Friday, October 30
Which Stores Will Open on Thanksgiving Day?
Retail
The lineup of stores open Thanksgiving Day is starting to form.
Thursday, October 29
Current/Elliott’s New Abbot Kinney Boutique
L.A. Brand Current/Elliott opened its own branded boutique at 1132 Abbot Kinney Blvd., adjacent to the new Kit and Ace boutique recently.
The Ins and Outs of Brand Building With Licensing, Investment and Social Media
Manufacturing
Nearly 200 apparel-industry executives turned out to discuss brand-building strategies that ranged from social-media practices and licensing opportunities to gauging when to seek outside investment.
Los Angeles Fashion Week: Spring 2016 Collections
It’s a Wrap
Los Angeles Fashion Week: It's A Wrap!
Indian Summer Tempers Buyers at Fashion Market Northern California
Trade Show
SAN MATEO, Calif.—Buyers were literally taking the temperature outside to see how much merchandise they needed as they visited the three-day Fashion Market Northern California show to browse Spring 2016 fashions.
Electric Family Apparel With a Do-Gooder’s Edge
New Resources
Graphic tees—specifically, street, skate and athletic wear—have had an impact on the apparel industry. Whether T-shirts are mass-produced as part of the fast-fashion trend or cut from quality fabrics, there always seems to be a place for them in the market.
Revolve Clothing Stands Up to Cancer
Revolving Clothing
Fashion for a good cause was at the forefront at the Revolve Clothing Stand Up to Cancer benefit at the Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles.
Overcoming the Challenges to Cotton
Manufacturing
Cotton is crucial for the development of much of the world’s clothing, but a handful of groups have been warning apparel companies that a number of issues challenge the global cotton supply, and major apparel companies have been listening.
T-Shirt Trends for Spring 2016
T-shirt Trends
The motto for forecasting T-shirt trends for teenagers and young women might as well be “Here today, gone tomorrow,” said Barbara Fields, president of the Barbara Fields Buying Office in Los Angeles.
Caruso’s Carlsbad Shopping Center Delayed
Retail
The plan to build a Caruso Affiliated retail center on the banks of a lagoon in Carlsbad, Calif., has hit a snag. On Oct. 27, opponents of the project gathered enough signatures to put the project up for a vote by Carlsbad’s residents after the signatures were verified by San Diego County’s Registrar of Voters.
Obituary: Sam Sarpong, model and actor
Fashion
Sam Sarpong, a model for the Tommy Hilfiger brand, a musician and an actor, committed suicide on Oct. 26 by jumping off the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, Calif.
Kit and Ace To Abbot Kinney
Canadian-brand Kit and Ace opened its first Los Angeles area shop at 1130 Abbot Kinney Blvd. A gala debut party was held Oct. 28 for the 2,400-square-foot shop which mixes contemporary clothing with a sense of a get-together.
Tuesday, October 27
LA Caribbean at Style Fashion Week
The LA Caribbean fashion showcase is back. The runway show devoted to designers with roots in the Caribbean made its sophomore run at Style Fashion Week.
Monday, October 26
LASC’s Big Rooftop Halloween Party
It’s Halloween. If you are going to be in West Hollywood on Fright Night, get ready for sharing the street with a host of ghouls and goblins. 500,000 souls typically drop by the small city’s giant Halloween Carnival. For those who want an eagle’s eye view of the mayhem, prominent boutique LASC will host a Fright Night rooftop party in West Hollywood. Boo!
Friday, October 23
Lisa Kline Pops
For one night, Lisa Kline opened her first bricks-and-mortar store since shuttering her influential group of stores in 2011.
Laird Apparel - Oprah’s Surfing
Big wave rider and surfing innovator Laird Hamilton introduced the Laird line of performance and action sports apparel as well as the line’s “superfoods” at the Ron Robinson boutique in Santa Monica, Calif. Oct. 22. The party’s guests include Laird’s investors, among them, a woman who needs no introduction, Oprah Winfrey.
Thursday, October 22
L.A.’s Arts District to Get New Mixed Use Retail Compound
Retail
Real estate companies Blatteis & Schnur and ASB Real Estate Investments redeveloped parts of Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles’s bohemian Venice district, and the companies will take their know-how to another redeveloping neighborhood with the reputation of attracting creative people.
Spring Breaks
LA Fashion Week
Southern California designer Oday Shakar was one of several local and national designers featured on the runway at the launch of Fashion Week Los Angeles at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.
Who Owns the Fashion Week Name
Fashion
The new organizers of Los Angeles Fashion Week events are creating a bit of confusion among the fashion crowd. Because Arthur Chipman has trademarked the name LA Fashion Week, fashion show organizers are wondering if they can no longer use LA Fashion Week in their title and whether that extends to the term Los Angeles Fashion Week.
Fashion’s Future Discussed at FWLA Debut
Events
Disruption and sustainability in fashion were at the forefront of discussion during the Oct. 12 debut of Fashion Week Los Angeles at Union Station. Offering runway shows spotlighting local designers and a series of panel discussions, the event was open to industry members and the public.
Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center Opens New Area, New Stores
Retail
Simon-owned mall Stanford Shopping Center announced 25 retailers will move into a new section of the Palo Alto, Calif., mall.
Lectra USA Charts Growth Along Regional Lines
Technology
The phrase “speed to market” has become commonplace over the years, but it still aptly describes what’s driving business in the apparel industry. And, as a result, industry suppliers such as Lectra are benefiting.
Chic Arabina: Fashion Meets Modesty
Chic Arabina
When Faisal Omar was studying business in college, he noticed his mother and sisters struggled to find clothing that was both fashion-forward and modest. Omar realized there is a gap in the apparel market of fashionable options for women who want to dress modestly due to their religious beliefs.
Asher Fabrics Opens New Locations, Adds In-House Knitting
Asher Fabrics
Asher Fabric Concepts has a new home. The company recently moved into its newly renovated space at 950 S. Boyle Ave. in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles.
Runway Show Producer, Style Fashion Week, Expands Into Trade Show Biz
Trade Shows
After five runs as a solo event, Venue Trade Show’s streetwear grit set up shop with the gowns and sequins of Style Fashion Week.
How Fashion Week in Los Angeles Has Turned Into a Name Game
Fashion
Inside his spare office, located in a 1920s-era historic brick building in the heart of Hollywood, Arthur Chipman is just letting the dust settle after five days of back-to-back fashion shows produced by his company, LA Fashion Week.
Wednesday, October 21
Brandy Melville Adding New LA Store
Retail
Brandy Melville, the teen retailer, opening new store in November.
Designing a Cleaner Bikini
Textile Tech
Swimmers, surfers and other watersport enthusiasts tend to be good stewards of our oceans. Imagine if you could help clean the ocean just by diving in. That’s what engineers at the University of California, Riverside, have done with their new reusable material they’re calling Sponge.
Tuesday, October 20
Anjé at Style Fashion Week
New York’s Anjé line took its first bow in Los Angeles during Style Fashion Week. Take a look.
Monday, October 19
Marco Marco at Style Fashion Week
Sorry, the words tradition, drag queens and go go boys don’t seem to go together. But at Style Fashion Week, it’s become a tradition to produce a runway show for Marco Marco, a Hollywood label specializing in men’s underwear. Check out the mayhem.
Andre Soriano at Style Fashion Week
When Andre Soriano took the runway at Style Fashion Week on Oct. 15, he went for the glam!
Mario De La Torre Takes a Bow at Style Fashion Week
Mario De La Torre introduced his self-named Mario De La Torre contemporary line at Style Fashion Week Oct. 15. Take a look!
Civil Society + Barlis at Style Fashion Week
On Oct. 15, we went backstage and saw some looks from Civil Society and Kenneth Barlis at Style Fashion Week. Check it out.
Malan Breton At Style Fashion Week
Malan Breton is back in Los Angeles. The former Project Runway cast member produced a 29-look runway show for his Spring Summer 2016 collection at Style Fashion Week on Oct. 14. Los Angeles last saw a Malan Breton runway show for his Spring 2014 collection.
Friday, October 16
LA Market Report
We just wrapped up coverage of the sprawling Los Angeles Fashion Market, which included five wholesale showroom buildings in downtown L.A., as well as six independent trade show.
Ashton Michael: The Edge of Pink
Los Angeles Fashion Week
Ashton Michael doesn’t want to be typecast as an “urban goth” designer. So when the Los Angeles–based designer was designing his Spring 2016 collection he challenged himself to work with “two things I detest: cargo pockets and pink.”
Maggie Barry at Style Fashion Week
Maggie Barry has designed costumes for almost every rock star from the 1980s on. But when her M8 Urban label took the stage at Style Fashion Week on Oct. 15, the emphasis was her take on streetwear.
FBI All Aboard: Fashion, Awards and a Big Check
Los Angeles Fashion Week
It was a hot night in downtown LA when Fashion Business Inc. hosted its fifth-annual All Aboard Runway Show at Union Station.
Outerknown Reveals At Wittmore
Below an art installation of salvaged surfboard fins, Kelly Slater’s Outerknown label produced its first U.S. retail event Oct. 15 at the Wittmore boutique in downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District.
Backstage with Adolfo Sanchez at Style Fashion Week
Los Angeles designer Adolfo Sanchez produced a runway show at Style Fashion Week on Oct. 15. We photographed Molly Eskam wearing one of his creations.
Thursday, October 15
Select Returns to CMC’s Fashion Theater
Trade Shows
The California Market Center once again hosted the Select show, featuring contemporary apparel, accessories and jewelry resources in the CMC’s Fashion Theater.
Otis Fashion Design School Saying Goodbye to Downtown LA
Fashion
After some 20 years of holding classes at the California Market Center, the fashion design department of the Otis College of Art and Design is leaving the large showroom building in the heart of the LA Fashion District and moving to Otis’ main campus near the Los Angeles International Airport
LAMM: Seeks Alternative in New Space
Trade Shows
Now in its fifth season, the Los Angeles Men’s Market moved to a new event location in the California Market Center called Space 10B.
Expanded Offerings at Designers and Agents
Trade Shows
Buyers crowded the aisles at the Oct. 12–14 run of Designers and Agents at The New Mart, which saw an expanded mix of returning and new exhibitors.
Coeur Bows in New Location
Trade Shows
This season, lifestyle trade show Coeur moved to the Alexandria Ballrooms for its Oct. 12–14 run.
Shape Enters Third Season
Trade Shows
Athletic wear, yoga wear and swimwear were front and center at the third Shape show, organized by the California Market Center on the building’s 13th floor.
Fashion Industries Guild Goes to the Movies
Cedars-Sinai
For its annual fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Fashion Industries Guild changed things up a bit.
Ron Garber to Merchant Factors
Finance
Ron Garber, who most recently was the executive vice president and regional manager of First Capital Co., has been named an exclusive consultant with the Los Angeles office of Merchant Factors Corp.
Hot Weather Creates Challenges and Opportunities at LA Market
Trade Shows
Unseasonably high temperatures and unusually high humidity greeted buyers and exhibitors attending the recent Spring 2016 Los Angeles Fashion Market, which ran Oct. 12–15 in downtown Los Angeles.
Wednesday, October 14
The Chaotic Mind and Fashion
Fashion
Woodbury University graduate Polina Zeynalian presents her collection at LA Fashion Week.
Claire Pettibone’s Gilded Age
Los Angeles' Claire Pettibone produced an October 8 runway show in New York City. It was for her Fall/Winter 2016 bridal collection called The Gilded Age.
Tuesday, October 13
AS by DF Honored at Fifth Annual FBI All Aboard Fashion Week Show
All Aboard Fashion
Denise Focil, designer of the AS by DF and ASTARS collections, received the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator award on Oct. 13 at Fashion Business Inc.’s All Aboard LA’s Fashion Platform runway show and fundraiser for the nonprofit business organization.
The White Collection
Fashion
Woodbury University graduate brings her collection to Los Angeles Fashion Week.
Monday, October 12
Freddie Rojas, New Designers At The Fit Runway Show
Freddie Rojas has been doing independent fashion in Los Angeles since 1995. He showed his Spring 2016 line at The Fit - Menswear show at Maker City LA/The Reef near downtown Los Angeles. Sharing the runway show's bill new and emerging designers Rene Camarillo, Lola and BFiii.
Friday, October 9
Lands' End Wants to See Old Lighthouse Restored in SF
Historic Preservation
Lands' End will help fund a study for lighthouse restoration on Alcatraz Island.
L.A. Fashion Week: Hale Bob & Liberty Garden
Call it Los Angeles Fashion Week’s most stylish housewarming. On Oct. 8, Daniel Bohbot, the founder of the Hale Bob line, welcomed starlets, retailers and fashion people into his new Beverly Hills home, all to see the 2016 Spring/Summer collections for Hale Bob and the new brand Liberty Garden.
Del Amo’s New Macy’s
Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Calif. unveiled a massive renovation this week, and Macy’s big revamp called for a new footprint.
Thursday, October 8
Fab for Fab
Work in Style
Fast-growing e-commerce site JustFab has a brand new headquarters in El Segundo, Calif.
Sept. Sales Tough, But Beat Forecasts
Retail
September was a frustrating month for fashion retailers.
Showroom Profile: Citizens of Humanity
New Lines
Los Angeles–based premium-denim lifestyle line Citizens of Humanity recently unveiled a dramatic new look for its 4,000-square-foot West Coast showroom at the Lady Liberty building in downtown Los Angeles.
Showroom Profile: The Hanger showroom, Dakota Showroom
New Lines
Sharing the same space, Selena Slogar’s The Hanger showroom and Christie Danielson’s Dakota showroom each has its own aesthetic. The Hanger primarily carries Australian lines, and many of Dakota’s collections are from the United Kingdom.
Showroom Profile: Hatch
New Lines
After more a decade in The New Mart, the Hatch showroom has moved to the Cooper Design Space.
One Tough Mother Is Back
Manufacturing
The 91-year-old chairwoman of Columbia Sportswear has never been one to shy away from the camera.
Showroom Profile: HyFve
New Lines
For years, HyFve has had a large showroom at 10th and Crocker streets in the Los Angeles Fashion District, where it sold Immediate goods to store buyers.
Showroom Profile: Blankslate Showroom
New Lines
From London to Los Angeles … with a pit stop in West Palm Beach, Fla. That is part of the business plan of the Blankslate Showroom, which opened at The New Mart for the Spring ’16 LA Fashion Market.
Barbara Fields Spring Summer 2016 Trends: Hippie, White Fabrics, and Sports
Events
The 1970s hippie has come back.
Directives West Outlines Major Trends for Spring 2016 in Runway Show
Directives West
Store buyers packed the Fashion Theater in the California Market Center to see the semiannual trend show presented by buying office Directives West.
Alternative Closing L.A. Design Lab, Vows To Stay in Calif.
Manufacturing
For about five years, Atlanta-area basics label Alternative ran a design lab in Los Angeles’ Fashion District. However, the more than 20-person office is scheduled to close by the end of the year, said Evan Toporek, chief executive officer of Alternative.
RevoLaze Drops Lawsuit Against Hennes & Mauritz
Legal
After filing and winning several lawsuits over a laser technology used to distress blue jeans, RevoLaze recently dropped its legal action against fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz.
Business Is Changing at LA Majors Market
LA Majors Market
Traffic was reportedly varied at the Oct. 5–7 run of the Los Angeles Majors Market at the California Market Center. The show is focused on a wide array of product aimed at department stores and chain retailers.
Wednesday, October 7
Betsey Johnson Recognized for 50 Years of Creativity
Fashion
Installation shows a few of Betsey Johnson's iconic looks.
Hurley Steps Down as CEO of Hurley
Manufacturing
Bob Hurley is stepping down as the chief executive officer of Hurley International.
Tuesday, October 6
L.A. Fashion Week: On With The Shows
L.A. Fashion Week
Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring 2016 began on Oct. 5
Sue Wong Opens LA Fashion Week
L.A. Fashion Week
Sue Wong opened Los Angeles Fashion Week with her Oct. 5 runway show at Art Hearts Fashion at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.
Monday, October 5
FBI Gears up for 5th Annual All Aboard
Fashion Business Inc. returns on Oct. 13 to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles for the fifth-annual All Aboard Runway Show and presentation of the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award.
Negotiators Reach Agreement Over the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal
Trade Deal
After eight years of negotiations that took place in various cities around the world, trade negotiators from 11 Pacific Rim countries and the United States finally have agreed to a trade accord that will affect 40 percent of the world’s economy.
Revolve Fights Cancer
Online fashion emporium Revolve put together a capsule collection to raise funds for cancer research and the non-profit Stand Up To Cancer. Called SU2C X Revolve, it takes inspiration from 1970s styles.
Sunday, October 4
American Apparel Focusing on Building New Product
American Apparel
Financial woes throw American Apparel into bankruptcy court.
Friday, October 2
Los Angeles Fashion Week Calendar
Los Angeles Fashion Week events kick off on Oct. 4 and run through Oct. 18 with a lineup that includes 73 events featuring about 100 designers.
Rich Freshman Bespoke: Baby, You’re A Rich, Fresh Man
Meet Rich Freshman Bespoke. The customized clothing service service recently took up residence at The Gents Closet in Hollywood. Rich Freshman, the company's namesake, says that his bespoke suits will make the wearer feel like a rich, fresh, man.
Thursday, October 1
Shafer’s Bluer Than Indigo Takes A Bow
Jeff Shafer is best known as a designer and manufacturer of denim lines Agave and Bluer. On Sept. 30., he produced a grand opening party for the multi-line store Bluer Than Indigo. Sorry Californians, it's located in Portland, Ore.
Bebe to Cut More Than 50 Jobs
Vertical retailer Bebe Stores Inc. announced Oct. 1 that it would cut 50 jobs, mostly from the company’s design, merchandising and production areas.
L’Express Presto To Take Over New Mart Snack Bar
The snack bar at The New Mart showroom building in Los Angeles's Fashion District has been empty since June. But a group was named to remodel the snack bar and give it a new menu.
Vintage Fashion Expo Coming to LA
Fashion
The five-times-a-year event will be in Los Angeles in a few weeks.
Spring ’16—Relaxed, Feminine Chic
Relaxed, Feminine Chic
From ’70s glam to loungewear chic, this Spring will be a decidedly feminine affair.
Factory Direct: Tech & Sourcing Show for Small and Emerging Biz
Factory Direct
Chris Walia had the tables turned on him at Factory Direct, a trade show for technology and sourcing for startups and small businesses.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Reorganizations: Finance Leaders Take a Look at the Months Ahead
Finance
We recently caught up with several finance-industry executives to talk about merger-and-acquisition opportunities and the challenges of balancing a business in the current economic environment.
Textile and Apparel Representative Ida Myers, 88
Textiles
Longtime textile and apparel sales representative Ida Myers died on Sept. 25. She was 88.
Forever 21 Sued by Vendor
Retail
A clothing manufacturer recently filed a breach-of-contract suit against trendy, fast- fashion company Forever 21 Inc. The Los Angeles–headquartered retailer intends to become an $8 billion company by 2017, according to a company statement.
Quarterly Report: Baby Boomer and Millennial Impact Leads the Economic Forecast for LAEDC
Finance
The economy is gearing up for a major shift as the huge baby boomer generation enters retirement and the even larger millennial generation begins taking a greater position in the workforce.
Exhibitor Shuffle at LA Textile Show
LA Textile Show
The layout during the Sept. 28–30 run of the Los Angeles International Textile Show continued to evolve since the California Market Center debuted a newly renovated part of the 13th-floor A-wing last season that eliminated enclosed suites to make room for more open-format booths.
