Friday, May 29
Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet Opens First Downtown Store
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th Opens in Heart of S.F.
Thursday, May 28
Parking Lot Thefts Prompt New Security Measures at the CMC
Trade Show | News
A car was broken into and later stolen from the California Market Center in Los Angeles shortly after business hours on May 27.
PacSun Reports Decline For First Qtr of 2015
Retail
Pacific Sunwear of California, the casualwear retailer whose customers are teenagers and young adults, reported its first decline in quarterly sales in more than three years.
Long Career Based on a Small Machine
Fernando’s
In a world where retailers are increasingly relying on complex technology, Fernando Adames believes that a simple, mid-20th-century machine is all that is needed to give a boutique an added edge.
Columbia Promotes Four
Manufacturing
Columbia Sportswear Co. recently promoted four executives at the Portland, Ore.–based outdoor and activewear company.
Seafolly to Open in La Jolla
Retail | Swim-Surf
Australian swimwear brand Seafolly is increasing its bid for the U.S. market. It is scheduled to open its second American store on May 30. It will be located at Westfield UTC retail center in La Jolla, Calif.
Former Agenda Head to Run Karmaloop
Retail | Trade Show
Seth Haber, a former partner with Agenda trade show, headquartered in Los Angeles, is heading to the retail side of the streetwear business.
Band of Outsiders Shuttering After 11 Years
Fashion | Manufacturing
Band of Outsiders, a well-regarded Los Angeles label that garnered a lot of attention from New York fashion magazines and high-end stores, is going out of business, according to various reports.
Hot Topic to Acquire Geeknet
Retail
On May 26, the Los Angeles–based retailer announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Geeknet Inc., an online retailer and wholesaler of merchandise licensed from TV shows, movies and other media with science-fiction, superhero and fantasy themes. Geeknet is headquartered in Fairfax, Va.
Apparel Production Inches Up in Central America Due to Quick Turnaround
Apparel Sourcing Show
This year’s Apparel Sourcing Show in Guatemala opened with more foreign flavors to its vendors and a political scandal swirling on the national front.
Onyx Creative Looks for New Brands Around The World
Retail
The site www.onyx-creative.com curates fashion, jewelry and homeware brands from around the world. Some brands are Nüera, a California swim brand; Handsome Me, an Australian men’s brand; and Pulse, a Romanian womenswear brand.
From Real World Wearables to Targeted Messaging, Challenging Assumptions at West L.A. Tech Conference
Technology
Retailers and brands put their heads together at the Fashion Digital Conference, held at the Olympic Collection and Banquet Center in West Los Angeles on May 19 to dig deeper for answers of how to improve their apparel businesses with technology.
Daniel Patrick ’s Denim
Going Beyond the Five-Pocket
After four years of not wearing jeans, Daniel Patrick Jarvis, the founder of downtown Los Angeles–based brand Daniel Patrick, found himself wanting to put on a pair of denim earlier this year.
CCA Hosts Annual Fashion Show in SF
Art & Architecture
California College of the Arts hosted its annual fashion show on May 15 at CCA’s San Francisco campus, where 13 senior design students showcased their final collections for a crowd of about 750 guests.
Luxe Hotel Suite That Punk Rock Built
Call it the suite that punk rock built. Vivienne Westwood, generally credited for outfitting the Sex Pistols with the safety pins and bondage looks in the mid-1970s, helped design a $25,000 a night suite at The London West Hollywood hotel, located in West Hollywood, Calif.
Buttoning Up a Kickstarter Campaign
A Milan company has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its no-sew button repair product.
Wednesday, May 27
Burlington to Open Outlet in Downtown Los Angeles
Retail
Burlington opening a discount store on Seventh Street.
Presidential Meets Promotional
Political Fashion
Hillary Clinton is determined to be the frontrunner—in presidential candidate merch, that is.
Gypsy05 Sets Up Camp in Vegas
Following the inspiration of its name, the Gypsy05 brand is on the move. After opening branded boutiques off of Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles and in Malibu, the Los Angeles-area eco-label opened a store early this month in the home of the big jackpot, Las Vegas.
Tuesday, May 26
License to Rock
Star Wares
Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley will launch a new lifestyle brand called Paul Stanley: Royals & Rebels at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas in June.
Monday, May 25
Traditional Fabrics Made by Handlooms Showcased at Apparel Sourcing Show in Guatemala
Indigenous fabrics
The Mayan Store was launched five years ago to help Guatemalan Indians find ways to use their colorful fabrics in contemporary ways.
Friday, May 22
Courage of Imagination Lives On
Henry T. Segerstrom, founder of South Coast Plaza, was remembered with an installation called Courage of Imagination at South Coast Plaza. The installation will run until May 31.
Fish to Fabric
An Alaska-based company, Tidal Vision, wants to recycle fishery waste products like fish skin and crab shells into textile products.
Seated in Style
Recent design school grad Lucy Jones took her Parsons instructor's challenge to “design a project that could change the world” to heart.
Thursday, May 21
Downtown LA Retail Holds Promise, But No Guarantees for Success
Retail
Almost every night, bars and restaurants are hopping in downtown Los Angeles, a once-blighted area that is going through an unparalleled boom, but boutique retailers don’t feel like they entirely share in the city’s new prosperity.
Bigger Brands, Bigger Venue
Venue
Venue, a trade show that started as a platform for emerging streetwear brands, went on a growth spurt for its May 19–20 run.
UPDATE: Port Contract Ratified by Shippers and Longshore Workers
Import & Export
Members of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents shipping lines and terminal operators, and International Longshore & Warehouse Union, which represents Longshore workers, voted to ratify a new five-year contract.
Salon Allure to Expand and Rename Itself Hammock, Runway Shows Planned for Miami
Trade Show
After five years producing the boutique swim trade event Salon Allure, Rick Fatzinger, the event’s managing partner, announced that his team will double the size of the event and rename it Hammock.
American Apparel Files Lawsuit Against Charney for Alleged Breach of ‘Standstill Agreement’
Manufacturing | Retail
The fight between American Apparel and its founder, Dov Charney, continued with a lawsuit the manufacturer filed on May 15 in the Delaware Court Of Chancery against the ousted chief executive officer, alleging Charney violated a “standstill agreement” he had with American Apparel.
Historic Building to Be New WSS Flagship
Footwear Flagship
The new flagship for WSS was a real fixer-upper, but the end result is a historic showplace for the Los Angeles–headquartered footwear retailer.
Cherokee Acquires Everyday California
Manufacturing | Retail
Sherman Oaks, Calif.–based Cherokee Global Brands has acquired San Diego–based casual lifestyle brand Everyday California.
American Rag’s Chinese Fashion Diplomacy
Retail
This summer, American Rag Cie is scheduled to open its first shop in China, and it will be stocked with many of the brands currently sold in American Rag’s high-profile shops in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, Calif.
Academy of Art Honors CFDA, Ryan Roche at Annual Graduation Fashion Show
International Inspiration
The Council of Fashion Designers of America was honored and designer Ryan Roche received the Distinguished Alumna award on May 14 at the annual Academy of Art University graduation fashion show in San Francisco.
Tuesday, May 19
Apparel Sourcing Show Opens in Guatemala
Import/Export
Guatemala hoping to capture more U.S. apparel production.
Salon Allure Trade Show to Expand and Rename Itself Hammock
After five years producing the boutique swim trade event Salon Allure, Rick Fatzinger, the event’s managing partner, announced that his team will double the size of the event and rename it Hammock.
LA City Council Votes to Raise Minimum Wage
Los Angeles City Council members voted in favor of a minimum wage hike from its current $9 per hour to $15 per hour by 2020.
Engineered Cool
Brrr! scarves and wraps are made with BrrrX, a proprietary fabric technology designed to keep the material permanently cool. The moisture wicking fabric also offers UV/SPF protection.
Monday, May 18
Planet Blue To Pop in East Hampton
A mention of the town of East Hampton brings to mind images of playgrounds of Wall Street titans and artist colonies. It’s also going to be the first East Coast address for Planet Blue; a boutique which outfits California’s beach women in contemporary and boho-chic clothes. Planet Blue announced that it will open a pop-up boutique, called PB Guest House, in East Hampton on May 21.
Friday, May 15
From Shanghai With Love: American Rag’s Chinese Designers
China became the manufacturer to the world this century, but the country also produces many innovative fashion designers. But Americans know nothing about them, This situation may be changing. On May 14, American Rag unveiled a shop-in-shop of Chinese fashion designers at its Los Angeles emporium.
Jewel Toned: Taking It On the Road
What do you do when you are a hot, new shapewear brand that recently received some venture seed funding? If you are the folks at Jewel Toned, a West Hollywood, Calif.-based brand which fits the previous description, you take your act on the road. On May 19, they will take it the beaches of Los Angeles’s Venice district to show the lovely women of the area their new brand, and perhaps make a few sales.
TyLynn Nguyen: "Inspired by All Things Minimal and Womanly"
Lingerie has become a bigger fashion obsession over the past decade or so, and designer TyLynn Nguyen threw her proverbial hat in the ring May 14. It’s when she held a trunk show for her TyLynn Nguyen Intimates line.
Never mind the rain storm; Here’s Chase on Abbot Kinney
Never mind a giant rain storm on May 15, Abbot Kinney’s World Wide Mind Gallery was packed that night for a reception for street artist Chase.
Thursday, May 14
Woodbury Hosts 51st Annual Runway Event in Downtown
Identity and Inspiration
Woodbury University returned to downtown Los Angeles for its annual runway show, held May 3 at a new venue: The Majestic Downtown, a 1921 architectural gem of a building that once housed the Los Angeles Bank of America.
Shim Names General Manager of Columbia’s Korean Subsidiary
Manufacturing
Columbia Sportswear Co. named Ham-Bo Shim general manager of the Portland, Ore.–based outdoor apparel company’s Korea subsidiary, based in Seoul.
Caruso to Start Campaign for Carlsbad Project
Retail
Rick Caruso, the founder and chief executive officer of Caruso Affiliated, laid his cards on the table on May 12. He held a press conference outlining his plans for a Caruso project in Carlsbad.
New Retail Center Bows in L.A. County
The Point
Planet Blue, Lucky Brand and Michael Stars are scheduled to open stores at The Point, Los Angeles County’s newest retail center, which is scheduled to take a bow on July 30.
How Are Apparel Importers Adjusting Their Strategies for the Next Big Shipping Season?
Import & Export
Hundreds of apparel importers are recalibrating their logistics plans before the next big shipping season hits in July.
Rules of Attraction: Tips and Advice for Getting Attendees to Visit Your Trade Show Booth
Trade Show
California Apparel News recently caught up with several trade-show organizers to ask for tips and advice for exhibitors looking to generate excitement and attract more buyers at the trade show.
Send in the Drones...Don’t Bother, They’re Here.
It’s always Fashion Week somewhere. This week, it was in Silicon Valley.
Looking for Tools to Bridge the Tech Gap Between Online and Bricks-and-Mortar
Technology
The Fashion Digital Conference featured panel discussions, workshops and the opportunity to browse the latest software tools for addressing both the macro and micro trends of selling fashion in a digital age.
Shop & Dine
Shop & Dine
Here are a few suggestions on the new restaurants and up-and-coming boutiques found in some of the major cities on the trade-show circuit.
Wednesday, May 13
Dov Charney Files Two Lawsuits Accusing American Apparel and Hedge Fund for Defamation
Manufacturing | Legal | Retail
In more legal shots fired in the ongoing battle over control of American Apparel, the dismissed clothing company’s founder has filed two lawsuits in less than one week accusing American Apparel and hedge fund investor Standard General of defaming his character in false accusations and letters.
Tuesday, May 12
American Apparel Sees First Quarter Net Loss Jump
American Apparel reported that in the first quarter of this year it had a net loss of $26.4 million, or 15 cents a share, compared to $5.5 million, or 5 cents a share, last year.
Rebel Wilson Teams Up With Torrid for Fashion Collection
Retail
Actress Rebel Wilson works with plus-size retail chain Torrid to create a capsule collection.
Monday, May 11
Clade & Styleloftz…Out In the Streets
It was time to bring fashion out of the studio and onto the streets, said Maya Reynolds, founder/designer of downtown Los Angeles men’s line Clade.
Miami’s SwimWeek Fashion Shows in July on Hiatus, but Trade Shows Will Continue
Trade Shows
IMG, which used to organize the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim runway shows, puts the Miami Beach event on hold.
Friday, May 8
Gardner to Helm Glendale Galleria
When looking for a new senior general manager for its high-profile Glendale Galleria retail center in Glendale, Calif., General Growth Properties picked a man working for its rival Simon.
Dov Charney Files Lawsuit Accusing Hedge Fund of Defamation
In another legal shot fired in the ongoing battle over control of American Apparel, the dismissed clothing company’s founder filed a lawsuit alleging that hedge fund investor Standard General said it would defame his character if he didn’t give up control of his American Apparel stock.
Father of the Mall
If you are a mall lover (as I am) or a mall hater, you’ll find Slate’s story (courtesy of Roman Mars’ 99% Invisible podcast) about Victor Gruen fascinating.
Thursday, May 7
Scholarships for Local Design Students
CFF, TALA Award
Celebrating the next generation of design talent
Downbeat April Sales Affected by Weather, Port Delays
Retail
L Brands, the parent company to Victoria’s Secret and Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Steinmart, an off-pricer, reported same-store declines of 1 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. Gap Inc. will report its April sales on May 11.
ModCloth Takes Experimental Steps Offline
Testing Offline Model
Online retailer ModCloth has been defying bricks-and- mortar retail with more than $100 million in annual revenue with its online business model, but that’s about to change.
Knitting a Supply Chain that Stretches from the U.S. to the Caribbean
SF Knits
Knitting a Supply Chain that Stretches from the U.S. to the Caribbean
Terra: Updated, Elegant, Wearable
Manufacturing
Suki Kim’s industry background is in mass pro- duction, producing apparel for department stores and chains, but she always dreamed of launching her own brand.
Turk, Schoenfeld, Alberini Honored
Otis’ Big Show
Fashion students got the opportunity to show their styles at the annual Otis gala runway event.
Me-Ality to Focus Fashion Tech Biz on Uniform Market
Technology
The market for work uniforms is giant, said Tuoc Luong, chief executive officer of fashion technology company Me-Ality, which is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.
Fast A/R Funding Buys Continental Business Credit
Finance
Fast A/R Funding, a 6-year-old specialty finance company based in Calabasas, Calif., has acquired Continental Business Credit for an undisclosed amount.
Costa Rica Gets First Cotton Spinning Mill
Manufacturing | Import & Export
SAE-A, the largest apparel manufacturing company in South Korea, has opened a cotton spinning mill in Costa Rica, which is the first for the Central American country.
Europe’s Tariff on Women’s U.S.-Made Blue Jeans Inches Up
Import & Export
Europe has slightly increased a retaliatory tariff that it imposes on women’s blue jeans imported from the United States.
California Manufacturers Look for Ways to Beat Drought
Manufacturing
California’s State Water Resources Control Board took emergency measures to act on California’s harsh drought last month, ranging from restaurants not serving water unless requested to prohibitions against using potable water to wash down driveways and sidewalks.
3D-Printed Fabric and Washable LED Screens Among the Innovation Awards Winners at Techtextil
New developments in technical textiles and machinery were high- lighted and honored during the recent Techtextil and Texprocess shows in Frankfurt, Germany.
Gap Joins Forces With Ellen DeGeneres on New Line
Retail
Gap Inc. to partner with Ellen DeGeneres' new line that will be in GapKids stores in August.
Wednesday, May 6
Ron Robinson’s Mother’s Day Fundraiser
For the lead-up to Mother’s Day at the Ron Robinson flagship store, the stylish boutique will hold a shopping party from 4 to 7 PM on May 7 for the Westside Family Health Center, which has been providing a wide range of low-cost health care services in Santa Monica for 41-years.
Monday, May 4
Exhibit on South Coast Plaza Founder Opens Soon
Retail
An exhibit that chronicles the life of Harry Segerstrom, founder of South Coast Plaza and other major Orange County landmarks, opens on May 8.
Friday, May 1
Ron Robinson at the Fights
Every major city has its legendary stadiums for sports and music events. But one Los Angeles venue fitting this bill also has an untold story. It’s the Olympic Auditorium. It hosted Muhammad Ali fights, wrestling matches, Lucha Libre, and punk rock concerts. A group of documentary filmmakers held a launch party for their movie on the Olympic. It was held April 30 at the peaceful and civilized Ron Robinson boutique in Santa Monica.
Kelly Slater: Shredding the Sheets
Here’s a look at the expanding biz for surfing wizard Kelly Slater. After announcing his clothing line Outerknown last year, he introduced Kelly Slater for PBteen. The bedding and homewares line for teens feature sustainable and recyclable materials.
