and then a more extensive collection for Spring 2015.
From LeBron to the Hustlers
I Am Nameless
In a major case of beginner’s luck, basketball star LeBron James posted an Instagram picture of himself wearing a crew neck T-shirt by novice Los Angeles brand I Am Nameless in January.
New Nostalgia
Clashist
A typical career trajectory in modern fashion starts with an entrepreneur introducing an apparel line and, a few years later, launching an e-commerce store. But that is not the case with Heather Lipner, founder and creative director of apparel line Clashist. She turned the typical trajectory upside down.
After PacSun, Lee Joins Wet Seal
It was announced July 31 that Christine Lee was named executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of The Wet Seal Inc., she will start working for the Foothill Ranch, Calif.–based company on Sept. 3.
How a Growing Economy Affects Financing for Apparel Manufacturers
Finance
With interest rates still hovering in single-digit territory, the cost of borrowing money should be cheap, cheap, cheap. But it’s more than low interest rates that determine how much apparel manufacturers pay for a loan.
