Stories for November 2014

Black Friday Shopping Down, But NRF Remains Optimistic for ‘Superbowl’ of Shopping

The Black Friday weekend represented a tough beginning to what many economists still forecast to be a holiday season of good sales.

Caruso Closes Escrow on Palisades Enclave.

Retail

Rick Caruso, developer of The Grove and The Americana at Brand retail centers in the Los Angeles area, announced Nov. 25 that his company, Caruso Affiliated, closed escrow on Swarthmore Avenue in the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.

L.A.–Based Britannia Sees Bright Prospects in Black Sheep

Textiles

Terrence Chermak has been spending the better part of the last six months knee-deep in wool—specifically, black wool.

Sleepy Jones to Open in Santa Monica. Calif.

Spade and Buri

Spade started Sleepy Jones and on Nov. 20, he held a grand opening for a 650-square-foot Sleepy Jones boutique at 1318 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, Calif.

Novelty Textile Wins Major Case Over Fabric Design Copyright

Textiles

More than one year after filing a copyright-infringement lawsuit over three different fabric designs, Novelty Textile has been awarded $650,000 in a jury verdict.

No Change on the Waterfront as Cargo Slowly Clears the Ports

Import & Export

The protracted contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which employs the longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports, have stalled until Dec. 2. Charges of work slowdowns at the ports have continued.

Element Goes Global: New Executives, New Boutique

Manufacturing

Element, an Irvine, Calif.–based brand owned by Billabong International Ltd., announced on Nov. 24 the hiring of two European executives.

Connecting Asia to the U.S. Through Orange County

Dragon Crowd Garment

Based in Ningbo, China, with U.S. headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., Dragon Crowd makes apparel for specialty stores and private labels for department stores such as the BP and Make + Model brands at Nordstrom.

Forever 21 Opens Thanksgiving Morning

Retail

Forever 21 Gets the Jump on Other Clothing Stores on Thanksgiving.

Naked Princess To La Cienega

Naked Princess opened its first flagship store at 653 N. La Cienega in West Hollywood earlier this year. It is the former address of a Catherine Malandrino Maison shop. Jordana Woodland, Naked Princess’ chief executive officer worked with LM Pagano, an interior designer to make a space that also could serve as a space for private events. The Naked Princess boutique sells the brand’s loungewear and lingerie and beauty products.

Barbie Loves Wildfox: The Party

Wildfox introduced its “Barbie Loves Wildfox” collection last week. Time to party. Check out the guest list which ranged from Wildfox chief executives to Kardashians.

Wet Seal Hires Team to Explore Sale

Beleaguered retailer The Wet Seal Inc. announced Nov. 24 that it hired a team to help the Foothill Ranch, Calif.–based retailer to look for “strategic and financial alternatives,” which can be industry lingo for considering an array of new directions for the business, including a sale.

New Standalone Shop in Santa Monica

Ron Robinson

After almost 20 years of doing business in the well-off seaside city of Santa Monica, Calif., Ron Robinson was told to vacate his successful Ron Robinson shop at the landmark Fred Segal compound in May. The entire Fred Segal building at 500 Broadway was going to be torn down to make way for construction of a mixed-use building of residences and restaurants.

Jen Awad’s Lovelace Collection

We missed Jen Awad at the last edition of Los Angeles Fashion Week. However, the designer best known for making clothes for the rock ‘n’ roll set made a splash Nov. 20 at West Hollywood boutique Orphic. She presented her new Lovelace Collection.

The Stronghold X Red Wing party

You don’t get more heritage than The Stronghold. The denim and clothing store on 1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Los Angeles makes workwear styles with a Roaring ‘20s feel. It makes sense that The Stronghold would partner with other heritage brands. On Nov. 21, it held an event for Red Wing shoes. The party celebrated the venerable footwear label’s Kangatan 8180 boots, a green leather boot, which was designed for baseball player Ted Williams.

August Getty Atelier’s Fabulous Dinner

The young, the beautiful and the outrageous convened at a fashion shindig for August Getty Atelier at the Montage Beverly Hills last week. Along with new designer August Getty, Tyra Banks was on hand, along with Taylor Spreitler, an actor and producer, and Vicky Vox, drag queen, entertainer and a model for designer Marco Marco’s notorious debut in 2013.

Clare V. Takes A Bow in Santa Monica

A Clare V. store opened at 1318A Montana Ave., in Santa Monica, Calif. Nov. 20, adjacent to the new Sleepy Jones boutique and Aero theatre,a favorite of Westside cineastes. There was a store party featuring an appearance by brand founder Clare Vivier herself.

Nasty Gal Opens on Melrose

Nasty Gal Bows

A line of fans and shoppers snaked around the corner of Melrose Avenue and N. Kilkea Drive in Los Angeles on the morning of Nov. 21 to take in the opening of the first physical boutique for Nasty Gal

Attention Fashion Shoppers

Fashion Philanthopy

You have three more days to take advantage of the deals at Shop for Success, the pop-up shop fundraiser for Dress For Success going on this weekend in L.A.’s Westwood neighborhood.

Port Congestion Fees Suspended for Shippers But More Problems at the Docks

Import & Export

The silver lining in the West Coast port-congestion problem is this: There will be tons of discounted winter merchandise for sale after the holiday shopping season.

Kirwan, Owen to Helm Gap Divisions

Retail

Gap Inc. announced Nov. 20 that Jeff Kirwan was named global president for the Gap brand and Andi Owen was named global president for Banana Republic brand.

QST Introduces Online Waistband Design Tool

Technology

The international marketing director for QST Industries has a waistband wall, which is part of the Chicago-based company’s trade show booth. But, inevitably, designers at trade shows will pull off examples of the custom waistband treatments they want to use in their own collections.

Flagship on Rodeo Bows, Chief Honored at Walk of Style

Burberry

On Nov. 19, Christopher Bailey, chief executive officer and chief creative officer of Burberry, picked up his plaque from the Rodeo Drive’s Walk of Style.

Byer California Launching Retail and Fast-Fashion Items 

Manufacturing

In December, the San Francisco–based company said it plans to open its first outlet store, which will be at the Outlets at Tejon in Tejon, Calif. The discount mall is a convenient stopping-off point for long-distance travelers driving north from Los Angeles through the San Joaquin Valley on Interstate 5.

From Runway to Retail

MarcoMarco

Walk into the three-room Hollywood studio that serves as the MarcoMarco headquarters and you’re likely to find the five design assistants frantically stitching the final details to a costume that must be delivered immediately.

Tankfarm, Schott NYC Opening at Americana at Brand

Retail

The men’s clothing line has sold at retailers such as Planet Blue, Kitson and Nordstrom in the past. By Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday season, Tankfarm plans on opening a 1,300-square-foot boutique at the Americana at Brand retail center in Glendale, Calif.

Nasty Gal Takes a Bow on Melrose

Retail

Prominent e-commerce emporium Nasty Gal opened its first physical store Nov. 21 at 8115 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. The space formerly housed a store in the boutique chain Madison.

PacSun Hires New Marketing Chief

Retail

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.’s marketing campaign, Golden State of Mind, will be expanding.

Dropping By Santa Monica Place Store

DVF

Diane von Furstenberg visited her recently opened DVF store at the Santa Monica Place retail center on Nov. 17.

Opening on Abbot Kinney

Hyden Yoo

The Hyden Yoo brand opened its first fashion boutique on high-profile Los Angeles fashion street Abbot Kinney Boulevard earlier this month.

Mothersbaugh’s Mutated Eyewear Party at Ron Robinson

Mark Mothersbaugh frequently thumbed his nose at authorities wearing goofy glasses (check out the cover of 1982 album Oh No! It’s Devo.) Years later, the music innovator worked on his own line of eyewear with Baumvision. Called Mothersbaugh by Mothersbaugh + Baum, the Ron Robinson boutique held a reception for the new line on Nov. 19.

Krochet Kids Makes a Point About Price

Starting today,Costa Mesa, Calif.–based non- profit Krochet Kids is letting consumers name their own price.

Shark Toof Attacks DTLA

Downtown Los Angeles has been building a reputation as a district for high end boutiques, but DTLA also continues to be an address for ambitious art projects. Recently, the area welcomed a 100 foot wide mural of two fearsome looking sharks by muralist/contemporary/street artist who goes by the name Shark Toof.

Krochet Kids International Asks, ‘Who Made Your Clothing?’

Social Business

Kohl Crecelius, founder of Costa Mesa, Calif.–based Krochet Kids International, wants to steer consumers away from asking “who are you wearing” and instead have them consciously consider who made what they are wearing.

Nasty Gal Opens on Nov. 21

LA Retail

Prominent e-commerce emporium Nasty Gal confirmed that it will open its first physical store on Fri., Nov. 21, at 8115 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles, the space formerly housed a location for boutique chain Madison.

Westfield Style’s Cocktails & Couture with Monica Rose

Westfield Style at Westfield Topanga got its Project Runway on at its recent Cocktails & Couture event. Monica Rose, a stylist, helped judge gowns created by students from FIDM's Design Lab.

Stockholder Demands Resignation of Two American Apparel Board Members

A Canadian shareholder who owns a minority stake in American Apparel stock is calling for the last two senior members on the clothing company’s board to resign.

Flagship’s Fall Party

Just when the weather is beginning to feel like fall, the Flagship agency threw a party Nov. 13 for the fall looks of its brands. Take a look!

Turkish Mill Reveals Denim Trends

Isko

Isko, the Turkish denim maker, scouts the globe year-round for denim and fabric trends to help it invent and improve on 300 different new fabric offerings per year.

Holiday Sales To Increase 4.1 Percent Despite Challenges, Forecast Says

Retail

Economic indicators point toward an increase in sales, 4.1 percent, for the upcoming winter holiday season, Kimberly Ritter-Martinez, an economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said during a 2014 holiday retail panel at the Glendale Galleria mall in Glendale, Calif., on Nov. 13.

Visual Display: A Look at Project’s New Booths

Trade Shows

Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Center hosts sprawling fashion trade shows Project, ENK Vegas,the eclectic Pooltradeshow and the higher-end Men’s trade show as well as The Tents.

Quiksilver to Pasadena

Boardriders Club

Surf giant Quiksilver Inc. will open a location for its Boardriders Club store in Pasadena, Calif.

Visual Display: Agenda’s Award Winning Booths

Trade Show

Most trade show booths are plain 10-by-10 affairs, and they give a clear message: Trade shows are just about business.

American-Made Denim For Nearly 30 Years

Diamond Gusset

After 28 years in business, Diamond Gusset jeans owner and co-founder David Hall says there is more happening with the Bon Aqua, Tenn.–based company than ever before.

Tech in Made-to-Measure

Alton Lane

Alton Lane has a tech angle on a luxe category with a long history: the made-to-measure suit.

Unique Solutions Design to Open California HQ

Technology

Unique Solutions Design Ltd., makers of the Me-Ality apparel size-matching service, which has been piloted at select Bloomingdale’s locations, announced the opening of a California headquarters and a new chief executive officer, who will serve at the company’s office in Santa Clara, Calif.

Levi’s to Lay Off 500 Employees as More Outsourcing Takes Place

Manufacturing

As part of its overall five-year plan to outsource global services, Levi Strauss & Co. recently announced it would lay off 500 people from its offices around the world.

Fashion Veteran Launches Hybrid Retail, Showroom Space

Hail Mary

Everyone in boutique retail juggles an increasing variety of tasks, ranging from traditional jobs of buying merchandise to newer jobs such as handling social media, and Marie Shaffer hopes to cover every base of the fashion industry at her shop, the Hail Mary Boutique and Denim Bar.

New Sourcing Trade Show to Bow in L.A. in March

Trade Show

Apparel manufacturers and retailers looking to scout factories will have a new venue when the Factory Direct trade show bows March 2–4 at The New Mart in downtown Los Angeles.

Boutique for Eva Franco Takes a Bow

Retail

Los Angeles–headquartered designer Eva Franco opened her first solo branded boutique Nov. 6, located at 1555 Echo Park Blvd., close to the fashion store Tavin in Los Angeles’ Echo Park neighborhood.

BeachRiot, Vissla, Billabong Nominated for SIMA Image Awards

Swim/Surf

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association has awarded hot new brands and veterans of the surf industry SIMA Image Awards for the past 12 years, and on Nov. 12, the trade group announced nominees for the 2014 SIMA Image awards and a new award category—the SIMA Honor Roll.

Investors See Surf, Streetwear Poised for Growth

Swim/Surf

Surf’s up for dealmaking for action-sports and streetwear brands. In the past month, private-equity companies have announced investments in the brands and retailers in this market.

First Spanx Store Opening in Southern California

Retail

Spanx is scheduled to open its first California store Nov. 16 at the Santa Monica Place retail center in Santa Monica, Calif.

Sandro, Maje Open at South Coast Plaza

Retail

French brands Sandro and Maje have opened stores at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif. Sandro’s 1,530-square-foot store features the brand’s new design concept.

Gucci to Westfield Topanga

Retail

Gucci, the Italian fashion house, opened its third Los Angeles–area store last week.

American Apparel Sees Big Rise in Third Quarter Net Loss

Retail

Los Angeles–based American Apparel, the largest apparel factory in the United States, continued to battle financial woes with its third-quarter net sales dipping 5 percent.

Port Congestion Worsens With Mounting Fees for Importers

Import & Export

Apparel importer Ashok Kumar is patiently waiting in Los Angeles for six to eight containers of sweaters and jackets to arrive by boat from Asia to stock his various clothing stores in downtown Los Angeles.

Amuse Society’s New E-Commerce Site

Swim/Surf

Surfwear veterans Summer Rapp and Mandy Fry made a splash when they launched their Costa Mesa, Calif.–headquartered Amuse Society label in January. Since then, they have introduced their fashion beach-lifestyle label at the Miami SwimShow in Miami, Fla., and won the “breakout brand” award at the Agenda trade show in Long Beach, Calif.

Lingerie Companies Fined for False Claims on Caffeine-Infused Shapewear

Textiles

The Federal Trade Commission has fined two lingerie makers $1.5 million for their statements that their caffeine-infused shapewear would solve a multitude of weight and fat problems.

The Celebs at the Toms for Target Launch Celebration

Retail

Lots of entertainment people showed up in Culver City for the debut of the Toms for Target collection.

Retail at Fourth & Traction Announced

A century ago, Coca Cola ran a bottling plant at 963 East 4th St., in what is now Los Angeles’ Arts District. Earlier this month, the building’s current owners, GPI Companies and Atlas Capital, announced that the building would be renamed Fourth & Traction and the former bottling plant would get a new look, which will include some retail.

Shop & Dine

Trade Show

Trade shows can be fun, but they can zap your energy with endless hours on your feet or days bogged down at a booth. Here are a few suggestions on new restaurants and boutiques that might make life a little easier when traveling to those trade shows.

Fashion Navigation: Helping Attendees Make the Most of Their Trade Show Visit

Trade Show

Whether attending a stand-alone trade show or heading into the multi-venue shows in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or New York, buyers and other trade-show attendees have a lot to see in a limited time. California Apparel News spoke to several trade-show organizers about the resources they have to help attendees navigate the shows.

Trina Turk Sample Sale This Weekend

Retail

Three-day sample sale coming up at Trina Turk store in Los Angeles.

Vida: Using Printing Tech to Connect Designers, Artists, Producers and Consumers

Social Business

Vida, a new e-commerce platform that launched Nov. 12, is channeling talent from around the world and using new direct-to-fabric technology to turn all forms of multi-media art to digital prints at the speed and ease that an at-home printer provides.

Pale Violet's Fashion Shots

The Pale Violet boutique opened in downtown Los Angeles earlier this year, but last week, a gallery show of portraits from photographer Ian Maxion. The preferred color? Pale Violet of course.

Max Mara’s Ballets Russes Book Party

On the heels of its soiree at South Coast Plaza, Max Mara held a gala at its Rodeo Drive boutique for the book Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, which was written by Victoria Tennant. Pictures. Plenty of Hollywood movers and shakers were there including Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions and Mike Medavoy of Phoenix Pictures. Medavoy hosted the event.

Jungmaven’s US Made Party at Charlie’s

Venice boutique Charlie’s Los Angeles opened this summer with a mission to sell only US made apparel brands. There was a big party Nov. 7 at Charlies where hemp fashion brand Jungmaven gave out free T-shirts. Yahoo!

Santa Makes an Early Visit to Glendale Galleria

It still feels like summer in Southern California, but that didn’t hold up Santa. The North Pole resident made an appearance at the Glendale Galleria retail center on Nov. 6. Dreamworks Animation designed a Christmas village for the Galleria called Adventure to Santa.

It’s a DVF World in SoCal

Diane von Furstenberg has been a towering figure in fashion for four decades. This week, the queen of the iconic wrap dress rolled out boutiques at some of Los Angeles County’s most prestigious retail centers.

October Sales Results Mixed

Retail

October, the month of the popular Halloween holiday, wasn’t as scary as some expected but didn’t offer a lot of treats either.

Positive Signs for California Job Growth

Finance

More people should be employed in California during the fourth quarter of this year as companies around the state continue to add staff.

Work Stoppage Spreads to Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

Import & Export

Adding to the cargo congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, longshore workers allegedly started imposing a work slowdown at the largest port complex in the United States.

AIMS360 Expands Certification Courses to New York, Adds East Coast Data Center

Technology

Los Angeles–based apparel ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software provider AIMS360 is expanding to the East Coast.

Dress for Success to Host Fundraiser Pop-Up Shop

Events

During the recent Los Angeles Fashion Week, several fashion brands—including Single, Sea of Pearls, FBF by Checka, JHaus and Bri Seeley—participated in a runway show at the W Hollywood hotel to benefit Dress for Success.

Alternative Takes a Bow

Levi's California Collection

Levi Strauss & Co.’s new brand, Levi’s California introduced a collection designed by Nic Rendic, Levi’s global design director.

California Presence at Massive Intertextile Shanghai

Trade Show

With 15 halls covering nearly 1.8 millionsquare feet of space and more than 3,800 exhibitors showing textiles and trim from 30 countries and regions, the Oct. 20–23 run of the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics trade show could be described as massive.

Aussie Brand Makes Comeback With L.A. Knowhow

Ksubi

Ksubi is preparing for an LA comeback.

Restaurant Could Be the Missing Piece for Robertson Revival

Retail

Once the address for the most coveted commercial real estate in Los Angeles, Robertson Boulevard has seen the fashion boutiques move out and move in over the years, but since Newsroom Café closed in September, some of the street’s businesses are anxious over the prominent thoroughfare’s future.

California Apparel Makers Concerned About ‘Made in USA’ Label

Manufacturing

A recent federal judge’s ruling is making California apparel makers think twice about how they label their garments in the future.

U.S. Labor Department Finds Southern California Garment Workers Owed Millions in Back Wages and Overtime

Labor Law

A U.S. Department of Labor survey of 221 investigations in the last year found that more than 1,500 Southern California garment workers are owned more than $3 million in unpaid wages.

Opening Melrose Store

Nasty Gal

E-commerce emporium Nasty Gal is taking its show to a bricks-and-mortar store on Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue.

Basic Line Corp. Selling Its Embroidery and Embellishment Company

For nearly 23 years, the Shalom brothers have operated Basic Line Corp., a popular embroidery and embellishment company, out of a huge industrial building they own in Vernon, Calif.

New Yoga Store Opens First California Store in Los Angeles

Retail

Yogasmoga finds a retail home on the Westside.

Beverly Center: Style and Chinese Dollars

Chinese tourism and business has become increasingly important to California’s economy, and retailers have been looking for ways to get more involved in that business. Beverly Center may have found a way to cultivate future Chinese business. It’s seminars and styling advice!

Rock Chic

Fashion Collab

Hot Topic launched its Joan Jett X TRIPP NYC Fashion Collection for Hot Topic collection, a collaboration between the City of Industry, Calif.–based retailer, rocker Joan Jett and rock ‘n roll clothier Tripp NYC.

Sunday, November 30

Wednesday, November 26

Retail

Textiles

Spade and Buri

Textiles

Import & Export

Manufacturing

Dragon Crowd Garment

Tuesday, November 25

Retail

Ron Robinson

Monday, November 24

Friday, November 21

Nasty Gal Bows

Fashion Philanthopy

Thursday, November 20

Import & Export

Retail

Technology

Burberry

Manufacturing

MarcoMarco

Retail

Retail

Retail

DVF

Hyden Yoo

Wednesday, November 19

Social Business

Tuesday, November 18

LA Retail

Friday, November 14

Thursday, November 13

Isko

Retail

Trade Shows

Boardriders Club

Trade Show

Diamond Gusset

Alton Lane

Technology

Manufacturing

Hail Mary

Trade Show

Retail

Swim/Surf

Swim/Surf

Retail

Retail

Retail

Retail

Import & Export

Swim/Surf

Textiles

Retail

Trade Show

Trade Show

Wednesday, November 12

Retail

Social Business

Tuesday, November 11

Monday, November 10

Friday, November 7

Thursday, November 6

Retail

Finance

Import & Export

Technology

Events

Levi's California Collection