Friday, September 30
Charting a Block-Printed Path from DTLA to India
Textile Design
Local textile designers Hopie Stockman and Lily Stockman, founders of LA-based Block Shop, take New York Times readers on a textile tour through India.
Thursday, September 29
BCBG Max Azria Downsizing With Big Layoffs
Manufacturing
BCBGMaxAzriaGroup, one of the longest-running contemporary brands in Los Angeles, is laying off 123 people from its company effective Nov. 1, according to filings with the state Employment Development Department.
How Young Republicans and Young Democrats Dress Differently
Fashion
A study shows which clothing brands young Republicans and young Democrats prefer.
PoshFest, an E-Retail Extravaganza, To CMC
PoshFest will touch down at the California Market Center on Oct. 1 and 2. PoshFest will feature seminars on selling on Poshmark, using data on build retail strategies and a keynote address from the brand’s founder Manish Chandra.
Cops Bust Lingerie Thief
Los Angeles Police Department arrested Carlos Olivas Sept. 28, they charged him with burglarizing a string of lingerie boutiques in the San Fernando Valley.
Factory Direct Returns With Focus on Sourcing Opportunities for Small to Mid-sized Companies
Trade Shows
Manufacturers looking for low-minimum sourcing and larger companies looking for domestic sourcing opportunities turned out at the Sept. 26–28 run of Factory Direct at The New Mart in Los Angeles.
LA Textile Show Draw Mix of LA Brands, NY Manufacturers and International Attendees
LA Textile Show
The Sept. 26–28 run of the Los Angeles International Textile Show drew a diverse crowd.
Directives West: S/S ’17 Trends of the Season
Directives West
The key looks for Spring/Summer 2017 got the spotlight treatment when Directives West presented its runway show on Sept. 27 in the California Market Center Fashion Theater during LA Majors Market.
New Off-Price Discount Show Debuts at the California Market Center
Trade Shows
A new trade event that helps vendors get rid of old inventory or overstock got a small start at the same time buyers were flocking to downtown Los Angeles for the LA Majors Market.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Bankruptcies: What’s in the Cards for the apparel and Retail Sectors
Finance
Shoppers are flocking to online sites to snap up purchases while spending more money on dining out and traveling. This has left tried-and-true retailers and manufacturers in a quandary.
Parking Lots Full, At Once Orders at LA Majors Market
LA Majors Market
The Sept. 26–28 Spring ’17 edition of the LA Majors Market ran at the same time as the LA Textile show, and it brought in a crowd to the California Market Center.
Camo, Bomber Jackets Spring ’17 Favorites, Fields Forecasts
Spring ’17 Favorites
Spring ’17 styles might have a feeling of déjà vu since perennially popular looks such as camouflage fabric and distressed jeans will be among the season’s prominent styles.
Wednesday, September 28
JustFab and Betches Blog Form Partnership
Fashion and Technology
The online subscription brand JustFab and the edgy blog known as Betches are getting together.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Predicts Moderate Economic Growth and Rising Housing Prices in California
Quarterly Report
According to the recently released UCLA Anderson Forecast’s quarterly update, the next two years will be pretty much a repeat of the past several years—moderate growth with job gains. But future job gains won’t be quite as robust as in previous years.
Tuesday, September 27
Samsara Collections Takes Runway
Los Angeles indie fashion label Samsara Collections produced a fashion show Sept. 26 called No Body No Mind.
Monday, September 26
Majors Market at California Market Center
Parking lots were full, and lobbies and showrooms seemed crowded as the Majors Market started at the California Market Center showroom building on Sept. 26.
Friday, September 23
Los Angeles Fashion Week Calendar: Spring/Summer 2017
Los Angeles Fashion Week begins on Sept. 26 and is scheduled to run through Oct. 19. The calendar to be updated as events are added and more details are announced.
Thursday, September 22
Several Los Angeles Garment Manufacturers Fined for State Violations
Manufacturing
A two-day raid of Los Angeles–area garment factories resulted in the California Labor Commissioner fining 18 manufacturers and contractors $682,344 for having no workers’ compensation insurance and for garment registration violations.
Style Barre Showroom Debuts
Style Barre Showroom celebrated its debut last week with a party at The Lash club in downtown Los Angeles.
Nordstrom Exec. Changes Bolster Online Biz
Retail
Nordstrom Inc. named Ken Worzel president of Nordstrom.com in an effort to strengthen Nordstrom’s online and m-commerce business.
Between-Market format Works for Growing Region Trade Show The OC Mix
Trade Shows
Providing a relaxed environment for regional contemporary brands and buyers, the OC.Mix Show saw a continued upswing in growth for its third edition, held Sept. 13–14 at the Irvine, Calif., headquarters of organizer Z Supply.
Port of Long Beach Names New Interim Director
Import/Export
The Port of Long Beach is looking for a new chief executive after Jon Slangerup resigned on Sept. 8 to become chairman and chief executive of an aviation technology company in Canada.
What’s at Stake if a Designer’s Name is Part of the Label?
Manufacturing
The name game can be a financially dangerous game played by designers every time they create a new label.
TukaTech Takes CAD to the Cloud
Technology
Los Angeles–based equipment and software solutions provider Tukatech has introduced Tukacad Professional Edition on the Cloud, a computer-aided pattern making, grading and marker software solution that allows users to begin working with the program as soon as they subscribe.
CCA Names John Bauernfeind Chair of the Fashion Design Program
Fashion
John Bauernfeind has joined the California College of the Arts as the chair of the Bay Area college’s Fashion Design Program.
Brazilian Mill Kalimo Opens in DTLA
Kalimo Opens in DTLA
After a successful run at the Los Angeles International Textile Show last March, Brazilian mill Kalimo opened a permanent showroom in downtown Los Angeles.
Retail Industry Focus: Southern California Retail’s New Streets
Retail’s New Streets
Even in a challenging retail market, opportunity knocks for Los Angeles’ shop owners. Entrepreneurs continue to open in the megalopolis’s established retail neighborhoods, but they’re also pioneering newer enclaves.
Chief Executive Paula Schneider Exiting American Apparel
Manufacturing
After a tumultuous two-year ride as chief executive of American Apparel, Paula Schneider will be leaving the company on Oct. 3, sources said.
Heidi Merrick Opening Store in DTLA
Retail
Designer Heidi Merrick steps out to explore the retail world.
Wednesday, September 21
Tuesday, September 20
Pantone Unveils a Palette of Colors for Spring 2017
Fashion
Looking on the bright side of Spring 2017 fashion.
Monday, September 19
Celebrating Textiles in NY
The newly launched New York Textile Month celebrates the textile research and design process, as well the environmental impact of the textile production process.
Earl Sweatshirt at Space15 Twenty’s UO
Earl Sweatshirt performed at the Urban Outfitters at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood, and who do you think showed up?
Friday, September 16
Mr. De La Torre Goes to N.Y.
Mario De La Torre has been showing his self-named line at Los Angeles Fashion Week since 2014. But Manhattan’s fashion crowd saw the 1970s accented Mario De La Torre line Sept. 9 at the Style Week runway shows New York’s Fashion Week.
Thursday, September 15
Zanerobe Goes Hip Hop
Australian-founded brand Zanerobe started its Los Angeles pop-up shop with a hip hop beat.
Italian-American Fashion Collaboration
Events
Los Angeles designer Mike Vensel presented a “tableaux vivants” fashion installation at a recent event at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles’ Westwood neighborhood.
Ships from China and Vietnam Add Route to Port of Oakland
Import/Export
Starting in November, three Asian shipping lines will be establishing routes from Asia to the Port of Oakland.
Ex-CBP Apparel and Textiles Chief Janet Labuda Hired at FormerFedsGroup
Import/Export
For years, Janet Labuda was known as the government’s top dog when it came to enforcing apparel and textile import laws and finding counterfeit goods.
Milano Unica Bows in New Location, Eyes Possible Date Change in 2017
Milano Unica
Exhibitors and attendees at the Sept. 6–8 run of Italian textile trade show Milano Unica were pleased with the show’s new location at Fiera Milano Rho, the massive convention-center complex located on the outskirts of Milan.
Combatant Gentlemen Pops at Bloomies
Combatant Gentlemen
Internet suit shop Combatant Gentlemen is exploring all types of bricks-and-mortar.
Retail Weakness Results in Layoffs at Major Los Angeles Contemporary Brands
Manufacturing
High-end Los Angeles labels that have strong brand recognition are going through troubled times.
Attendance Up At Surf Expo
Trade Shows
The surfing life has always been about the endless summer. However, the most recent run of the Surf Expo trade show, held Sept. 8–10 in Orlando, Fla., was the place to unveil Summer ’17 looks for action-sports and beach-lifestyle brands, such as Lira, headquartered in Anaheim, Calif.
Hanjin Shipping Bankruptcy Creating Chassis Problems at LA Ports
Import/Export
Cargo-container ships owned by bankrupt Hanjin Shipping have been arriving at the Long Beach/Los Angeles port complex this week after a U.S. bankruptcy judge cleared the way for vessels to dock without being seized by creditors.
True Religion x Russell Westbrook
True Religion and pro-basketball player Russell Westbrook are preparing to release their latest fashion collab.
Wednesday, September 14
Indonesian Inspiration
Jakarta-born designer Anniesa Hasibuan took inspiration from her birthplace for her latest collection, shown on Sept. 12 at New York Fashion Week.
Tuesday, September 13
Alitalia’s New Look
Alitalia recently unveiled new uniforms designed by Milan-based haute couturier Ettore Bilotta.
RVCA, Tokidoki Close Fairfax Area Shops
After 6-year-runs, RVCA and Tokidoki are closing their Fairfax Avenue shops in Los Angeles.
Torrid Debuts Its "Empire" Collection
Fashion
Styles that would be worn by the women on "Empire" make a splash at large-size retailer Torrid.
Monday, September 12
FIDM Students Create Visual Displays at 99 Cents Only Store
Retail
Using items bought at the store, FIDM students use their imagination to create visual displays.
Friday, September 9
Hanjin Shipping Files Legal Papers to Help Unload Cargo at LA Ports
Cargo containers stuck on Hanjin Shipping Co. vessels anchored beyond the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could be unloaded soon.
New Owners Laying Off 65 Employees at 7 For All Mankind, Ella Moss and Splendid
7 For All Mankind will be moving in with Ella Moss and Splendid.
Beverly Center Shows A Little Skirt
Beverly Center recently unveiled Girl Lifting Skirt 2 by Geoff McFetridge. It’s a 70-foot tall art piece of a woman lifting her skirts.
Thursday, September 8
NYFW Trends Have a California Feeling
NYFW Trends
With a flurry of runway shows in line for New York Fashion Week, don’t be surprised if you see a bit of California on the catwalk.
Hippe BeachBum: Life of the Beach Party
Hippe BeachBum
Beaches and beach lifestyle are geared toward fun, said designer Norma Morrow, and someone needed to inject more of a sense of fun into the scene.
Goodbye Skinny Jeans
Last month no less a fashion authority than GQ dropped the bomb on skinny jeans. They’re over, kaput, finito.
Spring/Summer ’17 Womenswear Color on the Catwalks by Trendstop
Trends
Saturated shades create statement styles. Global fashion forecasting agency Trendstop presents the lowdown on the major color trends and key applications emerging at the Spring/Summer ’17 Resort collections.
U.S. Dyehouse Start-Up Sets Sights on Technical Textile Market
Made In America
Saco River Dyehouse, a startup company formed in Biddeford, Maine, four years ago to dye yarn skeins for the home knitting industry, has moved into a new facility and has invested heavily in new equipment as it broadens into assorted technical textiles markets.
AIMS 360 Now Offers Shopify Integration
Technology
Los Angeles apparel-industry software provider AIMS 360 has integrated e-commerce platform Shopify into its ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution to help facilitate e-commerce operations.
Levi Strauss Names New Global and Supply Chain Executives
Manufacturing
Levi Strauss & Co., the San Francisco company known for its rugged denim, has promoted two executives to new posts.
PacSun Sheds Bankruptcy, Emerging as a Private Company
Retail
Five months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Pacific Sunwear of California has been acquired by a San Francisco private-equity investment firm.
Expanded Broadway Plaza Shopping Center Officially Reopens
Retail
After years of renovation and expansion, Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, Calif., officially reopened with 90 percent of its space leased.
Activewear: Finding the Spirit in Spiritual Gangster
Manufacturing
Former yoga instructors Vanessa and Ian Lopatin are teaching what they preach through yogawear.
CALA Show Sees Upswing in Retailers in San Francisco
Trade Shows
For Kenny Gandalfo, the San Francisco Bay Area trade show CALA was busy. He saw 24 accounts in two days at the most recent Aug. 30–31 run of the event.
Arsonist Suspected in Gap Distribution Center Fire
Retail
After one of Gap Inc.’s largest distribution centers was severely damaged by fire, the company was scrambling to fill online orders and get merchandise on store shelves in its Northeast territory.
Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership Dead on Arrival?
Import/Export
With all the political rhetoric flying during an election year, apparel and textile experts are wondering whether the Trans-Pacific Partnership has any chance of being approved by Congress before a new president takes office in January.
The Great Outdoors Sets Up Camp in LA’s Arts District
Retail
While contemporary and designer boutiques are finding new homes in downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, retailer Gene Han is gambling that the bohemian enclave will embrace a new style of high-end camping.
Back-To-School Might Go On…and On
Back-To-School
The back-to-school season is considered a crucial time for many retailers. For teen retailers, it can make up more than 41 percent of sales for the third quarter, according to Adrienne Yih Tennant, a Wall Street analyst.
Wednesday, September 7
PacSun Sheds Bankruptcy, Emerging as a Private Company
PacSun to move forward as a private company.
Tuesday, September 6
Monday, September 5
New Sizes for JustFab
El Segunda, Calif.–based e-commerce subscription site JustFab is launching an “all size” campaign featuring model Candice Huffine to promote its new extended sizes.
Thursday, September 1
August Business Tough for Many
Retail
August is considered one of the crucial months for the Back-to-School season, and it was tough for many retailers.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Partners With Make-A-Wish for Benefit Runway Show
Events
Los Angeles label BCBGMAXAZRIA fulfilled a lot of runway dreams at an Aug. 24 benefit for the Los Angeles chapter of Make-A-Wish at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.
Hanjin Shipping Bankruptcy Causes Havoc at LA Ports
Import/Export
Importers trying to extract merchandise from Hanjin Shipping Co. vessels docked at LA’s two ports were being told to pay $400 to $800 extra to retrieve their containers.
Thousands of Fake Ferragamo Shoes Seized at LA Ports
Import/Export
Nearly 8,000 pairs of shoes bearing fake “Salvatore Ferragamo” labels recently were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Gerber Technology Shares Sold to American Industrial Partners
Technology
San Francisco–based private-equity firm Vector Capital has sold its shares in software and equipment maker Gerber Technology to American Industrial Partners for an undisclosed amount.
Mahoney named CEO at Manhattan Beachwear
Manufacturing
Manhattan Beachwear named Kevin F. Mahoney chief executive officer of the Cypress, Calif.–based company.
Beer Named Western Regional Sales Manager at CIT
Finance
The CIT Group Inc. named Darrin Beer Western regional sales and portfolio manager for the company, replacing Mitch Cohen, who has retired.
Courtney Allegra Opens on Melrose
Courtney Allegra
Courtney Allegra started showing her self-named line as a 15 year old showing her collection at LA Fashion Week events and later, in July, at Miami’s Funkshion runway shows.
Skingraft Celebrates 10th Year With Fashion Performance in DTLA
10 Years of Skingraft
In recent years, Los Angeles label Skingraft has been showing its men’s and women’s collections at New York Fashion Week. But to celebrate the label’s 10th anniversary, designer Jonny Cota and his brother and company cofounder, Christopher Cota, hosted a fashion show and party in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 26.
Thursday Finest: Tapping Into 3D for Made-in-America Fashions
Manufacturing
A Brooklyn, N.Y.–based husband-and-wife team is seeking to disrupt the traditional business model for textile and apparel manufacturing with a startup company that produces neckties, socks and scarves on a custom-order basis using the latest 3-D knitting technology.
Loyal Retailers Shop the FMNC Show in Northern California
Trade Shows
The show floor at the Aug. 21–23 run of Fashion Market Northern California was not as full as the April and October events, but exhibitors said a faithful following of Northern California retailers shopped the floor and placed orders at the event, held at the San Mateo Event Center
Forever 21 Sues Brandy Melville for Copyright Infringement
Legal
In the world of copyright lawsuits, the tables have turned with Forever 21 stepping up to sue a fellow teen retailer for allegedly knocking off a fabric print that Forever 21 said it copyrighted nearly two years ago.
QVC: Living Large With First West Coast Distribution Center
QVC
Everything about QVC Inc.’s first West Coast distribution center in Ontario, Calif., seems big.
Bundle Up Like Beckham
Columbia Sportswear has teamed up with British soccer—ahem, football—team Manchester United to launch a line of outerwear designed for Man U fans around the world.
