Tuesday, June 30
Alex Schaefer After BNKR
Aussie brand BNKR is scheduled to open a flagship later this year on the grounds of the former Blackstone Gallery in downtown Los Angeles . Here’s a postscript on one of the big wheels at Blackstone; Alex Schaefer. The artist frequently displayed his landscapes of downtown Los Angeles and other paintings at Blackstone.
Ellen DeGeneres Launches New Line
Fashion
Ellen DeGeneres puts her design stamp on clothes, home goods and accessories.
Monday, June 29
Intentionally Blank Pops at Virgo
The Virgo boutique in Los Angeles’ Fashion District has been serving vintage styles and women’s fashions and accessories with an edge since 2009. But on June 26, the unique boutique embarked on a first. It produced its first footwear focused pop-up shop. The star of that show was the brand Intentionally Blank.
Juice Served Here Parties in Silver Lake & Talks Growth Spurt
Some people unwind with a little get together after wrapping up a day’s work. But for the folks at Juice Served Here, a cold pressed juice company founded by fashion business entrepreneurs, they produced a big party after unveiling of a few big projects on June 26.
Friday, June 26
A Tale of Chanel, Chocolate and Intellectual Property
Trademark Adventures
An Australian chocolatier was forced to change her business’ logo after getting into a row with the House of Chanel.
Beauty & Brains at the CMC
The BET Awards show will take place June 28 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. There are scores of events around town this weekend to celebrate the awards. The Beauty & Brains fashion show and gifting suite was one of those events. It took place at the California Market Center on June 25.
Thursday, June 25
Before Fly Was Cool
There’s a new fashion documentary opening on Friday focused on the early days of hip-hop fashion.
Kingpins New York to Shift to November/May Schedule
Trade Show
Kingpins, the boutique premium-denim trade show, is moving its New York show schedule beginning in November, when it will host a Nov. 3–4 show at Pier 36 NYC (Basketball City) in Manhattan.
Active Collective in Huntington Beach, Calif.
All Active
Buyers from department stores, resorts, boutique stores and yoga studios turned out early for the June 23–24 run of Active Collective at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Luxe Atelier Opens in Downtown Los Angeles
Walter Mendez
The young couture and eveningwear designer threw a gala party on June 24 for the opening of his first physical atelier, the Walter Mendez Collection Store.
MRket Rolls Out The Hub for New Events, Activities at New York Show
Trade Show
MRket, the menswear show organized by Business Journals Inc., will kick off a video series, a photo studio, a book signing and a Beam pop-up shop at The Hub, the trade show’s new interactive area set to bow during the July 19–21 show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York.
Sold Out CALA San Francisco Show
Steady Business
When CALA San Francisco returned to Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion in San Francisco for its second run June 16–17, it also was the second time for the show’s new open-booth format.
The Gents Closet
Retail
After working as a stylist, Manuel Jackson, pictured on the couch, opened up a retail space called The Gents Closet earlier this month.
German Style, Made In Los Angeles
Delikt
For recent German transplants Daniel Thies and Eva Napp, California manufacturing seems wide open with opportunity.
Obituary: Kristine Garrett, URU Designer
Manufacturing
Kristine Garrett, who founded URU clothing nearly 40 years ago with her husband, Ken Brown, died on June 2 of cancer. She was 69.
FIDM Graduates Its First Class of Menswear Design Students
Fashion
About 200 people attended a reception and exhibition to celebrate the graduation of the first-ever students who completed a new advanced study program for menswear at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.
Style Africa Gala and Runway Show Bows at the CMC
Stylish Debut
Designer and “Project Runway” contestant Korto Momolu was among the designers featured at the Style Africa Gala and Runway Show, held June 20 at the California Market Center in Los Angeles.
Joe’s Jeans in Talks With Investment Group Over Acquisition
Manufacturing
News sources are reporting that Joe’s Jeans, the Los Angeles premium blue jeans maker that bought Hudson Clothing nearly two years ago, is in talks to be acquired by an East Coast private equity firm.
Coast Trade Show Adds Nashville to the Lineup, Changes 2016 Schedule to Coincide with Miami Swim
Trade Show
Coast, the men’s and women’s contemporary trade show based in Miami, has added a new venue to its roster of shows: Nashville, Tenn.
Wednesday, June 24
Legal Action Between Dov Charney and American Apparel Heats Up
Manufacturing
American Apparel chairwoman Colleen Brown, in an anti-SLAPP motion filed June 19 in Los Angeles County Superior Court against former CEO Dov Charney, maintained that Charney was fired in December for just cause after an investigation turned up dozens of lascivious and discriminatory events.
Tuesday, June 23
Rihanna: Fashion Icon to Fashion Design?
Fashion icon Rihanna appears be considering launching her own fashion and accessories brand.
Ace Hotel X Apolis: Good Fashion District Citizens
Ace Hotel has worked on a lot of fashion collaborations with L.A. brands; Undefeated, Tanner Goods, which runs a downtown Los Angeles flagship, and now Apolis.
Get Ready for Style Snaps
Guess what fashion fans; bloggers still matter. Digital style search engine ShopStyle, headquartered in San Francisco, announced a partnership on June 23 with a gaggle of fashion bloggers, a London retailer called FarFetch, and Snapchat, the video messaging app for a special e-shopping shindig that they call Style Snaps.
Monday, June 22
Friday, June 19
BNKR Pops Up on Robertson
Retail
Australian retailer BNKR launches a pop-up store on Robertson Boulevard.
Thursday, June 18
Velcro Cos. Acquires Fastener and Elastic Web Companies
Manufacturing | Textiles
Velcro Companies acquired two Belgium-based companies specializing in hook-and-loop fasteners and elastic and rigid webbing in a move the company says will broaden its product portfolio, expand its presence in Europe, and facilitate research and development “to speed the pace of product innovations.”
Me-Ality Announces $15 Million Investment, New Directors
Technology
The maker of the Me-Ality body-scanning technology announced the completion of an investment of $15 million in equity that was co-led by its largest institutional investor, Northwater Capital Management Inc.
FineLine Introduces ‘As You Like It’ for RFID-Integrated Hangtags
Manufacturing | Technology
Atlanta-based RFID (radio frequency identification) tag provider FineLine Technologies Inc. has a new quick-turn program, dubbed “As You Like It.”
App Gives Manufacturers an Eye on the Production Floor
Technology
Alpharetta, Ga.–based solutions provider Shopfloor Support LLC has launched Shopfloor Eye, a solution that helps manufacturers collect production data and get real-time visibility on the factory floor.
New Look for South Coast Plaza’s Tadashi Shoji Boutique
The Tadashi Experience
The Tadashi Shoji boutique in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., is scheduled to unveil a high-tech remodel on June 20. The 1,175-square-foot store will keep its location on South Coast Plaza’s level 2, adjacent to Bloomingdale’s. Yet the store will offer an entirely new experience.
Job Growth Looks Positive in California and the U.S.
Finance
With the economy still ticking along, the unemployment rate in California and the rest of the country will continue to drop through 2016, according to the latest UCLA Anderson Forecast.
Authentic Brands Takes Over Frederick’s of Hollywood
Retail
Authentic Brands Group has completed its acquisition of the iconic Frederick’s of Hollywood lingerie label after Frederick’s declared bankruptcy in April and shuttered its 93 stores.
Pent-Up Demand for Retail Real Estate Could Fuel Development, Drive Rent Prices Up
Retail
There are signs of economic recovery in Southern California as “pent-up demand” drives retail real estate development in the region.
Port Container Volumes Return to Normal After West Coast Congestion Problems
Import & Export
In May, the Port of Long Beach saw its container volumes jump 4.8 percent over the same month last year while the Port of Los Angeles said its container volumes barely budged, rising only 0.8 percent in May over the previous year.
Fashion Tech In The House at TechDay Los Angeles
More than 200 tech start-ups set up physical shops at the Penthouse for California Market Center, a downtown Los Angeles showroom building on June 18 for Techday Los Angeles. We dropped by to check out the handful of fashion and beauty tech startups, and listened to the latest in e-business ideas.
After a Pure Play E-Commerce Debut, Buck Mason to Open Abbot Kinney Store
Locally Made Jeans & Tees
The Los Angeles–headquartered Buck Mason brand has found success in every forum that uses electricity and screens. But the next step for the brand is based on concrete. It will open a Buck Mason bricks-and-mortar location.
Sloane Rouge Hits the Arts District to Showcase Collections
Manufacturing
Going artsy, Sloane Rouge picks a hip cafe in the Arts District as the spot to highlight three seasons of clothes.
The Gores Group Set to Sell Big Strike Clothing Company
Manufacturing
After four years, The Gores Group is selling Big Strike.
Wednesday, June 17
Tuesday, June 16
The Door Revolves Again on the American Apparel Board
Manufacturing
More than five months after taking over as chief executive of American Apparel, Paula Schneider now sits on the clothing company’s board of directors.
Monday, June 15
Katin's Summer Kickoff Party
Katin's Summer kickoff party made a splash at BLVD clothing in Manhattan Beach.
Planet Blue's Full Moon Bazaar
Planet Blue celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month with a Full Moon Bazaar party at Skybar ath the Mondrian hotel in West Hollywood. The crowd was filled with beautiful people and some of Planet Blue’s favorite brands dropped by to open a mini-market at the chi-chi club. Check it out.
Gap Inc to Close 175 Stores
Retail
Gap Inc. will close 175 stores, mostly in North America, including 140 stores which will shutter this year. A limited number of stores will be closed in Europe.
LASC’s Pride Blow-Out
Call it a community service. The City of West Hollywood is the site of a giant Pride Celebration which attracts thousands of people. For the sixth year, West Hollywood’s LASC boutique added to the city’s festivities by producing its own gala Pride party. Check out pictures of LASC's 2015 Pride Party which took place on June 14. Check it out.
Friday, June 12
Rich Honey Boutique to DTLA
“We Are The Future of T-shirt” Blanks exclaims a message of the Rich Honey website. The label’s future should include a store. A sign bearing the label’s logo was posted over the former atelier for Nicholas Bowes, at 210 W. 8th St., at the corner of Spring Street and W. 8th Street.
Onitsuka Tiger + original Japanese textiles by Makumo
Footwear/Textiles Collab
Onitsuka Tiger, the lifestyle brand owned by ASICS, struck a partnership with Japanese textile maker Makumo for a capsule collection of shoes for men and women featuring original Makumo prints.
The Lost Warhols at Guerilla Atelier
Andy Warhol’s memory will continue to burn bright if Karen Bystedt has anything to do with it. Her intimate portraits of the influential artist were displayed at Guerilla Atelier boutique in downtown Los Angeles. A reception was held for the show Los Warhols: The Bare Images on June 11.
Thursday, June 11
Nordstrom Plans Full-Line Store at Proposed Caruso Mall
Retail
Last month a campaign commenced for a land-use change for 203 acres of waterfront real estate in Carlsbad, Calif., but lobbying for the campaign recently a high pitch.
After Abbot Kinney Experiment, Castelli’s New Store
Venice Heights
After starting an interesting experiment in retail real estate on Los Angeles’ high-profile Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Paulina Castelli moved her men’s fashion and gifts boutique off of the street to another part of Los Angeles’ Venice section
Hana’s Kim and Avant’s Blanco Honored at Black & White Ball
National Jewish Health
It was a sea of black-and-white formalwear at the Skirball Cultural Center in West Los Angeles when apparel-industry executives gathered to honor Sunnie S. Kim, and George P. Blanco.
LA Market Draws Low Foot Traffic But Committed Buyers
LA Fashion Market
It looked like a typically lightly trafficked June market, but exhibitors reported seeing committed buyers from across the state and across the country—as well as a few from Japan—during the June 8–11 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market.
Stephanie Gilmore, 2nd Woman to Win SIMA Surfing Award
Swim/Surf
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association announced last week that Stephanie Gilmore, a six-time winner of the Association of Surfing Professionals’ women’s tour, will be honored with its Waterman of the Year award.
L.A. Avant Garde Outpost Weltenbuerger Closing
Retail
The name may have sounded unintelligible to many Los Angelenos, but Weltenbuerger strived to represent elegant, avant-garde fashion in Los Angeles, famously a jeans, T-shirt and casual-fashion town.
The Secret to Combining Costume Design With Fashion Design
Fashion | Manufacturing | Events
Costume designers and fashion designers are two separate worlds, but in recent years the two professions have begun to overlap.
Keeping Up With the Shifting Retail Scene
Retail | Technology
Retail is an ever-changing landscape that is expanding to different horizons all the time. But experts have one major piece of advice: Do nothing and you die.
Brand Building With a Denim Foundation
Citizens of Humanity
With the addition of Kathy Kweon as president, Citizens of Humanity has completed a number of staffing and brand-building changes to the Los Angeles–based denim lifestyle brand.
Torrid Searching for Plus-Size Models
Fashion
Torrid launching nationwide search for the next Face of Torrid 2016.
Wednesday, June 10
Holy Costume Design Batman! 1st Looks at Superhero Suits in 2016 Batman v Superman
Look, behind the plastic case – the costumes for Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, scheduled to hit cinemas March 25, 2016. The costumes were previewed at Las Vegas Licensing Expo, which is scheduled to wrap up on June 11.
Tuesday, June 9
Quiksilver Scraps 2015 Outlook, Planning Comeback With Improved Supply Chain and Sales
Swim/Surf | Finance | Manufacturing
Quiksilver Inc. reported results for its second fiscal quarter of 2015 and rescinded its previously stated financial guidance for the fiscal year, the surf giant noted that it would not provide an outlook for the rest of fiscal year, according to a company statement, which was released on June 9.
Julius Staying in China
Manufacturing
Paul Frank Industries extends a licensing deal with a Chinese company.
Monday, June 8
The Contessas of Cute: Hello Kitty’s At Forum June 12
The contessas of cuteness are returning to the L.A. area. It’s the Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival, which will be held at The Forum in the Inglewood, Calif. , which runs June 12-14. Check out pics the Hello Kitty costumes.
Friday, June 5
Cherokee Introduces New Children's Wear Brand
Licensing
Cherokee's in-house design team comes up with a new brand that will be sold in India.
Thursday, June 4
Quiksilver’s Only Female Board Director Exits in Protest
Manufacturing
Elizabeth G. Dolan, the sole female director on the board for surf giant Quiksilver Inc., resigned because she had been ignored and left out of important meetings, according to her note, which was reported by Quiksilver on June 3.
K-Swiss Acquires Supra & KR3W Denim Co.
Manufacturing
K-Swiss Global Brands—the sports-focused footwear, apparel and lifestyle company headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif.—is going street.
New President at Citizens of Humanity as Williams Takes Over as CEO
Manufacturing
Kathy Kweon joined Citizens of Humanity as president of the premium-denim lifestyle brand, replacing Amy Williams, who was promoted to chief executive officer.
May Sales Mixed as L Brands Reports Good performance, Gap Merely Okay
Retail
A brief hint of summer weather helped lift May retail sales, but, overall, most apparel retailers reported lackluster results for the month.
So Cal Style
Street Style
From the luxe looks at the Louis Vuitton show in Palm Springs to the contemporary streetwear of downtown Los Angeles to the cool athletic looks in Venice Beach, Southern Californians have a signature style all their own
Kanye West Turns Out at L.A. Trade Tech’s Fashion Show
Gold Thimble
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College celebrated its 90th anniversary during its May 29 Gold Thimble runway show, where student designers showcased everything from swimwear, sportswear and menswear to day dresses, and after-five dresses inspired by the 1970s.
Gallery 705
Showroom Profiles
For three years, Jane Mohr’s cooperative showroom was on the sixth floor of the Gerry Building. But with most of her neighbors being more private-label showrooms and destination spaces, she decided to move to the seventh floor, where there is more foot traffic.
August Los Angeles
Showroom Profiles
Melissa Naguiat opened her August Los Angeles showroom in the Cooper Design Space in February, and she’s curating the look of the showroom as carefully as the mix of the lines she represents.
Jackie B Showroom
Showroom Profile
The Jackie B Showroom is on the move. In the past year, Jackie Bartolo, the showroom’s founder, hired two more salespeople to complete her current staff of six. She also added several more lines to her showroom’s client list.
Reichman Associates
Showroom Profile
For Donald Reichman, the founder of Reichman Associates, the modern woman is aged 30 and up, she knows who she is, what she wants, and there is a big market to serve these women.
Active Casual to Extreme Sports
Breathe by Body Glove
Body Glove’s activewear brand, Breathe by Body Glove, has grown rapidly since it launched in late 2014 and is now sold at independent surf, swim and yoga shops across the U.S. as well as large specialty retailers.
New Boutique for Line Mixing Fitness & Safety
Graced by Grit
The Graced by Grit activewear line has been doing business in a crowded market, and on May 29 it opened its first branded boutique.
Kate Hudson Pumps Up Collection With New Men’s Line
Fabletics
Kate Hudson has introduced a line of activewear for men available through the same service. Keeping it all in the family, her older brother, Oliver Hudson, is the official spokesman for the new line, called FL2.
Yogasmoga Bets on California for its Retail Rollout
California Adventure
Yogasmoga and its relatively new line of yogawear for men and women are taking baby steps to open a chain of retail stores across the country by counting heavily on California for its success.
Paula Schneider Outlines Plan for Turning Around American Apparel
Manufacturing
When Paula Schneider took over as the new American Apparel chief executive, she didn’t think the job would be so contentious.
The Never-Ending Sales Season
Retail
Since the beginning of the year, retailers have offered generous promotions to attract more customers after a holiday retail season that underwhelmed Wall Street. The never-ending retail beat of sales and promotions has retailers and analysts asking if paying full price for clothing is a thing of the past.
McCarthy Puts on Her Fashion Face for Stewart
Actress—and soon-to-be designer—Melissa McCarthy showed up on The Daily Show last night wearing a kimono dress printed with stills of host Jon Stewart, prompting the surprised host to quip “I am all over you like a cheap suit.”
Men's Wearhouse Chief George Zimmer's New Gig: Tailor!
George Zimmer is back, and his new business card lists his occupation as tailor.
Wednesday, June 3
A.P.C. Now Open in DTLA
Retail
The doors to the new A.P.C. store in downtown Los Angeles opened on May 30.
California Retail With a Swedish Accent
LA’s ‘Little Scandinavia’
At the opening of the Susanne Karlsson Scandinavian Kollectiv store on Los Angeles’ West Third Street, Swedish was the predominant language, guests included members of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, and hors d’oeuvres included homemade Swedish pancakes served with cocktails made with Absolut vodka and Rekorderling cider.
Tuesday, June 2
New CEO at True Religion
John Ermatinger, who had been True Religion's interim senior vice president of global sourcing and production, was named the new chief executive officer on June 1.
Hot Topic Outbid on Geeknet Deal
Hot Topic Inc. was jilted at the altar June 2, when Geeknet, Inc. an online retailer of licensed merchandise based in Fairfax, Va., announced that it would not go through with a deal, which was announced on May 26, with the Los Angeles area mall retailer.
Monday, June 1
Los Angeles Underwear Importer Pleads Guilty to Drug Money Laundering
Nine months after agents busted a long-running Mexican drug money laundering operation in the Los Angeles Fashion District, an underwear importer has pleaded guilty to several offenses linked to the scheme.
The True Cost’s Case against Fast Fashion
With the preface “It’s a story about greed and fear, power and poverty,” The True Cost, a documentary, made its case against the fast fashion industry. It produced a Los Angeles premiere May 28 at the Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills. Calif.
Tanner Goods Spins The Big Wheel
There was a steady stream of people trying their luck at a Wheel of Fortune –style game at Tanner Goods boutique in downtown Los Angeles. The reason for all that wheel spinning? Sure, it was for prizes and discounts, but May 30 was the first anniversary for Tanner Goods store located at 860 S. Broadway. It was among the first high end boutiques to move into downtown Los Angeles recently.
