Thursday, April 30
Peter Copping’s Collection Gets its West Coast Debut at The Colleagues
Oscar de la Renta
The well-dressed ladies (as well as a smattering of men) of The Colleagues paid tribute to the late designer Oscar de la Renta and welcomed his successor, Peter Copping.
Eddie Bauer Taps Longtime Nike Exec and Advertising Veteran as VP and Brand Creative Director
Manufacturing
Eddie Bauer named José Cabaço vice president and brand creative director of the Bellevue, Wash.–based outdoor lifestyle brand.
Raj to Make Women’s Swim for Oakley
Swim
Raj Manufacturing—which produces swimwear under brands such as Ella Moss, Splendid, Hurley, Nautica and Reef—will add Oakley to its roster of licensed brands.
Baccus Named SVP of Caruso Affiliated
Retail
Chris Baccus was appointed to be the senior vice president of digital marketing for Caruso Affiliated.
Multi-Million Dollar Project for South L.A.
Retail
Ground was broken on a major retail development, Vermont Entertainment Village, in a formerly blighted area of South Los Angeles on April 29.
Moda 360 Bows Alternative Trade Show
Trade Show
Moda 360 took a bow at The New Mart showroom building in downtown Los Angeles on April 25.
Launching New Made-in-USA Capsule Line
Chip Foster
The Los Angeles area–based Foster seeks to source domestically everything from the rivets to the fabric in his capsule collection, Chip Foster Made In America, which he is aiming to ship on July 4.
Lawsuit Claims Hedge Fund Benefits if American Apparel Goes Bankrupt
Manufacturing
An American Apparel class-action shareholder lawsuit filed April 29 claims that the apparel company is being held hostage by Standard General, the New York hedge fund that is a controlling stockholder, and that the hedge fund would reap enormous profits if American Apparel declares bankruptcy.
Mezon Travels the Tie-Dye Route
Made in LA
For nearly 25 years, Feri Sayyah has manufactured her intricately embroidered and ruched tops and dresses in Los Angeles even when many of her competitors searched for cheaper factories overseas.
Consolidating Sales Data to Drive Growth for Retailers
Technology
42 Technologies is a cloud-based tool designed to assist apparel retailers to sort through raw sales data from all vertical channels to help grow revenue.
Investigators Raise Tally to $140 Million in Fashion District Cartel Money-Laundering Scheme
Manufacturing | Legal
After 1,000 federal and state agents fanned out across the Los Angeles Fashion District last fall to crack down on a long-running money-laundering scheme benefiting two drug cartels in Mexico.
Port Truckers Strike for Better Wages and Full-Time Employee Status
Import & Export
More than 200 truckers tired of being classified as independent contractors rather than full-time employees walked off the job and have been picketing around port terminals, rail yards and customer warehouses.
Brandblack to American Rag Cie
Brandblack, a sports lifestyle and performance brand headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., placed its latest looks in the window of the American Rag Cie boutique in Los Angeles on April 29.Dubbed Future Legends, the collection imagines what basketball styles might look like in the year 2050.
Kelly Wearstler Party
Kelly Wearstler threw a party at her self-named Kelly Wearstler flagship boutique in West Hollywood April 29. The event celebrated the debut of fragrance Régime des Fleurs. It also showed a new look for the boutique. Take a look.
Wednesday, April 29
American Apparel Hits the Charitable Campaign Route
Manufacturing
American Apparel selling a new T-shirt that will help immigrant causes.
Tuesday, April 28
Kitson Sale Keeps Going
Kitson was going to close its Now or Never Warehouse Sale on April 24. Instead the boutique chain added thousands of items to the sale and extended the sale to 7PM, April 30.
Robert Talbott Takes San Francisco
Over the past year, the Robert Talbott a neckwear, shirting and lifestyle company headquartered in Monterey, Calif., started rolling out shop-in-shops in towns such as Beverly Hills, La Jolla, and Highland Park, Ill. Recently it opened a shop-in-shop just a relative short drive from its headquarters. The largest Robert Talbott shop-in-shop took about at The Hound Clothiers in San Francisco.
Azul By Moussy: Int’l Fashion Wave
Headlines have called to attention new international fashion brands coming to America. There’s BNKR from Australia, which is scheduled to open a downtown Los Angeles shop in July. There’s also Azul by Moussy, a Japanese brand which has reportedly sold at American Rag and Fred Segal. Recently Azul by Moussy was picked up by Nordstrom.
Monday, April 27
Chagoury Blooms on Melrose
Sure, it’s spring, but the cherry blossoms in the windows of the Chagoury boutique at 8378 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood are not entirely about April flowers or spring showers. They represent a reopening of the Chagoury boutique and a new direction for the label.
Friday, April 24
Oakley’s Art Dump
It’s called the Art Dump, a collective of artists who work for Girl Skateboards, doing some extra curricular trouble making. But there are fans who prize their Art Dump’s scrawlings. One major fan is the high profile Oakley sports performance and lifestyle label, which produced Oakley in Residence: Los Angeles. There was an event for The Art Dump's work at the Oakley in Residence creative space April 23 at 7763 Melrose Avenue. Check it out.
Katin Pops at Conveyor@ Fred Segal
Katin, one of the originators of this thing we call surfwear, threw a big party April 23 to celebrate the label’s Spring 2015 looks. The looks were curated in a pop-up shop at Conveyor @ Fred Segal in Santa Monica. The Pop-up shop will be in biz until May 11.
Thursday, April 23
Cherokee Inks Sears Canada Deal for Liz Lange and Cherokee Brands
Manufacturing
Cherokee Global Brands has struck a pair of licensing agreements with Sears Canada for its Liz Lange Maternity and Sportswear and Cherokee brands.
South Coast Plaza Opens 9,000 S.F. Chanel Boutique
Inspired by Coco
South Coast Plaza redesigned Chanel boutique is intended to feel like the Paris apartment of Coco Chanel, the legendary founder of the Chanel fashion house.
Lyon + Post: Don’t Pay Up Front for Fashion
Technology | Retail
Start-up e-commerce site Lyon + Post, headquartered in San Francisco’s Financial District, is one of a number of companies that offers a don’t-pay-upfront deal to its shoppers.
European Collections, Domestic Lines and Artisanal Accessories
Fashion Market Northern California
Retailers on the hunt for Summer and Fall merchandise at the April 12–14 run of Fashion Market Northern California at the San Mateo Event Center arrived at the show looking for unusual pieces at boutique prices.
Authentic Brands Group Acquires Jones New York
Manufacturing
Authentic Brands Group, the New York brand development and licensing company, is the new owner of the Jones New York label, which was acquired for an undisclosed amount from Sycamore Partners.
William Rast’s Danny Guez Launches New Menswear With a Technical Edge
One Bxwd
After more than a decade of building a reputation playing the jeans and stars game, Guez decided to turn his career’s conventional wisdom upside down.
Streddo; E-commerce & Fashion Incubator Takes A Bow
Technology | Retail
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Streddo said it will work with new designers, emerging designers and even some proven fashion brands looking to become more-fierce competitors.
Coast Modern: Bullish on the Small Brands
Retail
Bryce and Cecilia Cole opened independent boutique Coast Modern at 219 Main St. in Seal Beach, Calif., which is sandwiched between the port city of Long Beach and Huntington Beach, and gave itself the name Surf City.
PacSun Opens Up With Santa Monica Store
No Doors
Pacific Sunwear of California made a gambit to stand out with its shop on the high-profile Third Street Promenade retail district in Santa Monica, Calif.
Venice Rani Goes Kickstarter
The Venice Rani brand took a bow at the high end Salon Allure show in Miami last year. This week brand founder Tina Rani launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the brand’s production for its Fall '15 season, which Rani intends to manufacture in California. ““Start-up costs are so high,”But my intentions for this brand is to open more creative jobs in this market,” she said. The goal for her Kickstarter campaign is $25,000.
Wednesday, April 22
Guess Kicks Off Denim Day With Fashion Fund-Raiser
For the second year,Los Angeles–based Guess Inc.? will help support Peace Over Violence, the nonprofit organization that seeks to end sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence in the days leading up with Denim Day 2015.
Control Sector In Malibu
Control Sector, a New York brand, showed a few Fall '15 looks in Malibu. Take a look.
Accessorize Like a Princess
Los Angeles designer Chan Luu launched two new collections inspired by Disney’s “Frozen” and Cinderella” films.
Tuning In to the Fashionable Fringe
Refinery29 is slated to roll out the second season of its “Style Out There” video series, which profiles independent designers, subcultures and trends.
Tuesday, April 21
Lawsuit By Former Finance Director Cites American Apparel for Financial Misdeeds and Discrimination
David Nisenbaum, the fired director of manufacturing accounting analysis and audit at American Apparel, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 20 against his former employer. He maintains he was wrongfully fired because questioned the financial actions of John Luttrell, the chief financial officer of the company at the time Dov Charney was still the president and chief executive.
H&M: Drop off old clothes and Clean Up California
The State of California set a goal of recycling and composting 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020. Looks like H&M is helping out with that goal. People can drop off old/unwanted clothing and textiles at any H&M store. In return, participants will receive 20 percent off of their next H&M purchase.
Frederick’s of Hollywood Has Buyer in Mind With Bankruptcy Filing
With a mountain of debt piling up, Frederick’s of Hollywood filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after closing all its stores.
Monday, April 20
Michael Stars Launches 'Artisan Collection' From Haiti
Retail
Michael Stars stores will carry jackets made by Haitian artisans.
Friday, April 17
Theodore Beverly Hills Posts Store Closing Signs
It might be time to say farewell to pioneering boutique Theodore in Beverly Hills, which has sold contemporary and designer fashion in the wealthy city of Beverly Hills since the late 1960s. Big signs bearing the messages “Store Closing Sale!” and “Lost Our Lease” were posted in the windows of the Theodore boutique located at 336 N. Camden Dr., a few blocks from Rodeo Drive where the store started business in 1969. It moved to Camden Drive in 2008.
Rosario Dawson’s Fashion Rising, Seal & Others at Opening Ceremony
Actress Rosario Dawson produced a reception for her company Studio One Eighty Nine, which showcases and celebrates fashion, arts and content from Africa. The reception was held April 17 at Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. Jessica Alba, Seal and Shaun Ross joined in the fun.
Workers File Lawsuit Against American Apparel as Unionization Efforts Heat Up
Three workers fired from American Apparel have filed a federal class-action lawsuit maintaining they were not given enough legal notice or severance pay before they were dismissed.
California Dreaming Debut
Wolk Morais
The California dream of tearing down convention and crafting an independent ethos is a serious goal and inspiration for designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais.
Good Advice for Young Designers
Brand Building
Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez sat down on April 15 at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York with Vogue’s Sally Singer and dished out some solid advice for budding designers.
Thursday, April 16
Fashion Week San Diego
Fall Flaunt
For this collection, Rich used dye-sublimation printing to incorporate original art and photography in his made-in-America designs.
Industry Voices: All Star Offensive: Converse Turns to the ITC to Protect Its Chucks Brand
Legal
Late last year, Nike’s Converse Inc. went on the offensive against 31 companies claiming that the companies are infringing upon a configuration of elements Converse claims are protected by trademark law
PLM’s Next Step: Can Maturing Tech Foster Fashion Innovation?
Technology
High-profile fashion brands and apparel companies such as VF Corp., Billabong International Limited, Jerry Leigh and Stony Apparel Corp. all use product lifecycle management software to design clothes and bring them to market, but PLM vendors hope to make their software do even more.
Open Style Lab: Making Apparel Accessible to All
Technology
With a mission “to make style accessible to people of all abilities,” the interdisciplinary research and development project seeks to find ways of “creating innovative wearable solutions for people with disabilities.”
More Uncertainty over the ‘Made in USA’ Label
Manufacturing
A second federal judge’s ruling is making California apparel makers think twice about how they use their “Made in USA” labels.
Quarterly Report: Finding the Secret Formula to Luring in Cautious Consumers
Finance
In the last year, gas prices in California have fallen 26 percent and the state’s unemployment rate has shrunk 1.3 percent, but skittish shoppers are still acting like there is a recession.
Two True Religion Apparel Sub-Contractors Arrested for Fraud Scheme
Manufacturing
Two sisters who ran separate garment factories working for True Religion were arrested with their accountant on April 15 for allegedly trying to defraud the state workers’ compensation insurance funds.
Burberry's London in Los Angeles
The venerable Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles was the backdrop for science field trips for thousands of students, the knife fight in the much ballyhooed 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause--- and on the night of April 16, there’s the London in Los Angeles fashion show produced by Brit brand Burberry.
Frederick's of Hollywood Closes All Stores
Retail
Frederick's of Hollywood ceases to exist in the world of bricks and mortar.
Wednesday, April 15
Wet Seal to Go Private
Philadelphia-headquartered Versa Capital Management LLC, announced April 15 that it completed its acquisition of troubled retailer The Wet Seal Inc. The deal for an undisclosed amount was approved by United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on April 1.
Tuesday, April 14
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th Expands in Northern California
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th opens a new store near Sacramento.
Monday, April 13
Fred Segal to Bow in Tokyo
Brand Extension
Fred Segal, a boutique compound best known for infusing a luxe sensibility in Los Angeles’ casual lifestyle, is scheduled to open its first international location on April 17 in Tokyo—and it will be different from anything that the pioneering boutique concept has done, said Paul Blum, Fred Segal’s chief executive officer.
Friday, April 10
Go Curvy’s Full Figured Trip to City Chic
Sherry Lee Meredith discusses all things in the full figured world for her web show Go Curvy. We liked it for its R&B theme song Go Curvy. Meredith also recently dropped by the City Chic store at the Glendale Galleria to discuss plus size fashion.
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th to Beverly Connection
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is opening its first store in Los Angeles County.
Globe Int’l’s Violence Ordinaire…At American Rag
Violence Ordinaire took American Rag CIE on April 9. The colloboration collection from Globe International and Desillusion Magazine took a bow at the high profile store with a party and a store window devoted to Violence Ordinaire.
Thursday, April 9
Highlights Trends for Fall 2015 in Runway Show
Directives West
Scores of store buyers filled the Fashion Theater in the California Market Center in Los Angeles for a runway show that outlined some of the emerging Fall 2015 trends presented by the buying office Directives West.
Sean Jean Signs Licensing Agreement With Evy of California for Childrenswear
Manufacturing
Evy of California has signed a design, production and distribution licensing agreement with Sean “Diddy” Combs to produce his Sean John collection for girls and boys.
Kellwood Sells Outdoor Brand American Recreation
Manufacturing
Kellwood Holding LLC has sold its American Recreation Products LLC business to Exxel Outdoors LLC for an undisclosed amount.
Saks Promotes Metrick to President
Retail
Hudson’s Bay Co. named Marc Metrick president of the company’s Saks Fifth Avenue business, replacing Marigay McKee, who has left the company.
L.A. Apparel Maker Invests in New York SoHo Hotel
Manufacturing
It isn’t exactly Hotel California. Instead, it’s the NoMo SoHo hotel in lower Manhattan, which is under new ownership and a new name.
Venice Heights Takes a Stance for Indie Menswear on Abbot Kinney
Retail
The once raffish Abbot Kinney Boulevard has become one of Los Angeles’ most popular addresses for high-end boutique retail in the past few years.
Garment Factory Manager Indicted for Alleged Bribery of Labor Inspector
Manufacturing
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the general manager of a clothing factory for offering to bribe a labor investigator in exchange for closing down a wage-violation investigation.
Expanding in New Open-Booth Venue
LA Men’s Market
For its fourth run, the LA Men’s Market trade show went for a complete makeover.
Big-Name Retailers Turn Out for L.A. Majors Market
Trade Show
The Los Angeles Majors Market at the California Market Center kicked off on April 7 for its three-day run with a flurry of activity drawing buyers from department stores and specialty chains.
Retail Sales Results Mixed in March
Retail
In March, same-store sales for Gap’s Old Navy Global division skyrocketed 14 percent. However, same-store sales for its Gap Global division declined 7 percent, and its Banana Republic Global declined 3 percent.
Boho, Fur, Sports Luxe and Shaping Denim
Barbara Fields Forecast for Fall ’15
Look for the bohemian hippie-chic trend to continue for Fall ’16 with some new items such as the blanket coat, the fit and flare pant, the fur jacket, and ponchos in all lengths to drive the look forward.
Related Garments Gets Matchy Matchy
Some of the standout fashion categories of the past year or so spent much of their history being, well, ignored; yes, we’re talking about men’s underwear and socks. L.A.-based Related Garments offers matching socks and skivvies for guys. Does it go together like peanut butter and chocolate? Does it have the sex appeal of matching bra and panties for the ladies?! You be the judge. As of the posting of this blog, Related Garments was wrapping up a Kickstarter campaign.
BNKR Flagship to Downtown LA
Retail
Australian retailer opening its U.S. flagship near the Ace Hotel.
Wednesday, April 8
Coachella Style for Fashionable Procrastinators
e-commerce
Coachella Music and Arts Festival revelers looking for a last-minute style update are in luck. Los Angeles–based e-tailer Revolve is offering same-day delivery to California’s Coachella Valley and surrounding areas during the festival’s two weekends.
South Coast Plaza’s DTLA Splash
South Coast Plaza shot its 2015 Spring Portfolio Lookbook in downtown Los Angeles. The cosmopolitan lookbook was celebrated with a gala dinner for fashion writers on April 7 at Perch, a bistro overlooking downtown's skyline.
Tuesday, April 7
Donald Pliner Leaving the Footwear Label He Founded
Manufacturing
Donald Pliner is leaving his position as creative director of the Donald J Pliner Company to “pursue new creative endeavors,” according to a statement released by the luxury footwear designer.
American Apparel Hires New Menswear Designer
Weeks after firing creative directors Iris Alonzo and Marsha Brady, American Apparel made a big hire in March by bringing on board Joe Pickman, a graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York and the former men’s design director of the Band of Outsiders label.
Monday, April 6
Sequential Brands Buys Major Stake in Jessica Simpson Brand
Sequential Brands Group announced it is purchasing a majority stake in the Jessica Simpson brand, including the Jessica Simpson Collection master license and other rights. No purchase price was given for the deal that should close in 90 days.
Fashion Industry in Focus
New Mart TV
Peter Kim, founder and CEO of Los Angeles–based Hudson Jeans, discusses the premium denim brand’s new Forever Forward campaign and mission in a video on the New Mart’s newly launched video portal, the New Mart Network.
Friday, April 3
ILWU Delegates Approve Tentative Agreement for Members’ Vote
West Coast Ports
The five-year tentative contract agreement between longshore workers and their employers has been given the thumbs up, paving the way for a vote that will set the contract in stone.
Thursday, April 2
Tech Companies Look to Consumers and Connectivity to Drive Apparel Industry
Technology
From the shifting nature of analytics to consumers’ growing influence to the consumer connectivity of the “Internet of things,” key technology issues and their impact on apparel retailers and brands were discussed by technology experts who recently gathered in Los Angeles.
LA Men’s Market Moves to CMC Penthouse
Trade Show
LAMM is moving into the 93,000-square-foot penthouse floor of the California Market Center showroom building when its Holiday 2015 show takes a bow on April 7–8, said Kellen Roland, LAMM’s founder.
Targeting Women Who Want a Touch of Edginess
Ethereal
Designer Anita Rinaldi-Harnden is a big believer in garment-dyed clothes. For the past 20 years, she has worked with this special dyeing technique and fell in love with the endless possibilities it renders.
From Flights of Fancy to Feathered Jackets
Mother Plucker
Just east of downtown Los Angeles and you’ll find designers wandering among hundreds of bins of brightly colored feathers, racks of feathered boas and displays of feather flowers, elaborate feathered epaulettes and collars, and, of course, wings.
Fashion Week El Paseo
Haute in the Desert
Opening night of Fashion Week El Paseo put the spotlight on eight Southern California designers: Trina Turk, Eduardo Lucero, Kevan Hall, Anthony Franco, Lloyd Klein, Chagoury’s Gilbert Chagoury, Oliver Tolentino and Candice Held.
The U.S. Dollar Is on Fire: The Pros and Cons for U.S. Apparel Manufacturers.
Finance
The U.S. dollar is sailing at a 12-year high. A strong greenback means that if you travel overseas, hotels and restaurant dinners are cheaper. It also means raw materials produced overseas, such as fabric, zippers and buttons, have suddenly gone on sale.
Hank Pola Scholarship Winner
Events
Members of the Los Angeles fashion community met at the museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising to present FIDM student Karoline Korpor with the Hank Pola Scholarship.
Strong Dollar Makes Business Tough for Exporters
Retail | Finance
Since the beginning of 2015, Mike McGinley’s European retail partners have been telling him that they cannot afford his West Hollywood, Calif.–based LASC line of men’s activewear and swimwear—after years of selling LASC at their shops.
Patagonia Hits the Road Repairing Clothes
Environment
Patagonia's mobile worn-wear tour will repair used clothing to wear longer.
Simon Drops Macerich Bid
Retail
Simon Property Group, one of the biggest mall landlords in America, dropped its bid to acquire the Macerich Co., headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., avoiding a possibly costly and lengthy proxy war.
American Apparel Reducing Work Force
Manufacturing
Some 180 workers are being let go by the Los Angeles apparel maker.
Wednesday, April 1
SwimSpot Pops in Glendale
It’s always kinda nice when it comes to weather in the L.A. area. But summer must be just around the corner. Swimwear brand SwimSpot just opened a seasonal pop-up at the Glendale Galleria.
Bohemian Society: Cut The Logo
Victor Wilde has a message for the fashion world. Cut the logo! So on his new logo Wilde By Bohemian Society, he's left holes where logos would typically be sewn.
Jeff Rudes Launches Luxury Menswear Collection
More than two years after selling a majority share of his Los Angeles premium-denim label, J Brand, to Japanese retailer Uniqlo for nearly $300 million, Jeff Rudes is back in the clothing business with a new line of high-end menswear.
