Thursday, March 31
CFA Scholarship Lunch Set for April 21
Events
The California Fashion Association will present its annual scholarship awards on April 21.
The Festival Line With Rock ‘N’ Roll Collab
It's “festival” season now. Before she makes an appearance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Z Berg, of the band Phases, announced a limited edition fashion collaboration with Christy Dawn, a fashion designer from Los Angeles' Venice Beach.
Design in the Desert
With LA Fashion Week wrapped, the fashion crowd next heads to Palm Springs, Calif., for Fashion Week El Paseo.
Yeba: From Contemporary to Contemporary Activewear
Yeba
Fashion veterans Cedric and Yves Benaroch, the creators of 2B Free clothing, made a mark with Hollywood’s celebrity sensations in early 2001. The heavily graphic loungewear of 2B was a precursor to the debut of their new line, Yeba, which stands for “You’re Everything Beautiful Always,” and exclusively launched on their website in March.
Stony Apparel’s Maiman and Litman Help Raise More than $800,000 for City of Hope
Events
Stony Apparel founders Steve Maiman and Tony Litman received the City of Hope Spirit of Life award on March 12 at an event that raised more than $800,000 for the research and medical center.
Aella: From L.A. E-Tail to a Bloomie’s Pop-up
Aella
Eunice Cho always thought that chic office clothes were uncomfortable and too high maintenance. She wanted bottoms from her Los Angeles women’s fashion line, Aella, to look like slacks but feel like yogawear.
Survey Reveals Clothing Manufacturers Optimistic for Better Spring/Summer Sales
Manufacturing
Apparel and accessories manufacturers are optimistic that retailers will be having a good season in the upcoming months.
Republic Business Credit Taps Fred Gaylord
Finance
Republic Business Credit announced it has hired Fred Gaylord as senior vice president of sales and marketing.
What Consequences Would Raising Tariffs Have on the Apparel Industry?
Finance
In the whirlwind of election-year debates, some politicians have been taking a protectionist attitude and threatening to raise U.S. tariffs and erect trade barriers.
LAMM Crowds Mixed
LA Men's Market
Wind was kicking up outside, but the emphasis was on summer for the LA Men’s Market, which took place March 29–30 on the 10th-floor events space at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Hustler Hollywood Opening in Hollywood
Retail
Hustler Hollywood opening its doors on Hollywood Boulevard soon.
Wednesday, March 30
Planet Blue Opening NY Store in SoHo
Retail
Planet Blue will take its sunkissed, California lifestyle to Manhattan’s urbane SoHo neighborhood.
Tuesday, March 29
Tirnauer Joins Wet Seal as CFO
Retail
Judd P. Tirnauer was appointed to the positions of chief financial officer and executive vice president The Wet Seal LLC, the Irvine, Calif., women’s retailer, which is staging a comeback.
Ex-CEO at Liz Claiborne Named to American Apparel Board
Manufacturing
Nearly two months after emerging from bankruptcy, American Apparel has named three apparel industry veterans to its seven-member board of directors.
COS Setting Up Permanent Store in DTLA
Retail
COS, the higher-end retail chain under the H&M umbrella, is opening in the old Olympic Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Hong Kong to Share in $20.5M Retrieved from Clothing Smuggled Through L.A. Ports
Import/Export
An elaborate scheme that involved bringing in Chinese-made apparel from Hong Kong through Los Angeles ports, allegedly destined for Mexico but ending up in the United States, will result in Hong Kong sharing some of the $20.5 million worth of forfeited assets collected during the investigation.
Monday, March 28
American Rag’s Mark Werts Gets Political
It’s been the topsiest turviest election season in recent memory, and American Rag's Mark Werts has entered the fray.
Friday, March 25
Diane’s Says Get Festivaled
Diane’s Swimwear wants to help you get ready for festival season, which kicks off on April 15 with the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
Betsey Johnson Shows Off Her Spring/Summer Collection
Fashion
Betsey Johnson joins crowd at West Hollywood for a fun-filled and colorful party to debut her Spring/Summer collection.
Thursday, March 24
Maggie Barry’s Indie LA Fashion Week
Maggie Barry is one of Los Angeles’ true independents. She may have received notoriety for her costumes for stars such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. She saves some of her inspirations for the runway every LA Fashion Week.
Blue Jeans Maker Sharing Water-saving Techniques
Manufacturing
Levi Strauss & Co. announced it is making its Water< Less finishing techniques available to the public.
Mario De La Torre's Sophomore Style Fashion Week
Los Angeles’ Mario De La Torre put in a sophomore runway show March 18 at Style Fashion Week in West Hollywood, Calif.
Fall ‘16 Key Denim Directions by Trendstop
Denim Directions
Get a first look at a selection of essential denim trends coming through for Fall ’16 as fashion forecasting agency Trendstop presents a taster of its expert analysis to kick-start the season.
Obituary: Textile Representative April Booth, 67
Textiles
Los Angeles textile-industry veteran April Booth died on March 12 of natural causes at her home in Visalia, Calif.
Hale Bob Opens Direct-to-Consumer Sales After Runway Shows
Hale Bob
The Los Angeles–based Hale Bob label held a fashion show on March 17 at Style Fashion Week in West Hollywood, Calif. But Daniel Bohbot, the label’s founder and owner, announced that he will add a direct-to-consumer element to all of his upcoming fashion shows.
The Need for Speed in Design Development and Creative Collaboration
Industry Focus: Technology
In the second installment of California Apparel News’ Industry Focus: Technology series, Executive Editor Alison A. Nieder spoke with apparel technology executives to find out what’s driving interest in 3-D design technology.
Wednesday, March 23
Tuesday, March 22
Man Who Embezzled From Citizens of Humanity Pleads Guilty
Legal
The man who oversaw a scheme to embezzle $8 million from a commercial laundry house owned by Citizens of Humanity pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Shanghai’s Helen Lee Takes U.S. Bow at Style Fashion Week
“insh” is Helen Lee’s puckish streetwear line headquartered in Shanghai. The words stand for “In Shanghai,” and it celebrates a new fashion sensibility in the megalopolis. Recently Lee developed a ready-to-wear line that was meant to be a sophisticated as her fans in Shanghai, and elsewhere. But Lee vowed she would take every stitch and detail possible to not come across as being dreadfully serious. The self-named line – called Helen Lee, took its first U.S. runway show bow March 19, at Style Fashion Week in West Hollywood, Calif.
Monday, March 21
LAFW Wraps Up at Columbia Square
Fashion
Newly minted Columbia Square proves to be a good spot for LAFW.
Friday, March 18
Van’s 50th – Cake, Music, Shoes!
Vans, headquartered in Cypress, Calif., celebrated its 50th anniversary this week with concerts and parties across the globe this week. Van’s 50th party started in February at high end sneaker stores. Check out the recently released Vans Pro Classics 50th Anniversary Collection and the Vans Vault Checkered Past Collection.
Althouse’s Spring Party
Jennifer Althouse produced a Spring party for her multi-brand women's boutique, Althouse, just a block away from the main drag of the fashion district. Party happened March 15. Take a look
Thursday, March 17
Convert Streamlines Concept
Streamlined Concept
San Francisco Bay Area retailer Convert closed its Berkeley, Calif., shoe store last month and reopened it as a clothing store.
Axis Trade Show Planning L.A. Event in October
Trade Shows
Axis, a lifestyle trade show for millennial women’s brands, is coming to Los Angeles.
PLM Helps Moods of Norway do Biz ‘In Season’
Technology
On runways in Oslo and Los Angeles, the Moods of Norway fashion label has been busy, having displayed looks from its Autumn/Winter 2016/2017 season in the past four weeks.
Italian Denim Mill Candiani Opens L.A. Design Center
Candiani in LA
Designers and denim brand owners turned out to celebrate the opening of the Candiani Los Angeles Design Center on March 16 in downtown Los Angeles.
Rosemary Brantley: Fashion Design Chair at Otis Stepping Down After 35 Years
Fashion
When Rosemary Brantley walked up the stairs in 1980 to the newly established fashion design department at the Otis College of Art and Design, then located near Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park, she found only one office with a single telephone plugged into the corner and four classrooms.
Fall ’16 Market Draws Mixed Reviews
Fall ’16 Market
For some at the recent Los Angeles Fashion Market, it was an opportunity to place Fall 2016 orders. For others, it was a chance to replenish depleted inventory.
Wednesday, March 16
Wet Seal Maps Its Rebound
Retail
New offices, new staff and new merchandise, Wet Seal put its rebound on display.
Kevan Hall's Fashion at the White House
Fashion
Actress Sandra Oh looks stylist at the White House wearing a Kevan Hall creation.
Tuesday, March 15
Shopping=Empowerment
Joie Rucker and Caroline Calvin, the designers of Los Angeles-based brand Calvin Rucker are hosting a sample sale to benefit Girl Up, the United Nationals Foundation’s campaign to help adolescent girls around the world.
Shawmut’s New Look
Shawmut Design & Construction puts its imprint on Rodeo Drive by remodeling flagship stores for retailers such as Tory Burch, Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo among others. Recently, it focused its construction work on itself.
Monday, March 14
Puma’s Blaze of Glory at The Well
Puma invited groups of VIPs and partiers to check out its new Blaze of Glory high end sneaker line on March 11 at The Well, it's a boutique and events space in downtown Los Angeles.
Thursday, March 10
Changing Venues for LA Fashion Week Events
Runway
After six years in downtown Los Angeles, Style Fashion Week is moving its runways to West Hollywood, Calif., said Veronica Welch Kerzner, founder and chief executive officer of the fashion-show producer.
OnePiece to West Third Street
After years of representing its one piece casual wear as well as other items such as sweats on Los Angeles’ Robertson Boulevard, Norwegian brand OnePiece recently moved its L.A. store to the city’s stylish West 3rd Street neighborhood.
The Dreslyn, Citizens of Humanity’s Eatery Collab
Fashion blogs reportedly obsessed over the coats bakers wore at Gjusta – a bakery, deli and café in Los Angeles’ Venice neighborhood. Downtown Los Angeles-e-tailer The Dreslyn partnered with denim brand Citizens of Humanity in a Gjusta project to go beyond bakers’ coats.
Imports Steady as Back-to-School Season Approaches
Import/Export
U.S. cargo-container imports for the first half of this year are expected to be nearly flat over last year as the economy inches along.
Louise Roe for AS by DF Launches With West Hollywood Party
AS by DF Launch Party
To celebrate the launch of a limited-edition capsule collection created by British TV host/personality Louise Roe and AS by DF designer Denise Focil, the two hosted a party at a chic residence in West Hollywood, Calif. Guests stopped by the March 3 event to sip champagne, view the collection and meet the designers.
Label Conscious: Designed in California
Manufacturing
CFA’s trademarked hangtags put the emphasis on country of design.
Single Goes Curvy With Single Plus
Single Goes Curvy
What started as an exclusive for Saks Fifth Avenue has branched into a new collection and a new customer base for Los Angeles label Single.
Showroom Profile: the M Showroom and Michael Bush/LA-Apparel
Showroom Profile
Showroom Profile: the M Showroom and Michael Bush/LA-Apparel
XCVI Movement: Crossover Contemporary
XCVI Movement
Los Angeles–based contemporary label XCVI introduced a new athleisure collection, called XCVI Movement, at the beginning of the year.
Otis Fashion Design Students Create Bicycling Outfits for MTA
Otis for MTA
Last year, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority—which runs the mass transportation systems in Los Angeles County with 2,300 buses and more than 80 rail stations—launched an action plan to go beyond traditional marketing schemes to attract new riders—particularly those young urban dwellers who might be more inclined to ditch their cars.
Blue Jeans Imports by LA Company Challenge Labeling Requirements
Import/Export
In 2010, JBlu Inc., a longtime Los Angeles clothing company, imported some 500,000 pairs of blue jeans from China in 11 shipments through the Port of Long Beach—all headed for retail stores around the country.
True Religion’s App Brings Science Fiction Tech to Retail Reality
Technology
To find True Religion Brand Jeans’ next tech innovation, look no further than its bricks-and-mortar stores.
Wednesday, March 9
Italian Store Opening First U.S. Flagship in Beverly Hills
Retail
A bit of Europe is coming to Beverly Hills.
Tuesday, March 8
Westside Pavilion Shopping Center to Remodel
Retail
Westside Pavilion joins LA shopping centers looking at big update.
Monday, March 7
Beverly Center to Get Multi-Million Renovation
Retail Renovation
Beverly Center, one of Los Angeles’ prominent retail centers, is scheduled to undergo a $500 million renovation.
Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016 Calendar
Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016 Calendar
Saturday, March 5
Style Fashion Week Moving to West Hollywood
Los Angeles Fashion Week
After six years in downtown Los Angeles, Style Fashion Week is moving its runways to West Hollywood, Calif. said Veronica Welch Kerzner, the founder and the chief executive officer of the fashion show producer.
Friday, March 4
Under Armour to Americana
Performance clothing and footwear company Under Armour opened its first branded boutique this week. It’s at Caruso Affiliated’s Americana at Brand retail center in Glendale, Calif.
German Luxury Eyewear Store to DTLA
retail
Mykita to open store near Acne Studios in downtown Los Angeles.
Thursday, March 3
February Sales Mixed
Retail
L Brands—the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, and Henri Bendel—reported a strong February.
Thomas Wylde: L.A. Collection Looks to Build the Brand and the Business
Luxe and LA-based
For 10 years, Thomas Wylde built a reputation as a high-end collection that balanced its luxe pieces—and equally high price points—with a rock ’n’ roll edge.
Factory Direct Returns for 3rd Season With Production Resources for Small and Mid-Sized Companies
Low-MOQ sourcing
Sourcing trade show Factory Direct returned for its third run at The New Mart with a tightly curated mix of factories, design development houses, technology providers, and other resources for small- and mid-sized apparel companies.
Light Traffic, ‘Enthusiastic’ Buyers at LA Textile Show
Scouting for Textiles
The traffic reports were mixed, with some textile mills and representatives saying the last day was busiest at the Los Angeles International Textile Show, held Feb. 29–March 2 on the top floor of the California Market Center.
Obituary: Marik Zeltzer, co-founder XCVI, 70
Manufacturing
Marik Zeltzer, who cofounded the XCVI brand with his wife, Gita, died on Feb. 23 after suffering a heart attack. He was 70 years old.
DTLA Pioneer Daniel Patrick Moving to Crescent Heights
Retail
Before downtown Los Angeles got hip, designer label Daniel Patrick pioneered the neighborhood with a sprawling shop at 1039 S. Broadway, which is a short walk from the main drag of the Los Angeles Fashion District.
ModCloth Ramping Up to Add Stores
Retailing
After operating as an online site for women’s indie apparel, ModCloth is gearing up to add bricks to its clicks-based business model.
Soft Global Trade Keeps Shipping Rates Low
Import/Export
The U.S. dollar will remain strong until the middle of this year, hampering U.S. exports but boosting a wave of imports into U.S. ports.
Wednesday, March 2
Next World Sound – at 101Apparel
In addition to producing one of my favorite hip hop and music shows “Adventures In Stereo,” on KPFK, J.Rocc found time to do some music with Orange County clothing label 101 Apparel.
FBI’s Fashion Next Show & More
Fashion Business Inc has been a flurry of activity this week. It produced seminars and panels at Factory Direct and L.A. Textile shows this week. It also produced the Fashion Next runway show.
After Four-Year PR Battle, Caruso Concedes Defeat in Carlsbad Development Deal
Retail
In a hotly contested special election, voters in Carlsbad, Calif. rejected a retail center proposed by Caruso Affiliated, the developer of the prominent retail centers The Grove and The Americana at Brand. A statement from Rick J. Caruso, the founder of the Los Angeles–headquartered Caruso Affiliated, was released.
Tuesday, March 1
The North Face's Latest Made in California Collection Debuts Today
Manufacturing
The North Face comes to Southern California to make its Backyard Project.
