Tuesday, April 30
Happy Socks Opens New Shop and Creative Space in Los Angeles
NEWS
This week, Swedish lifestyle brand Happy Socks opened its second Los Angeles store, which includes a new space that houses its creative hub.
Monday, April 29
Hanro Unveils Blanda Mural at Beverly Hills Art Party
The Hanro brand commissioned a mural by Swiss artist Blanda for its Beverly Hills, Calif. boutique. It was unveiled April 24.
Friday, April 26
Skirball to Celebrate Rudi Gernreich in 'Fearless Fashion'
FASHION
Beginning May 9, The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles will unveil "Fearless Fashion: Rudi Gernreich," an exhibition that celebrates the designer's life and work.
Thursday, April 25
Global Travels Inspire Johnny Was Collection for Fall ’19
Johnny Was World
Johnny Was has always been a leader when it comes to infusing ethnic flair into its collection.
Semi-Finalists Named in Vans 'Custom Culture' Shoe Contest
Fashionable Footwear
Seven high schools in California are among the 50 semi-finalists named in the Vans shoe contest.
Eco-Collaboration Promoted During First Sustainable Apparel Coalition Event in L.A.
Manufacturing
Bringing together experts and apparel-industry veterans, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition hosted its first Los Angeles event at the California Market Center on April 24. The organization works within the apparel industry to lead sustainable, ethical initiatives by limiting environmental impact and promoting social welfare for garment workers.
Sene Studio Takes Custom-Made Suits in a New Direction
Manufacturing
Athleisure apparel has been at the forefront of a trend that has swept across the country for the past several years.
Developer to Start Update on Playa Vista Retail Center
Retail
The seaside neighborhood of Playa Vista, not far from Los Angeles International Airport, is the new home of tech giants Google and Facebook, which recently opened big offices there.
Bebe Stores Names New Board Member
Retail
Bebe Stores Inc. has named a new member to its board of directors. New to the board is Perry Mandarino, who became a member on April 22. He replaces Kenneth Young, a director who joined the board last year.
What Kinds of Blue Jeans Are Women Buying?
Manufacturing
Blue jeans never fade away, but they come and go in popularity. In recent years, blue jeans have faced increasing competition from activewear and athleisure pants that have more stretch and are extremely comfortable as well as versatile.
Second Generation Sells Its Juniors Labels to L.A. Company
Manufacturing
Second Generation, a juniorswear company founded in Los Angeles in 1996, has sold its three juniorswear labels to a Los Angeles company associated with Star Fabrics.
Traditional Retailers Have a Change of Heart Regarding the Value of Resale
Retail
What is old is becoming new again for traditional retailers looking for added revenue streams. That’s because the secondhand clothing, handbag and footwear market has been gaining an unprecedented amount of traction with store owners.
E-Commerce Brand Naked Wardrobe Launches Denim Capsule at First Pop-Up Shop
Naked Denim
With a successful family business that launched in 2012, the Kaviani sisters—Shideh, Shida and Shirin—are further expanding their affordably priced e-commerce apparel company, Naked Wardrobe.
Marine Layer Uses Old T-shirts for New Collection
Recycled T-shirts
To combat the scourge of apparel-manufacturing waste, San Francisco brand Marine Layer is working with consumers to produce a new collection of shirts produced completely from recycled T-shirts.
Wednesday, April 24
Clothing Manufacturer Three Dots Closes Doors
Manufacturing
After nearly 25 years in business, Three Dots, a Southern California contemporary knit tops and womenswear company launched in 1995 by Sharon Lebon, has ceased operations.
Tuesday, April 23
Gentle Monster Unveils New Store Decor
Retail
Gentle Monster, the eyeglass-store chain from South Korea, freshens up its decor to keep its downtown L.A. outpost relevant.
Monday, April 22
Promising 'Less Waste' and 'Lower Impact,' Everlane to Launch Tread Sneaker Collection
MANUFACTURING
Tackling one of the most difficult fashion pieces to make sustainable, retailer Everlane will launch a new sneaker that it says is a greener option for consumers.
CMC Observes Earth Day With Eco-Friendly Pop-Up Shop
EVENTS
Observing Earth Day 2019 at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles included a pop-up shop showcasing ecologically sound brands that prioritize quality.
Thursday, April 18
Fashion Market Northern California Sees Big Business for Immediates
Immediates at FMNC
Exhibitors at Fashion Market Northern California at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, Calif., said retailers were buying closer to season as Immediates made up a good part of orders placed during the show.
Informa Unveils New LVCC Floorplan for August MAGIC Show on Single Campus
Trade Shows
For its Aug. 12–14 show in Las Vegas, MAGIC has unveiled its new ONE MAGIC floor plan, which houses exhibitors in one location at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Late Tax Returns Affect Retailers Counting on a Shopping Boost
Finance
The U.S. economy is expected to cruise along at a moderate speed this year after whizzing past the speed limit last year.
Fashionistas Flock to the Desert to Show Off Their Trendy Togs
Desert Dressing
Fashion and parties are an integral part of the Coachella Festival, where the Southern California desert becomes inundated with music fans and partygoers.
CALA Announces Las Vegas Show to Launch During August 2019
Trade Shows
Contemporary-apparel trade-show brand CALA Shows Inc. announced it will add a Las Vegas edition to its schedule, which currently holds events in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center and in Denver at the Denver Mart.
Founders of Époque Évolution Bring Classic Style and Ease to Responsible Manufacturing
An Époque Évolution
During a trip to Morocco, Hannah Franco admired her friend Nancy Taylor’s ability to pack necessary clothing items that were stylish yet functional into a single backpack and wear them without the need for pressing or washing.
Black Design Collective Passes the Torch to a New Face in Fashion
Events
The Black Design Collective held its inaugural scholarship celebration at the downtown L.A. campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, where the red carpet at the FIDM Museum was filled with celebrities and public figures,.
Aloha Brand Reyn Spooner Charts New Waters in Los Angeles
Manufacturing
Since the late 1950s, the Reyn Spooner brand aimed to be an Aloha shirt that defied stereotypes.
Obituary: Silvia Kremer, Co-founder of Kremer Group
News
From 1975 to 2008, Silvia Kremer represented a number of denim brands, streetwear styles and preppy looks from her Kremer Group showroom at the California Market Center. She was one of the showroom building’s veteran tenants. On April 10, she died of a heart attack at the age of 71, said her son, Jim Kremer.
Wednesday, April 17
Vegan Scene Unveils Pop-Up Vegan Marketplace
Amy Rebecca Wilde of Vegan Scene wanted her Venice shop to live up to its name. She started a pop-up market for other vegan designers.
Tuesday, April 16
Haley Solar Parties for New Brand Name
Haley Solar makes sustainable fashion at her self-named shop Hayley Solar.
Coachella Parties, Indie Fashion and Big Brands Make A Splash
The first weekend of the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival made headlines.The festival’s satellite parties made their own waves.
The Imprinted Sportwear Shows Change Name
The Imprinted Sportswear Shows will get a name change.
The North Face Launches "Explore Mode" to Encourage Engagement With the Outdoors
EVENTS
Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, The North Face today launched "Explore Mode," an initiative that encourages consumers to unplug digitally and connect with the outdoors.
Monday, April 15
Fashion Design Giannulli and Wife Plead Not Guilty in College-Bribery Scandal
Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli and wife, Lori Loughlin, pleaded not guilty on charges stemming from a college-admissions scandal case involving their two daughters.
Thursday, April 11
Michael Levine to Close Space Devoted to Home-Décor Fabrics and Pound Goods
Retail
Michael Levine, the well-known downtown Los Angeles fabric store, is closing its space at 919 Maple Ave. and its loft at 917 Maple Ave., which sell upholstery fabrics and notions.
FIDM Debut 2019 Showcases the Future of Fashion for New Designers
A Fashionable Future
Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., was the setting for FIDM Debut 2019, the annual showcase produced by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, headquartered in downtown Los Angeles.
As Trends Shift, Activewear and Athleisure Remain Relevant to Fashion
Activewear’s Evolution
As utilitarian looks and retro-style streetwear gain momentum, some in the fashion industry are declaring the end of activewear and athleisure.
L.A.Based Omnichain Solutions Puts New Tech in Supply-Chain Game
Technology
Across the street from the hipster hangout The Line Los Angeles in L.A.’s Koreatown area, a group of supply-chain industry veterans are working on a way to mesh their established practices of their business with the new world of blockchain.
Tech Experience Inspires Brandon Kawai to Become a Clothing Designer
Manufacturing
The casual fashion style of the tech industry and its leaders has been critiqued as being too basic, but Brandon Kawai saw nothing but possibilities for this particular style when he interned two years ago at a startup tech company in downtown Los Angeles.
Macy’s Hopes New Concept Will Reinvent Its Retail Experience
Macy’s New Concept
Macy’s Inc. is rolling out a new store within a store called Story at Macy’s, which is debuting at 36 Macy’s locations across the country. The shop is the latest chapter in Macy’s multiyear effort to reinvent its 640 department stores.
Expert Brand Introduces New Collection
Manufacturing
Expert Brand, a longtime active lifestyle apparel and promotional clothing company based in Vernon, Calif., is celebrating more than 25 years in business by expanding its American MoCA collection with eight new styles, six for women and two for men.
Fashion Designer Mossimo Giannulli and Wife Charged With Money Laundering
Legal
Nearly one month after 33 parents were indicted for paying bribes to get their children into prestigious universities, 16 of them were indicted by a federal grand jury on a secondary charge of fraud and money laundering.
Levi Strauss Reports Solid First-Quarter Earnings
Manufacturing
Just weeks after going public, Levi Strauss & Co., based in San Francisco, reported that its first-quarter revenues for 2019 were up 7 percent to $1.435 billion over the same period last year. Net income in the first quarter was $147 million compared with a $19 million net loss during last year’s first quarter.
Byer California Cited for Evading Customs Duties by Undervaluing Garments
Import/Export
After years of litigation, Byer California has agreed to pay $325,000 in a civil fraud lawsuit that alleges the decades-old San Francisco clothing company for five years undervalued the cost of its merchandise coming through customs, paying lower duties than normal.
March Retail Sales Are Mixed
Retail
March business showed a slight uptick for The Buckle Inc., whose same-store sales increased 0.5 percent in a year-over-year comparison.
Wednesday, April 10
Dolls Kill Does Convenience at Coachella
R&B and pop sensations Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande are headlining Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this weekend. Flamenco/hip-hop singer Rosalía and electronic pioneer Aphex Twin are performing too. Making an appearance off-site, retailer Dolls Kill.
Tuesday, April 9
Guess? Promotes Circular Fashion Through Vintage Program at Fred Segal
FASHION
With the help of retailer Fred Segal and vintage expert Sean Wotherspoon, Guess?, Inc. will launch the Guess Vintage program to promote a circular economy through resale.
Fashion Designer Mossimo Giannulli and Wife Charged With Money Laundering
More charges filed against 16 parents caught up in college admissions cheating scandal.
Monday, April 8
Vitamin A Debuts BioRib Fabric, Capsule Collection at Fred Segal Sunset
It seems like eons ago. But sustainable clothing was stuck with the reputation of being the style just for the burlap-bag set.
Chip Foster Launches New Basics Line
Fashion
Lakes of the Woods Club is a new apparel brand being launched by Chip Foster of Chip & Pepper Jeans.
Exhibit Shows Off Costume Designs for 'Fosse/Verdon' Series
Costume Design
Costume designs are on display from the limited series showcasing the lives of choreographer/filmmaker Bob Fosse and dancer/actress Gwen Verdon.
Friday, April 5
Belly Bandit Introduces Active Support Athleisure Line
FASHION
Known for its maternity apparel, postpartum-compression solutions and shapewear, Sherman Oaks, Calif., brand Belly Bandit launched a collection of athleisure pieces to meet the needs of its clients' changing bodies.
Thursday, April 4
Valerj Pobega’s Kabuki In Berlin
L.A.-based designer Valerj Pobega currently works with a palette of inspirations that include David Bowie, the decadent nightclub scene of pre-World War II Berlin and garments with a flowy, kinetic silhouette.
Winnie Couture to Roll Out Franchises
Retail
Winnie Couture opened its first bridal shop in 2001. Nearly two decades later, it is starting to franchise its concept across the country.
After Making a Splash in Custom Styles, Candice Cuoco Unveils Ready-To-Wear
Cuoco Creates RTW
Candice Cuoco gained notoriety in 2015 by competing on the “Project Runway” TV show, where she defined herself as an artist designing made-to-measure styles with a Gothic and romantic edge.
Barbara Fields’s Spring and Fall 2020 Forecasts for Juniors: Mom Jeans, Neon and Puffer Jackets
Fashion
Skinny jeans have long reigned over the juniors denim market, but when the Spring 2020 season rolls around they will have to make room for the more relaxed style of mom jeans, said Barbara Fields of the self-named Barbara Fields Buying Office.
LA Majors Market Makes Some Changes
Changes at LA Majors
This season, the LA Majors Market, which caters to juniors fashions and department-store buyers at the California Market Center, underwent a few changes.
Sol Angeles to Unveil The Workshop
Retail
With the skyline of Hollywood changing with new construction projects, Eli and Lindsey Myers of Sol Angeles are planning to be right in the middle of it.
How Apparel Companies Can Deal With a Slowing Economy
Finance
The formula for doing business is slowly changing this year. While interest rates were rising at a steady pace last year, it’s a different story this year. The Federal Reserve hasn’t raised benchmark interest rates in 2019 and may even lower them, which is good news for apparel manufacturers and retailers.
Directives West Showcases Colors That Pop for Updated Retro Looks for Fall 2019
Fall’s Wild Forecast
Animal prints and bright neons were all over the runway at the Directives West trend show for buyers, held April 1 at the California Market Center.
Charlotte Russe and Peek Kids Brands Sold to Separate Buyers
Retail
As apparel retailer Charlotte Russe continues to wind down during the final steps of its bankruptcy proceedings, the company, founded in Southern California, was able to ensure its name and labels will continue on.
American Apparel Releases Spring/Summer 2019 Denim Collection
FASHION
For Spring/Summer 2019, American Apparel unveiled its latest offerings in denim, which feature new on-trend washes, cuts and styles for men and women.
Wednesday, April 3
Vans x David Bowie Collection Celebrates Entertainer's Legacy
FASHION
Honoring the legacy and unique style of late superstar David Bowie, the Vans x David Bowie collection will drop on April 5.
Tuesday, April 2
Volcom’s Intellectual Property Sold to Licensing Company
Manufacturing
Authentic Brands Group snaps up another California label.
Monday, April 1
Life After Denim Parties for Its Abbot Kinney Pop-up
Life After Denim recently launched the Modern California pop-up shop at men's emporium Stag on Abbot Kinney.
