California Apparel News

Full-package producers, logistics, design consulting and other sourcing resources exhibited at the debut of the Factory Direct trade show at The New Mart March 2–4.

Organized by trade show and technology executive David Dea, the show got off to a slow start when weather kept traffic away on opening day. But by the second day, exhibitors reported seeing established companies walking the show.

“We saw quality businesses,” said Scott Wilson, account vice president for JS Apparel, a printer and manufacturer based in Carson, Calif. “I think David is on to something.”

Wilson said he met with an established jewelry brand that is starting an apparel line.

“It already has the brand awareness and the distribution,” he said. “What we do is a perfect match for them.”

Ted Houston, president of Long Beach, Calif.–based Polygon Solutions, was similarly enthusiastic.

“The level of established businesses here is high,” he said, adding that he met with a $2 million denim brand at the show. Polygon Solutions provides an operation platform for emerging brands to outsource services such as purchase order and EDI management, customs liaison, invoicing and inventory management, and customer-service support.

“We will definitely be back,” Houston said.

Helen Saleh, head designer for Los Angeles–based Adiva Intimates Inc., said she had a good reaction to the company’s services.

Adiva provides full-package design development and production in its own facilities in Vietnam. The 20-year-old company started out manufacturing in Los Angeles but opened its own factory in Vietnam about 15 years ago and eventually moved all production there.

“I don’t need too many customers. I just need the right customers,” Saleh said.

Long Beach wash house International Garment Finishing was at the show with examples of its garment-wash, dyeing and laser-finishing capabilities.

“We know the premium-denim business,” said James Y.S. Choi, I.G.F.’s laser specialist, touting laser finishing as an environmentally friendly finishing solution that uses no water and no chemicals.

“We got some good leads,” said Houman Salem, founder and chief executive officer of Argyle Co., who was exhibiting with his 8-month-old Argyle Haus business, which provides design development, prototyping and low-minimum production.

“We got 40 leads overall,” he said. “But it’s not a numbers thing. It’s about the quality. The quality of these leads appears to be high-caliber. Pacific Sunwear came by.”

Argyle Co. has three operations: Argyle Haus; Argyle Partners, which helps fashion businesses develop branding strategies; and Reverb, a digital brand-management agency. Salem also runs Made by Los Angeles, the program that promotes made–in–Los Angeles production.

“I’m a strong proponent of LA fashion and apparel,” he said. “We are a legitimate industry in this town that’s being overlooked. Fashion is a major economic driver.”

For the launch of Factory Direct, Dea lined up 25 booths. For the next edition, in September, he plans to add international resources, adding that he was in talks with factories in India and China—“but factories with low minimums in China,” he said.