Monday, April 30
Theory and Vans To Open in DTLA This Fall
More brands are betting on downtown Los Angeles. Theory and Vans are slated to open stores in the neighborhood by Fall.
How Millennial Parents Shop Differently Than Other Generations
Millennial parents adapt new methods when shopping for their families.
Surf Is Dead Pops at Bodega
Surf Is Dead started more than one year ago to tweek surfwear back to its rebellious, experimental spirit. Recently, it unveiled a pop-up at Bodega in Row DTLA in Los Angeles.
Friday, April 27
An Evening With Peter Greco in DTLA
Parties
This past Saturday was the opening exhibit for Peter Greco’s “letter&line” series.
The Works of the ArtCenter Grad Show
The imaging and photography department showed off their work at a "Speed Dating" event.
Thursday, April 26
Upcycle Stands Up for Sustainable Manufacturing
Reduce. Reuse. Upcycle.
After 16 years at American Apparel, Tabitha Vogelsong and John Chung were on a mission to create a responsible apparel brand.
Mountain Hardwear Names New Marketing Director
Manufacturing
Mountain Hardwear, the Northern California outdoors wear company owned by Columbia Sportswear, has named a new head of marketing.
Guess? Inc. Joins the Movement to Make Better Denim Jeans for the Environment
Manufacturing
As an apparel brand whose denim products represent 20 percent to 25 percent of its business, Guess? Inc. hopes to reduce the environmental threats that often result from making its jeans.
New Hire at SPESA as Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America Plan Events
Trade Shows
The Raleigh, N.C.–based Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) has hired Michael McDonald, the former manager of government relations for the American Apparel & Footwear Association, as its new executive director, a position he assumed March 15.
Bebe Selling Its Main Office in Los Angeles
Retail
Long-time retailer Bebe, which was based in Northern California but had a major presence in Los Angeles, said it is selling its main LA office building for $28.5 million.
Coachella Spawns Tons of Parties and Fashion
Coachella Cool
What would the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival be without a flood of fashion that gives designers a clue as to what styles are trending?
New Style Fair in Bangkok Has Something for Everyone
Style Fair Bangkok
Inside the vast international exhibition center that houses the newly created Style fair, the brightly colored hand-painted dresses and tops that make up the Yodyoko collection were a standout.
Maui and Sons Announces American Eagle Collaboration Line
Manufacturing
With the help of Maui and Sons, American Eagle Outfitters is going surf.
Oak NYC Moves to Row DTLA
Retail
After a four-year run in the Beverly Boulevard shopping district of Los Angeles, Oak NYC closed its 4,500-square-foot boutique earlier this month and relocated to the Row DTLA enclave in downtown Los Angeles.
Orange Coast College Launches an Apparel Sustainability Program
Manufacturing
The future of the fashion job market is green, said Lauren Becker, the fashion department coordinator at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.
American Rag Talks About Its New Path at Marcum Symposium
Retail
American Rag Cie is going to the Persian Gulf and possibly points beyond.
Kardashians’ Dash Stores Close Raising Questions on Family’s Relevance
Retail
After a 12-year run, the Kardashians are closing up shop and getting out of the retail-store business.
Summer 2018 Brings INC Capsule Collections With Trina Turk and Mr Turk
Fashion
This summer, Macy's brand INC International Concepts is going to receive a touch of Southern California through capsule-collection partnerships with Trina Turk and her photographer-turned-designer husband, Jonathan Skow.
Wednesday, April 25
After Coachella, It’s Agenda Festival
Hip hop collective Brockhampton played a critically lauded set at Coachella this month. On June 30, the Los Angeles-based group is going to headline the Agenda Festival, it was recently announced.
Tuesday, April 24
The Fashion Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Earth Day 2018 has come and gone, but a bunch of sustainable clothing designers are hosting events on what’s new in the sustainable clothing market during Fashion Revolution Week.
BB Dakota Enters Wedding Season with Bridesmaids Dress Collection
Fashion
Los Angeles label adds to its BBDakota RSVP label.
Monday, April 23
Rebecca Taylor: Fashion Is More Local Than People Think
“You get to see how regional fashion can be,” Taylor said.
Friday, April 20
Luxe Sustainability: The RealReal and Stella McCartney Campaign for Earth Day
Fashion
Building upon its existing partnership, luxury consignment company The RealReal collaborated with Stella McCartney to create its new advertising campaign "the Future of Fashion is Circular," in observance of Earth Day.
It’s a Book. It’s a T-shirt Line. It’s A.F. Vandevorst x B Åkerlund
After 20 years or so in fashion, Belgian designers An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx published a book about their work....and teamed up with outre designer B Åkerlund for a T-shirt line, which was introduced at Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles and New York City.
Thursday, April 19
The North Face and the National Park Foundation Partner to Promote Sustainability
The North Face’s Sustainable Style
In observance of Earth Day on April 22, The North Face partnered with the National Park Foundation and released a new clothing line composed of yarn made from recycled plastic sourced from water bottles found at the Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite national parks.
Digital Summit Los Angeles Promotes Efficient Customer Engagement
Technology
For the third year, Digital Summit Los Angeles brought together marketing leaders at the Skirball Cultural Center. On April 10 and 11, nearly 1,000 attendees networked and listened to experts explain how to successfully use digital tools to engage customers.
Fashion Market Northern California Reports Good Biz Despite Snow
FMNC Busy Despite Snow
Snow and hail fell on parts of the San Francisco Bay Area on April 16, but it didn’t put much of a damper on business at the Fashion Market Northern California trade show, vendors and show management said.
Disruptive Retail Business Intelligence: The Shift to Self-Service and Modern Analytics
Technology
For most retailers, gone are the days when data was stored in silos with multiple versions of Excel. Today, sources of data are centralized and can be pulled for reporting across channels and organizational areas. These include stores, online, mobile apps, email, loyalty, customer support, social media, reviews and third-party sources. Overwhelming, to be sure!
Style Fashion Week Makes a Splash in Palm Springs
Palm Springs Style
During Style Fashion Week Palm Springs, a number of California-based designers unveiled collections for Fall 2018.
Bumps Along the Way Don’t Deter U.S. Economy
Finance
Lately, the apparel and retail world has been centered around three Ts: taxes, tariffs and trade.
Kore Collective Develops Activewear Biz On Many Fronts
Retail
Last year, Kore Collective formally launched its business with a website that focused on emerging and established activewear brands for the fitness buff who wants everything cool in workout gear.
Thailand Gets Stylish at Fashion Fair in Bangkok
Fashion
Thailand promotes creative businesses in Style April 2018.
Tuesday, April 17
Costume Designers to Discuss Old Hollywood in Old Hollywood Barn
Costume Designs
Taking a look at the Betty Davis and Joan Crawford costumes seen in "Feud" and the legacy of the actresses
Monday, April 16
Revolve Parties at Coachella with the Famous & Beautiful
E-emporium Revolve threw the Revolve Festival with Moët & Chandon party outside of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this weekend.
MannyJStyle Takes Sixhundred boutique
During the bustling Art Walk in Downtown Los Angeles on April 12, Manuel Jackson turned the SixHundred boutique into Past Present Future.
Friday, April 13
LA Apparel Contractor Ships ‘Hot Goods’ to Charlotte Russe Prompting Restraining Order
Apparel subcontractor cited for not paying minimum wage for goods destined for Charlotte Russe.
O'Neill x Hello Kitty Launches for Summer 2018
Swim/Surf
Bringing Sanrio into its Summer collection, O'Neill makes girls' swimwear more playful this season.
LA-Owned SWIMS Adds to Men's Collection for Fall
Fashion
Scandinavian-influenced SWIMS introduces more apparel and accessories to line.
Thursday, April 12
Cynthia Rowley at Malibu Lumber Yard
Designer Cynthia Rowley traveled to Malibu, Calif. recently for the opening of her self-named Cynthia Rowley store in the Malibu Lumber Yard retail center.
Liberty Acquires Capsule Trade Show
Trade Shows
Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs announced it acquired the Capsule trade show from Reed Exhibitions for an undisclosed amount.
The World’s Smallest Shoe Factory Introduced to FIDM Students
Technology
Since its launch in 2003, shoe brand Keen Footwear has sought to change the market and become a force for good in the world. It is famous for its “Newport” sandal—an active footwear style designed with a reinforced toe—and it continues to search for new innovations.
Gen Z Prefers 90s Brands in the Age of Instagram
Retail
This year, teens in the United States spent 38 percent of their shopping time at traditional department and specialty stores—down 3 percent from last year—while 19 percent of their shopping time was spent online compared with 17 percent last year. Amazon.com retained its position as the top online marketplace for teens.
LA Fashion’s Next Generation from FIDM Shows Off Their Creations
FIDM’s Next Generation
Graduating students from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles displayed their design prowess in a runway show held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., as guests celebrated the achievements of the new designers.
Unifi Buys National Spinning Co.
Textiles
Unifi Inc., known for its synthetic and recycled yarns, has agreed to buy the dyed-yarn business and assets of National Spinning Co. Both are located in North Carolina.
Easter Shopping Boosted March Sales
Retail
Retail sales for March faced some obstacles this year, but they came in better than expected.
Levi Strauss Shows Strong First-Quarter Revenue Gains
Manufacturing
Levi Strauss & Co., that venerable denim brand founded in San Francisco in 1853, has been on a revenue roll recently as it diversifies its products and targets the international market for growth.
AST Sportswear Takes Over Where American Apparel Left Off
Bigger at Bayside
When American Apparel went bankrupt and laid off some 3,500 employees last year, another company was waiting in the wings to take over the title of the largest vertically integrated T-shirt venture in the United States.
One Round of Surf M&A, Round Two Begins
Swim/Surf
Billabong International’s last day of trading on the Australian Securities Exchange was April 9, bringing an end to a major round of acquisitions in the surfwear market.
Rodeo Drive Keeps Its Retail Luster With Recent Deal
LVMH Buys on Rodeo
Vacancy is common for most retail streets under attack from e-commerce competitors, but not Rodeo Drive. There is hardly a vacant space on the hoity-toity retail shopping district in Beverly Hills, Calif. When real-estate news is made on the street, it makes a splash.
Wednesday, April 11
First Boardriders Flagship Surfs Into Malibu
After Quiksilver Inc. emerged from bankruptcy and changed its corporate name to Boardriders Inc last year, it promised a Boardriders flagship store in Malibu, Calif. We waited, we waited, and waited…until late March
Tuesday, April 10
De La Torre Asks Girlfriend to Marry at His Style Fashion Week Show
Mario De La Torre introduced Purpose, the Fall/Winter 2018 collection from his self-named Mario De La Torre label at Style Fashion Week Palm Springs April 7. But he could have called the show Proposal.
Friday, April 6
Lack of Color Celebrates New Styles at Fred Segal Sunset
Parties
In town from Australia to celebrate their new collection of hats from Lack of Color, hat-making couple Tess Corvaia and Robert Tilbury hosted a festive evening at Fred Segal Sunset Tuesday night.
Thursday, April 5
OC Fashion Week Takes The Runway
OC Fashion Week ran last week in different venues in the Orange County towns of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine.
Style Fashion Week Marks Return to Palm Springs
With an opening night concert from 1980s pop wonders Missing Persons tonight, Style Fashion Week will mark a return to Palm Springs.
Haggar Acquires Louis Raphael
Manufacturing
Men’s clothier Haggar Clothing Co. announced it purchased certain assets of San Francisco Bay Area menswear company Kizan International Inc., whose label is Louis Raphael.
Luxury e-Consignment App Tradesy Acquires Styling Service Fitz
Technology
Nearly six years after its official launch, the luxury secondhand-clothing marketplace app Tradesy has acquired Fitz, an in-home service that books professional stylists for clients who require closet organization and wardrobe styling.
Women’s Golf Wear Takes Shape in Los Angeles
LA-made Golf Wear
In the world of active apparel, women are often met with options that don’t fit properly, lack support and don’t transition well from the playing field to everyday life.
New Adventures in Selling at LA Majors Market
Trade Shows
This edition of LA Majors Market, held April 3–5 at the California Market Center during Passover and only days after Easter, offered an elevated mood at many showrooms.
GOTS Gets Two New Leaders
Textiles
After leading the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) nonprofit since it was founded in 2002, Herbert Ladwig has stepped down as managing director, turning leadership over to two people.
Hudson’s Parent Company Sees a Net Loss in 2017
Manufacturing
Revenues keep growing for Differential Brands Group—the parent company of Hudson jeans, Robert Graham and SWIMS—but that hasn’t translated into a profit yet
Directives West Shines Spotlight on Major Trends for Fall/Winter 2018
Directives West Trends
Denim has been on a roll for the past few seasons, but it will continue to push forward with more distressed looks, high-wasted tops, Mom jeans and cropped silhouettes.
The Tariff Scare Keeps Apparel and Textile Companies Hopping
Import/Export
President Trump launched a trade war in March by imposing a 10 percent tariff on aluminum and a 25 percent tariff on steel coming from countries around the world.
Discounts for U.S. Retail in 2018
Retail
For retailers, 2018 is going to be another year for big discounts as consumers see their wallets shrink from rising healthcare costs that are eating into their discretionary income.
Major Partner Exits The Bloc Shopping Center
Retail
After five years of working to rehab The Bloc retail center in downtown Los Angeles, The Ratkovich Co. has sold its interest in the venture to its partner, National Real Estate Advisors, for an unspecified amount. Blue Vista Capital remains on board.
Fields Predicts Spring 2019 Trends
Manufacturing
On the fashion radar for juniors next year will be brightly colored T-shirts, pops of Glen-plaid designs printed on key items and more distressed denim.
Socialite Introduces Denim Line
New Denim Line
With little fanfare, veteran denim designer Eero Gathers recently joined the Los Angeles label Socialite and was given the job to create a denim line for the 8-year-old womenswear collection.
Tuesday, April 3
North Face to Celebrate a New Generation of Female Explorers
Outdoor Wear
The North Face taking actions to recognize and promote female explorers and adventurers in all fields.
Monday, April 2
Tomas Maier Opens Temporary Shop in L.A.
The Tomas Maier label runs two New York City stores, it recently opened a temporary shop at 8379 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles
