Wednesday, August 31
Suit Up LA Galaxy
It may not be the best season for the LA Galaxy soccer team, but they are gonna look good!
Tuesday, August 30
Nickleodeon's, Junk Food’s ‘90s Worship
‘90s looks are back in. Nickleodeon will unveil a T-shirt capsule collection bearing its logos and characters from its '90s hits at the Junk Food Clothing flagship on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Venice enclave on Aug. 30.
Record For Rodeo Real Estate
The House of Bijan building, located at 420 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills, Calif., was purchased for $122 million recently,
Monday, August 29
Friday, August 26
Satine Posts Going Out of Biz Signs
When Satine opened 13-years ago on Los Angeles’ fashion thoroughfare West Third Street, it made an immediate splash. Unfortunately, looks like the run is over.
Thursday, August 25
Guess Sees Nearly Flat Second-Quarter Revenues
Retail
Guess, the Los Angeles company known for its sexy clothes and even sexier ads, reported a slight decline in its second-quarter revenues for fiscal 2017 as tourist traffic to stores dipped in the United States.
Nordstrom Brings New Concept to LA Store
Retail
One year ago, Nordstrom launched a new in-store boutique called Space. The idea was to feature emerging and advanced designers and labels such as Simone Rocha, Vetements, Comme des Garçons, Ellery and Undercover.
Elyse Walker Opens Orange County Shop
Elyse Walker
Los Angeles retailer Elyse Walker has a new address.
Pooltradeshow: Show Floor Becomes Eclectic
Trade Shows
More than a decade ago, Pooltradeshow started as a venue for new brands to gain a toehold in fashion, and during its most recent run at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Aug. 15–17 in Las Vegas it remained as a place for brands making their first run as well as those with eclectic style ideas.
WWIN Brings in Buyers From Across the Country
Trade Shows
About 2,200 stores showed up for the Aug. 15–18 run of the Women’s Wear In Nevada show in Las Vegas, down some 5 percent from one year ago.
Offprice Sees Exhibitor Count Off
Trade Shows
Booths at the Offprice Show in Las Vegas were selling merchandise at a bargain—designer sweaters for $7 and up and leggings for $2.50.
Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against Zara for Allegedly Overcharging U.S. Shoppers
Legal
Walk into a Zara store in the United States and you will find that the price tags on the clothes are marked in euros, the currency for the European Union, with a sticker placed over it with the price in U.S. dollars.
Sourcing at MAGIC Dominated by China
Trade Shows
The vast Las Vegas Convention Center looked like the United Nations when the Sourcing at MAGIC show came to town Aug.
Los Angeles Manufacturers Pack WWDMAGIC
Trade Shows
Boho chic was still a much sought-after look at the recent WWDMAGIC show, held Aug. 15–17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Project: Business Good: Traffic Even, Vendors Say
Trade Shows
For Eric Martin, the most recent run of Project, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, was highly profitable.
Debuts at Capsule
Trade Shows
After more than a decade of exhibiting at Pooltradeshow, Freddie Rojas moved to Capsule and made his debut at the high-end show for independent and progressive designers. The show ran at The Venetian ballroom Aug. 15–17 in Las Vegas.
Reaction To Liberty Traffic Mixed
Trade Shows
This year’s announcements that top retailers such as Nordstrom Inc. and Macy’s Inc. would close stores gave the fashion industry little to cheer about, and Ben De Luca went to Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs feeling nervous for the show’s Aug. 15–17 run at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
Cotton Citizen Opens on Melrose Place
Cotton Citizen
Just off of luxury shopping street Melrose Place in West Hollywood, Calif., high-end T-shirt brand Cotton Citizen is putting down its stake in the retail market.
Agenda: 1990s Inspiration
Trade Shows
Hip-hop star 2 Chainz was being followed by a coterie of camera people and fans when he settled at his booth at the Agenda trade show in Las Vegas, which ran Aug. 15–17 at the Sands Expo.
MRket, Stitch and Accessories the Show Bow in New Locations
Trade Shows
The recent Aug. 15–17 run of MRket, Stitch and Accessories the Show was the first since the three shows were purchased by MAGIC and Project parent UBM and the first in its new Las Vegas location—the Mandalay Bay Convention Center—after almost 10 years at the Sands Expo.
Curve Relocates to Mandalay Bay
Trade Shows
This season, Curve at MAGIC became Curve at Project as the upscale lingerie and swimwear trade show moved to a new space alongside Project Womens at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center after two seasons at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Project Womens: Following the Flow of Traffic
Trade Shows
Traffic reports at Project Womens were difficult to read. Some said opening day at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center was sluggish but added that they still worked with major retailers.
Scouting the Show Floor in Las Vegas
Scouting the Show Floor
At the recent Las Vegas trade shows, it was clear that menswear continues to evolve for Spring 2017 with a more-relaxed, make-it-your-own aesthetic that continued through from sportswear to the more tailored collections.
Vegas is a One-Stop Shop—Spread Out Across Multiple Categories and Venues
Trade Shows
The recent Las Vegas apparel, accessories and sourcing trade shows offered a comprehensive overview of the apparel market for buyers who zipped between the many shows and venues.
Wednesday, August 24
UGG Kicks Off New Fall Collection with Hailey Baldwin
Fashion
Ugg boots has a new classic street collection on the street.
Nick Verreos’ Fashion By the Book
Looking for advice, insight and a little gossip about the fashion industry? You are in luck. Nick Verreos—fashion designer, red carpet commentator, former fashion design instructor and “Project Runway” contestant—is here to help.
Tuesday, August 23
Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against Zara for Allegedly Overcharging U.S. Shoppers
A Los Angeles consumer has filed a $5 million-plus class-action lawsuit against Spanish retailer giant Zara maintaining that U.S. consumers are being charged incorrectly for Zara merchandise priced in euros.
Monday, August 22
Verdad Heading to NY
Louis Verdad is heading to New York to host a fashion installation at New York Fashion Week featuring the launch of his new Verdad collection.
Me.n.u Pops In Beverly Hills
Last week kids contemporary brand me.n.u opened a Beverly Hills pop-up shop.
Friday, August 19
Ugg, Pendleton Celebrate U.S. National Parks’ 100ths
This year is the 100th anniversary of America’s National Park Service. To celebrate, Ugg has teamed up with Pendleton Woolen Mills to create a men’s and women’s footwear collection featuring Uggs stylings and Pendleton’s National Park Stripe design.
Skechers Skips Over to One World Trade
The latest brand to join the shopping district at New York’s One World Trade Center is Manhattan Beach, Calif.–based footwear label Skechers USA.
Objects Without Meaning’s 1st Store
Objects Without Meaning. You have to take notice of the name. The L.A. based line opened its first pop-up shop Aug. 18.
Warm and Fuzzy Side of Sourcing at MAGIC
International
Chinese girl sells stuffed animals to raise money to send poor girls to elementary school.
Thursday, August 18
Mawjee Joining Sole Technology
Manufacturing
Sole Technology Inc., the Orange County, Calif., manufacturer of action-sports footwear and apparel for brands such as Etnies, Altamont, És, Emerica and ThirtyTwo recently named Esmail Mawjee as the interim president of the 30-year-old company.
American Apparel Up for Sale and Eying Production Facilities Outside of California
Retail
American Apparel has a “For Sale” sign up just six months after exiting bankruptcy, according to sources close to the company.
Waterman’s Ball Goes Informal
Waterman’s Ball
The venerable Waterman’s Ball has been the backdrop to a wild style of surf looks for much of its 26-year history. But in 2016, it changed venues and took on an informal look.
Trends are High at Swim Collective
Trade Shows
Swim Collective returned to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif., for an Aug. 8–10 run that drew a sizeable crowd and an expanded exhibitor base.
Active Collective Sees 25 Percent Increase in Attendance
Active Collective
Active Collective had its “most successful show to date” with a 25 percent increase in buyer attendance and 20 percent more resources than ever before at the Aug. 11–12 edition at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif., according to Shannon Leggett, executive show director.
Apolis Heads to New York
Retail
Los Angeles–headquartered Apolis Holdings LLC helped pioneer the city’s Arts District, where it opened a flagship in 2011.
Kitson’s Fraser Ross Sues Former Business Partner
Legal
In 2011, Fraser Ross hired Chris Lee to turn the Kitson chain of boutiques into a global brand.
Buyers Navigate a Shuffled Trade Show Lineup in Las Vegas Shows
Vegas Trade Shows
Buyers returned to Las Vegas to find a newly shuffled layout during the Aug. 15-18 run of the apparel, accessories and sourcing trade shows.
Wednesday, August 17
Rock Style a la John Varvatos X GNR
Maybe it was you cheering your lungs out when Guns N’ Roses performed their hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle” in 1987. OK, if it wasn’t you, John Varvatos will give you a chance to look like you were at there at the beginning.
Messe Frankfurt Launching Upscale Off-Price Trade Show in New York in 2017
Trade Shows
New off-price show in New York will keep up for shoppers' demands for cheaper items.
Monday, August 15
The Hundreds’ Boys Get Into Restaurant Biz
Ah, to be young, talented…and to be branching out into new gigs.
Friday, August 12
Exchange a T-shirt, Change the World
Sustainable Business
Beyond the Label is hoping to turn an exchange into lasting change. The organization, founded by Taryn Hipwell, an educator and chief executive officer of EcoDivas, hosts a series of TEDx LA events and social experiments “dedicated to shifting awareness of sustainable fashion in Los Angeles and beyond.”
West Coast Longshore Workers Agree to Talk About a Contract Extension
Import/Export
With the goal of keeping the West Coast ports from being hit with another labor snafu down the road, longshore workers and their port employers have agreed to discuss extending the current labor contract that ends in 2019.
Macy's: Welcome Visitor!
Aug.11 was a tough day for Macy's Inc. However, there was some good news too.
American Rag Parties For The Brand & The Book
Sometimes you have to make up a good reason to have a party. In the case of a big gathering Aug. 10 at American Rag Cie in Los Angeles, there were a couple of good reasons.
Emerald Expositions Buys Swim Collective, Active Collective Trade Shows
Trade Shows
Swim Collective and its sister trade show, Active Collective, have a new owner. Emerald Expositions LLC, the San Juan Capistrano, Calif.–based owner of Surf Expo and Outdoor Retailer, has purchased the Santa Barbara, Calif.–based show for an undisclosed amount from Shannon Leggett, the founder of Swim Collective and Active Collective.
Thursday, August 11
Robert Talbott Opening Stores
Retail
Suiting and lifestyle brand Robert Talbott recently announced that it would open two new boutiques, one in Manhattan and the other at The Shops in Buckhead in Atlanta.
Sky High Rescue by Helicopter in LA's Fashion District
Flying Fire Dept.
Los Angeles Fire Department sends a helicopter to rescue a worker atop a crane in downtown LA's Fashion District.
July Sales Slow
Retail
Searching for Pokémon Go creatures may have lured some potential shoppers into stores last month, but it probably didn’t translate into sales, said Wall Street analysts such as Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics Inc.
Industry Voices: Can Sustainability Be Sexy?
Manufacturing
With consumers not prepared to pay a premium for more-ethical goods and services, what does the industry have to do?
Industry Voices: Avoiding A Writ of Attachment: A Buyer’s Guide to Rejecting Non-conforming Goods
Legal
The formidable Writ of Attachment is a popular tool among plaintiffs in California collection actions. A Writ of Attachment allows a plaintiff to turn its unsecured claim into a secured one by placing a judicial lien on the defendant’s assets—even before the case goes to trial.
Departed: Edgy and Elegant Menswear
Edgy and Elegant
Departed is bringing a sexy sophistication to menswear—with an edge.
Keeping It Local: JS Apparel Has Weathered Foreign Competition and Now Tackles California’s Rising Minimum Wage
Manufacturing
For years, JS Apparel was known primarily for its knit T-shirts, which currently wholesale for $9 to $15. It was the go-to factory for American Apparel when the T-shirt giant was swamped with orders. But the factory, located in Carson, Calif., south of Los Angeles, has decided it can’t survive on T-shirts alone.
American Rootswear: Tapping Into the Made-in-America Movement
Manufacturing
Although Ben Waxman grew up in a family involved in New England’s woolen fabric business, he never figured on making a living in textiles. But after a career in politics and working with labor unions, that is exactly what he is doing in his hometown of Portland, Maine.
Sensoria: Fitness Tracking Meets Smart Garments
Manufacturing
The founders of Sensoria Inc. believe that clothing can be the next wave of “ultra-personal computing” and have created a collection of apparel featuring embedded sensors that connect to an app that tracks data such as activity type, heart rate, gait and in-footwear pressure to the user.
Raffi: Art Meets Tee
Art Meets Tee
Most buyers know Raffi Mauleon from his 15 years as vice president of sales and merchandising for Los Angeles collection Citron, but the designer’s career has also included working with West Coast labels Sue Wong, L. Bates and Product by Elaine Kim.
On and Off the Court With P.E Nation
Manufacturing
Australian-born activewear brand P.E Nation was conceived as a performance line that can translate into any lifestyle. The athleisure line launched in March in Australia and recently made its U.S. debut with its third collection, titled “All Sports.”
Color, Fabric Treatments and Paying it Forward at the West Coast Trend Show
West Coast Trend
Menswear buyers were inspired by color, new fabric treatments and a sense of a “higher purpose” at the Spring ’17 West Coast Trend Show menswear market in Los Angeles.
Jeanologia Touts ‘One Glass, One Garment’ at Sourcing at MAGIC
Textiles
At the Aug. 14–17 run of Sourcing at MAGIC, Spanish laser-finishing company Jeanologia discusses sustainable solutions for denim makers, including the “one glass, one garment” process.
Jimtex and Denim North America Team Up to Launch Sustainable Denim Using Recycled Cotton
Textiles
Denim North America and Jimtex Yarns, a division of Martex Fiber Southern Corp., have teamed up to launch a new sustainable denim collection called R3 Denim.
Goldschmied to Discuss Denim Innovation at Project
Trade Shows
Denim designer Adriano Goldschmied is discussing the “past, present and future of denim” at an event titled “Adriano Goldschmied Unthreaded” during the Aug. 15–17 run of the Project trade show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Macy’s to Close 100 Stores and Look at its Real Estate Portfolio for Redevelopment
Retail
Among the 100 stores that Macy’s said it will be closing is the Macy’s Men’s store near Union Square in San Francisco.
Long-Time LA Garment Manufacturer Charged With Hiding Income at Israeli Banks to Avoid Paying Taxes
Legal
Masud Sarshar, known for taking an ordinary workwear brand and converting it into a colorful array of pants called Dickies Girl, has been charged by the federal government with hiding more than $21 million in income in Israeli banks and avoiding U.S. taxes on it.
Independent Designers Fight for Market Space
Independent Designers
The Great Recession and its slow recovery generally were blamed for wiping out a generation of independent designers.
Gen Art’s Fresh Faces Comeback
Fresh Faces
After a three-year absence from LA’s runways, Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion program raised the standard for mostly men’s styles Aug. 4 at Willow Studios, located in a gentrifying but still tough-looking section of the Los Angeles Arts District.
Wednesday, August 10
Italian brand Subdued in Santa Monica
After years of building a fleet of stores in Europe, Subdued, an Italian line of clothes for juniors, opened its first U.S. store. It’s in Santa Monica, Calif. Take a look
Burlington Expanding Downtown LA Store
Retail
Burlington Coat Factory takes over part of the St. Vincent Jewelry Center to add on to downtown LA store.
Tuesday, August 9
Groupon: Get Your Fitness On
Plenty of people have scored a steal on yoga classes and fitness bands on Groupon. Now the online deal site is expanding its reach into your fitness regimen with the launch of its own private-label activewear brand.
Monday, August 8
Friday, August 5
FIDM and Outlander's Terry Dresbach on Creating Characters
FIDM's 10th Annual Art of Television Costume Design exhibition
FIDM, which recently opened it Art of Television Costume Design exhibition with Emmy-nominated costumes from Game of Thrones, American Horror Story: Hotel, Downton Abbey, Roots, Transparent and Outlander, recently hosted a talk with Outlander costume designer Terry Dresbach.
Thursday, August 4
Reshaping Retail
Store Of The Future
Everything about stores—from design to strategies for attracting shoppers to organizing inventory—has gone through major changes in the past decade.
Bailey44 Opens First Store
Retail
Los Angeles contemporary brand Bailey44 made the leap to retail with the opening of its first flagship store in the new Lido Marina Village complex in Newport Beach, Calif.
Off 5th Comes to the San Fernando Valley
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th opens third Los Angeles County store.
The Hundreds Goes Workwear
Inspired by traditional workwear, Los Angeles headquartered streetwear brand The Hundreds released its Fall 2016 collection today.
South of the Equator
Resort '17
South American vacation destinations inspire the look for Resort 2017.
Spring/Summer ’17-18 Essential Swimwear Silhouettes by Trendstop
Essential Swimwear
Global fashion-forecasting agency Trendstop gave us its expert lowdown into the major swimwear trends for Spring/Summer ’17–’18—from key silhouettes to fabrics and finishes.
Terrot’s New Corizon Machine Combines Spinning and Knitting to Save Time, Money and Energy
Technology
Members of the U.S. apparel industry turned out recently at a demonstration of a new machine that combines the functions of a spinning machine and a knitting machine.
Cotton Prices Rising as India Overtakes China as Largest Cotton Producer
Textiles
Cotton prices are on the rise after holding steady for the last few years.
Levi Strauss Awards Fellowships to 10 Textiles-Industry Entrepreneurs to Further Their Approach to Sustainability
Manufacturing
Blue-jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. is putting its pocketbook behind an effort to make fabric and apparel production more environmentally friendly and socially aware.
College Students Will Be Using Mobile Phones to Check Out Deals for Back-to-School Items
Retail
College students returning to school this fall are looking for bargains, and retailers that provide deals will do better than those who don’t, according to a recent survey by the accounting firm Deloitte LLP.
Making the Most of a Quiet LA Market
LA Market
The recent Los Angeles Fashion Market for Holiday/Resort 2017 appeared to be dead on arrival, but signs of life existed.
FCI’s Fashion Culture Fall ’16 Show
Fashion Culture
A sexy tribute to music star Prince’s often-risqué vision followed a fashion collection inspired by religious modesty.
Tuesday, August 2
K-Swiss Moving Headquarters to Historic Downtown Los Angeles
After many years in Westlake Village, K-Swiss is making a big move to DTLA.
Monday, August 1
Food Trucks to CMC
Food trucks have been the Los Angeles culinary craze for a few years, now they’ve parked at the California Market Center.
Supra Pops With Art And Sneakers
He used to skateboard on it. Now he looks at it as prime art material.
