Thursday, December 28
Thierry Mugler Sketches on Display at FIDM Orange County
Fashion
Exhibit at FIDM Orange County includes sketches and garments.
DTLA Pioneer Sixhundred LA Changes It Up
After almost eight years of pioneering retail in downtown Los Angeles, the Sixhundred LA boutique is changing directions.
Outdoor Voices Opens Shops in San Francisco and LA
Retail
Austin, TX.–headquartered Outdoor Voices has been in a California mood lately.
Alstyle Apparel Closing Distribution Center in Anaheim
Manufacturing
T-shirt and sweatshirt company Alstyle Apparel is shutting down its distribution center in Anaheim, Calif., and laying off 81 employees, according to notices filed with the state Employment Development Department.
Sam Edelman Looks to Los Angeles to Develop New Blue-Jeans Line
Manufacturing
Sam Edelman is known for the cute and fashionable shoes the New York company has been making for more than 10 years.
New California Laws Change Workplace Rules
Manufacturing
Starting off the New Year means getting to know the new laws recently passed by the state Legislature. Most of them go into effect on Jan. 1.
Holiday Rings in Good Sales
Shopping Spree
Shoppers this season did their research before hitting the malls and retail streets such as Rodeo Drive, in Beverly Hills. The result was that holiday sales were the best since 2011.
Acne Studios to Melrose
Retail
Swedish label Acne Studios made headlines in 2013 for placing a risky bet on downtown Los Angeles when it opened a 5,000-square-foot emporium on the corner of Ninth Street and Broadway in the Fashion District.
French Label Ba & Sh Coming to Beverly Hills
Retail
Last fall, Paris-headquartered womenswear brand Ba & Sh opened a handful of boutiques on the East Coast. Now it is getting ready to unveil a new store in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Taking a Cue from James Bond to Design Performance Wear for Professionals
Velocity Suiting
Will 3-D knitting become the wave of the future in apparel manufacturing? A 5-year-old firm in Boston believes so. Since March, the company has been using a Shima Seiki machine positioned at its Boston flagship store to produce custom-knitted blazers.
Getty Heir Takes Retail to Rodeo Drive
Getty Store to Beverly Hills
August Getty first launched his collection of red-carpet gowns and women’s eveningwear with his Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
Wednesday, December 27
Lynette Tyner's Return
Back in Los Angeles, Lynette Tyner conceded that she missed designing clothes. So she put together a capsule collection inspired by the streetwear of her former home city and L.A.
Tuesday, December 26
Paris Baguette Coming to the Fashion District
Retail
Pastry and sandwich cafe coming to the heart of the Los Angeles Fashion District.
Friday, December 22
Hyosung Names New Marketing Director, New U.S-Based Executives
Textiles
New execs at Hyosung in U.S. offices.
Perry Ellis, With a Few California Labels, Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Manufacturing
George Feldenkreis, an immigrant from Cuba, founded Perry Ellis 50 years ago.
Thursday, December 21
Neighborhood Kids Meet Santa and Receive Gifts at the Annual Holiday Party by CFF and TALA
Celebrating the Holiday
The top floor of the Cooper Design Space in Los Angeles was filled with 200 children who met Santa Claus, ate typical kids’ food and celebrated the holidays with gifts.
Year in Review: The Year in Trade Shows
Trade Shows
For San Juan Capistrano, Calif.–based trade-show producer Emerald Expositions, 2017 was an eventful year.
Year in Review: The Retail News of 2017
Retail
The retail realm has seen a dramatic change this year, with more than 6,000 outposts shutting their doors and shopping malls blowing up their footprints to redesign their centers in an effort to appeal to millennial shoppers.
Year in Review in Trade: The Year of Breaking UP and Getting Back Together Again
Import/Export
Some relationships last forever. Others need to be restarted.
Fashion Market Northern California Gets a New Executive Director
Trade Shows
The five-times-a-year Fashion Market Northern California trade show, held at the San Mateo County Event Center, has a new executive director.
CMC Unveils New Trade Show
Trade Shows
At the upcoming Los Angeles Fashion Market in March, the California Market Center is taking the wraps off a new trade show, which will be on the building’s top floor.
Fashion Students Getting Better Tools to Increase Their Tech Skills
Technology
New cloud-based technology is popping up everywhere, and the world of fashion and design is no different.
Apparel Brands and Blockchain: Three Things You Need to Know Right Now
Technology
Just when you thought you were finally starting to have a basic understanding of social media, RFID, Magic Mirrors, Big Data and a plethora of other retail technologies required for today’s connected consumers, along comes a new term—Blockchain.
Raised in Los Angeles Takes Root in Downtown
Raised in Los Angeles
Raised in Los Angeles hopes to build a lifestyle brand starting with a unique logo and an array of T-shirts, hoodies, caps and sweatpants with a different vibe.
Hudson Jeans Going to Canada
Manufacturing
Differential Brands—the Los Angeles company whose labels include Robert Graham, Hudson Jeans and SWIMS—has entered into a partnership with Throat Threads Apparel to relaunch Hudson Jeans in Canada.
Shopping Center Developer Caruso Names a New CFO
Retail
Peter Wilhelm, the recently named chief financial officer of Caruso, has seen his career go from the realm of sports to the world of shopping centers.
MadaLuxe Vault Says It Offers New Kind Of Luxe
Off-Price Luxury
There are two retail sectors outperforming every other category in retail: luxury and off-price.
Turkey’s Calik Denim Shows New Angle on Jeans
Events
Calik Denim has supplied fabric to famous blue-jeans labels such as Joe’s Jeans, Frame, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger and McGuire Denim, but on Dec. 6 the Turkish-based label made its own statement with a gallery show called “Denim Loves Art,” which opened for one night in downtown Los Angeles.
Charlotte Russe Heads for Choppy Waters After Restructuring Debt
Retail
Charlotte Russe, the San Francisco–based teen retailer that got a lifeline by restructuring its debt without filing bankruptcy, is now headed for a tough time as it tries to convince shopping-mall owners to give it a break on store rents.
Wednesday, December 20
Jen Awad’s Rock ‘N’ Roll
Jen Awad showed her eponymous, rock ‘n’ roll style fashion line at past Los Angeles Fashion Weeks and various trade shows. But what we haven’t seen is Jen picking up the microphone or playing a badass guitar riff….until Dec.19.
Monday, December 18
Holiday at Handcrafted LA
Handcrafted LA produced the Holiday edition of its Meet the Makers party on Dec. 15. If you didn't make it, check this out.
Lola Rose Thompson + Gorman Takes A Bow
Aussie fashion brand Gorman opened its first U.S. shop in West Hollywood in July. And just before the year ended, Gorman unveiled a collaboration collection with Los Angeles-based artists Lola Rose Thompson.
The Latest for Bohemian Society’s Victor Wilde: An Art Show
A fashion designer’s toolbox typically includes scissors and sewing machines, but if you are Victor Wilde of the Bohemian Society; shotguns and blowtorches are also in use.
Friday, December 15
Active Raises Funds for Fire Victims
Fires ravaging parts of Southern California recently displaced thousands of people. This weekend, retailer Active is hosting clothing drives and fundraisers to help those displaced by fires.
Allen Schwartz Redesigns Santa Monica Flagship
Retail
A grand relaunch party was held to celebrate the redesign of the Allen Schwartz flagship store in Santa Monica.
Thursday, December 14
CMC Unveils New Trade Show for High-End Brands
A new trade show called Label Array will be held at the California Market Center.
Fashion Students from Los Angeles Trade-Tech Take an Imaginative Journey in Their Designs
Future designers show off
The graduating fashion-design students at Los Angeles Trade-Tech College showed off their creations at the recent Gold Thimble Fashion Show.
2017 Retrospective: China’s Dominance in U.S. Apparel Imports Is Slowly Declining
Import/Export
China’s reign as the apparel powerhouse to the United States continues as sourcing agents find this go-to region a reliable manufacturer of anything related to clothing.
2017 Retrospective: Retailers Starting to Emerge From Their Shells and Look for New Outposts in Los Angeles
Retail
During the first half of the year, retailers were still in a cautious mood and on the fence about setting up new shops on some of Los Angeles’ prime shopping streets.
2017 Retrospective: Higher Minimum Wages Contribute to Loss in Apparel-Factory Employment
Manufacturing
The beginning of the year started on a down note as some 3,500 workers at the American Apparel factory in Los Angeles got pink slips after the company sold its brand name and shuttered its vast factory.
Deborah Belgum Named California Apparel News Executive Editor
News
Apparel News Group Publisher and Chief Executive Terry Martinez has named Senior Editor Deborah Belgum to be the new executive editor of the weekly California Apparel News, effective immediately.
2017 Economic Retrospective
Finance
The stock market is at an all-time high. Unemployment rates have hit rock bottom, and Southern California housing prices have surpassed their all-time high in 2009.
Southern California Retailers Grapple With Damage from Recent Fires
Retail
Retailers in Ventura, Santa Barbara and parts of Los Angeles counties were spared significant property damage from major fires ravaging the areas. However, some had to temporarily close stores and cut business hours due to poor air quality and shoppers not being able to travel.
EYSOM: Riding the New Fitness Wave
High-end Activewear
People told Stan Cheung that no man would pay $180 for a pair of athletic shorts, but the activewear maker begs to differ.
2017 Retrospective: Gap: Growth in Value & Active, L Brands: Tremors from Swim Exit
Retail
Gap Inc. has been on shaky ground in the past, but the company has seen four consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales as executives redefine the retailer’s merchandise and strategies.
2017 Retrospective: Macy’s Faces Changes, Nordstrom Remains Public
Retail
The retirement of Terry J. Lundgren marked the end of a tumultuous year for department-store giant Macy’s Inc.
Net Neutrality Repeal Expected To Drive Up E-Tail Costs
Technology
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to overturn the current “net neutrality” regulations. Opponents of the Dec. 14 vote said it could spell disaster for small businesses that might be charged higher prices to access the Internet.
Haute Healing’s Beauty Drive for Terminally Ill Kids
For the past two years, Haute Healing has presented the gift of glam to terminally ill kids, hospital patients, homeless and disadvantaged youth. Haute Healing is wrapping up a clothing drive for its second annual event at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Dec. 17
Wednesday, December 13
Aaron Levant Goes Foodie
We know Aaron Levant for the Agenda trade show and ComplexCon. Are we ready for Aaron Levant the foodie?
Tuesday, December 12
Taylor Swift Reputation Pop-Up Opens
Taylor Swift’s Reputation tour is scheduled to hit California in May 2018, but for those who want the Taylor experience now, the Reputation pop-up shop has opened at Third Street Promenade
Westfield Shopping Malls Sold to European Entity
Westfield Corp. sold
Westfield Corp. sells off its malls in billion-dollar deal.
Monday, December 11
Beer Savage Clothes for Craft Beers
For years, people knew Tyler Bochenek as the vice president for retail operations of skate/streetwear chain Active, then he unveiled Beer Savage.
Fashion People Making Food To Fight Fires
Eli Pirian of the Baciano company traveled with a group of Los Angeles fashion biz people on Dec. 9 to volunteer for L.A. Kitche
Friday, December 8
Macy’s Lundgren Announces Retirement as Chairman
Retail
Terry Lungren will be stepping down as chairman of the board of Macy's next year as his successor steps in.
A Bit of Ho Ho Ho for the Retail Industry
Retail
Seasonal hiring by retailers hits a healthy level in November.
Thursday, December 7
Surf Expo Adds New Category to Trade Show
Surf Expo Adds New Section
Surf Expo, known for showcasing all kinds of apparel and accessories related to surfing and other water-related sports, is adding a new section called Bluewater.
2017 Newsmaker: After Bankruptcy, Quiksilver Changes Name and Goes on the Offense
2017 Newsmaker
About a year after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Quiksilver Inc., which had been one of the world’s dominant surf brands since the late 1970s, changed its corporate name.
2017 Newsmaker: Frances Harder Starts Fashion For Profit
Fashion News
After 18 years of teaching fashion executives how to make money, Frances Harder turned around and took some of her own advice.
2017 Newsmaker: The Wraps Come Off Westfield’s $1 Billion Revamp of Century City
Retail
An Italian food hall that is packed with customers. A slate of unique stores. Furniture that looks like it should be in an interior designer’s living room.
2017 Newsmaker: After Gordon Bros Bid, Wet Seal Reemerges
Retail
After a tumultuous period of proxy fights and bankruptcies, teen retailer The Wet Seal seemed to be about to call it quits.
2017 Newsmaker: Agenda Seeks New Format for Trade Shows
Trade Shows
The fashion business has gone through major changes, but the basic model for fashion trade shows has not budged, said Aaron Levant, founder of the Agenda trade show and senior vice president of trade-show producer Reed Exhibitions.
2017 Newsmaker: Gerber Technology Brings Ideation Conference to LA
Technology
Gerber Technology has been hosting its user conference in various cities around the country since 1998, but this was the first year the Tolland, Conn.–based maker of apparel equipment and software brought the event to California.
2017 Newsmaker: American Apparel Reaches the End of an Era With Sale to Gildan Activewear of Canada
Manufacturing
The American Apparel brand was born in Los Angeles when Dov Charney set out to make a basic T-shirt manufactured in Los Angeles by workers who received a fair wage and benefits.
2017 Newsmaker: A New Clothing Chapter for Dov Charney, American Apparel Founder
Manufacturing
Irreverent Los Angeles clothing manufacturer Dov Charney picked up this year right where he was decades ago.
2017 Newsmaker: DSTLD Commits to Crowd-Funding and Pop-Up Shops
Retail
Los Angeles–based direct-to-consumer label DSTLD is continuing its brand-building efforts by rolling out a series of pop-up shops across Southern California.
2017 Newsmaker: Hitting the Denim Blues, True Religion Reorganizes After Bankruptcy
Manufacturing
Los Angeles premium-denim companies that sold their expensive dungarees to fashionistas for hundreds of dollars were flying high until a few years ago when many companies saw sales slide precipitously.
2017 Newsmaker: Ilse Metchek, California Fashion Association
Manufacturing
Looking for apparel industry statistics? Call Ilse. Business intelligence? Call Ilse. Advice about the impact of upcoming legislation on apparel manufacturing or trends in domestic versus offshore production? Call Ilse.
2017 Newsmaker: Bebe Closes All Its Stores After Selling Half Its Label
Manufacturing
For decades, Bebe Stores struggled as its losses mounted every year. Top executives came and went but still no solution.
2017 Newsmaker: After Decades on the Contemporary Clothing Scene, BCBGMaxAzria Declares Bankruptcy
Manufacturing
When Max Azria established his BCBGMaxAzria brand in 1989, he was immediately off to the races in the world of women’s contemporary clothing.
Artistic Milliners Introduces Sustainable Indigo Dye Process
Textiles
A dirty secret of the denim business is the amount of water, chemicals and energy it takes to get that classic indigo blue. Pakistan denim mill Artistic Milliners hopes to change that with Crystal Clear, a newly introduced process that the company is calling “the cleanest indigo dyeing process.”
Cone, Lenzing and Unifi Partner for Future Black + Denim With Recycled Materials
Black Recycled Denim
Fiber makers Lenzing and Unifi have teamed up with fabric mill Cone Denim to introduce Future Black+, a denim made with Unifi’s recycled Repreve fibers andLenzing Modal.
Patagonia Sues Trump
Patagonia Inc. joined conservation groups to sue the Trump Administration over its decision to reduce the acreage of Bears Ears national monument in Utah.
Wednesday, December 6
South Coast Plaza's 50th Anniversary Book
The 50th anniversary celebration of South Coast Plaza continues.
UCLA Economists Predict a Healthy 2018 With Clouds on the Horizon
UCLA economists are optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2018 and then see it cooling in 2019.
Monday, December 4
Brooks Bros Parties for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Brooks Bros., a clothier to Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, produced its annual holiday party Dec. 2 at its Rodeo Drive flagship. Beside holiday fun, the aim of party was to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Gudetama Santa Takes a Bow
We’ve seen our share of celebrities while blogging for California Apparel News.
Friday, December 1
Beverly Ctr Unveils Cal Mare
Cal Mare held a debut party on Nov. 30. The star chef driven restaurant is part of Beverly Center's $500 million renovation.
