Thursday, June 27
A Current of Sustainability Runs through Outdoor Retailer
Eco Outdoor Retailer
At the Summer version of Outdoor Retailer, sustainability was the theme throughout the Colorado Convention Center, where one of the largest gatherings for the outdoor industry was held for the second year. For years, Outdoor Retailer took place in Salt Lake City.
Los Angeles Sock Maker Increases Production With Licensed Socks
Manufacturing
When Alex Ryu founded Soxnet Inc. in 2002, his main business came from making private-label socks for big retail chains and brands including Forever 21, Old Navy, Aeropostale, Gap, Calvin Klein, Costco, Target and JCPenney.
Obituary: John Marshall, Owner of JM International Group
Textiles
John Marshall, a longtime Los Angeles resident and president and owner of JM International Group, passed away on June 15 from natural causes. He was 52.
Smart Manufacturing May Be Next Step for Factories
Technology
Get ready for big changes in manufacturing of all kinds. Factories will be automated. Robots will be a common sight in manufacturers’ factories—and many workers will be concerned about losing their jobs.
FIDM’s Menswear Graduates Mix Art and Science
Manufacturing
While menswear is a big business, it is not a major course of study at design colleges.
L.A. Streetwear Brand Tests Limits of Language in Trademark Case
Manufacturing
Streetwear brands have a long history of placing parody and anti-authoritarian viewpoints on T-shirts.
Denim Making a Rebound After Activewear Challenge
Denim Delivers
For years, denim reigned as the unrivaled monarch of the market for casual styles.
Modaris V8R2 by Lectra Features Tools to Increase Patternmaking Efficiency
Technology
Building upon its modeling solutions for apparel manufacturers, Paris-headquartered information-technology and digital-solutions firm Lectra announced the launch of Modaris V8R2, bringing the latest advancements in digital patternmaking, grading and prototyping 2-D/3-D solutions to the industry.
Fashion Market Northern California Nurtures a Buyer-Friendly Vibe
Buyer-Friendly FMNC
The recent Fashion Market Northern California saw a crowd of buyers ready to place orders for Holiday, Resort and Immediates. Many seasoned retailers were excited to see familiar brands, while show organizers worked to maintain an atmosphere allowing buyers to have fun while working to stock their shops.
So Major Brings Pop-Up Shops to Airports
Retail at American airports has taken big strides in terms of sophistication and ambition in the last decade, and here’s a new angle.
Bobby Hundreds On Building A Brand, Mistakes & The Power of Blogging in This Is Not a T-Shirt
Bobby Kim, better known to the fashion world as Bobby Hundreds is in the midst of a flurry of interviews for his first book This Is Not a T-Shirt
Tuesday, June 25
Marine Layer Takes a Stand with Pride Collection and Summer Re-Spun Line
MANUFACTURING
June has been a busy month for San Francisco's Marine Layer, which launched its second recycled line on June 17 and has supported Pride Month with its limited-edition Giving Tees.
Monday, June 24
PrettyLittleThing's BET Experience Party
The BET Awards were presented Sunday. We took in a pre awards show party at PrettyLittleThing, and met a stylish group of people.
Louis Vuitton Shines Light on Collaborations with Louis Vuitton X Gallery Show
Louis Vuitton will produce a gallery show devoted to artist collaborations on Rodeo Drive.
Thursday, June 20
Organization Urges Trump Administration to Include Apparel and Made-Up Textiles in Next Round of Chinese Tariffs
Import/Export
As the trade war between the United States and China intensifies, members of the National Council of Textile Organizations have been urging the Trump administration to include apparel and certain textile items in the next round of tariffs.
Fashion Students at Santa Monica College Present LA Mode 2019
Asian Boho
The fashion students at Santa Monica College showcased an eclectic mix of styles that was heavy on recycled denim.
Going From Cocktail Dresses to T-shirts for Designer Sarah Parker
Most High
In 2006, Sarah Parker was designing the contemporary label DiSanto, a line of cocktail dresses carrying her maiden name, which was sold at high-end boutiques.
Retailers Take on the Fight Against Organized Crime
Fighting Retail Crime
Robberies, employee theft and organized retail crime create billions of dollars in losses for stores every year, so companies are increasingly concerned about cybercrime.
May Sales Show Solid Growth Over Last Year
Retail
Retail sales across the country in May were up over last year, but several big apparel chains saw a slight dip in same-store sales.
June L.A. Market Sees Serious Buyers Placing Orders, Many for Immediates
Trade Shows
Organized to showcase Fall II and Holiday, L.A. Market Week saw local retailers and those who headed to Los Angeles from out of state to see their trusted showroom partners. Many buyers wanted to enjoy the intimate atmosphere of working with representatives they know.
Dallas Market Center to Launch Total Lifestyle Market Starting June 2020
Trade Shows
To accommodate the changing retail landscape, the Dallas Market Center will transform its summer markets into a total-lifestyle marketplace.
New Brand Is the Next Chapter for Lubov Azria
Manufacturing
For more than 25 years, Lubov Azria was the creative force behind the well-known California contemporary label BCBGMaxAzria.
The North Face Says Plastic Waste Is Over With Nat Geo Collection
Journalists, environmentalists, scientists and activists sounded the alarm on plastic pollution years ago. San Francisco Bay Area brand The North Face plans to bring the fight against the plastic pollution crisis to fashion.
Wednesday, June 19
Fund-raiser for Model Anna Leo
Anna Leo was recently released from the hospital and is recuperating from injuries caused by a car accident. To raise funds for her medical bills, her friends at downtown Los Angeles fashion school FCI Fashion School will be holding an art fund-raiser.
Post Shark Tank, Butter Cloth Introduces Polos & Sweaters at Pop-Up
Remember when Butter Cloth got an investment from Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec? The Los Angeles label has more news.
Three Dots Acquired by Los Angeles Manufacturer
Three Dots, the Southern California brand of women’s contemporary knit tops and other apparel that abruptly closed its doors in April, has been acquired by FAM Brands.
Tuesday, June 18
Hyfve Hosts "A Fashion Remix" for Remixmess at CMC During L.A. Market
FASHION
Introducing new misses-contemporary line Remixmess, Los Angeles apparel manufacturer Hyfive produced "A Fashion Remix," a runway show in the L.A. Market Week lobby lounge within the California Market Center.
Monday, June 17
More Towne by Elysewalker Stores Announced
On June 17, Elyse Walker, a prominent boutique retailer announced the opening of several more locations for multibrand, high-end basics retailer, Towne by Elysewalker.
Friday, June 14
ACB Presents "Variations on Raymonda" With Fashionable Touches
EVENTS
With a new home at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles, the American Contemporary Ballet has transformed elements from the 19th-century ballet "Raymonda" through modern details of costume making.
Thursday, June 13
Fabletics Has a New Dance Partner
Athleisure
Fabletics taps dancer and celeb Maddie Ziegler for a new capsule collection.
Gap Inc. Announces Water-Saving Initiative With Textile Supplier
Manufacturing
Moving closer to the sustainable goals it set in 2018, Gap Inc. announced a new water-saving initiative with its sourcing partner Arvind Limited.
Record-breaking San Francisco Heat Slows First-Day Traffic at CALA
CALA San Francisco
For several years now, the nearly 100-year-old Fort Mason Center on the San Francisco waterfront has been the idyllic location for the Bay Area edition of CALA, which was held June 11–12.
Integrating AI Into the Shopping Experience Isn’t One Size Fits All
Technology
Much of the technology buzz over the last few years has surrounded artificial intelligence, or AI. As some brands and retailers wonder how to implement the tools that fall under the AI umbrella, they are up against competitors already leveraging these technologies.
New President Hired to Lead 7 For All Mankind
Manufacturing
The parent company of 7 For All Mankind has hired Suzanne Silverstein to be president of the premium-denim brand.
Mexican Tariffs Are Off for Now but Manufacturers Still Cautious
Import/Export
The Trump administration’s threat to impose a 5 percent tariff on all goods imported from Mexico did not go into effect on June 10 as threatened.
Moschino Does the Monster Mash for Its Men’s and Women’s Collections
Moschino’s Monster Mash
Creative director Jeremy Scott did his own interpretation of Resort and Spring for the Italian brand Moschino.
Southern California Ports Tell a Tale of Two Traffic Stories
Import/Export
Business at Southern California’s seaports has been looking a little schizophrenic.
Veteran L.A. Dye House to Release a High-End Basics Line
Manufacturing
For 20 years, Premiere Laundry sewed blank tees, hoodies and sweats and developed intricate dyes for clients at its factory and dye house in Vernon, Calif.
Faster and Cheaper Digital Printing Shakes Up the T-shirt Business
Driving Digital Printing
For many T-shirt companies, business once solely revolved around the labor-intensive job of silkscreening a graphic onto a blank tee.
Wednesday, June 12
Free People Opens Stand-alone Location in Malibu
RETAIL
As a brand that aligns with free-spirited, adventurous women, Free People entered the perfect retail space when it opened its first stand-alone Malibu location to embrace a town that inspires a carefree lifestyle.
Tuesday, June 11
Poshmark Goes Home
TECHNOLOGY
Social-commerce company Poshmark has moved beyond apparel sales by launching its home business.
Monday, June 10
B James Takes It To The Streets
Designer Brandon D James produced a guerrilla runway event, a Flash Mob Walk, in downtown Los Angeles June 7.
Madhappy Opens Two New L.A.-Area Pop-ups
Los Angeles' Madhappy brand jumped back into the pop-up game with temporary shops on Melrose Place and Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Friday, June 7
Saint Laurent Creates Rocker's Paradise in Malibu for Men's SS20 Show
FASHION
Evoking early mornings spent during twilight in the sand following rock-star nights of the 1970s, Saint Laurent's Men's Spring/Summer 2020 show was set in the sand at Malibu's Paradise Cove.
Morphew x Fred Segal Malibu
The Morphew brand repurposes vintage fabrics and garments from their archives to create new styles. Morphew is producing a trunk show at Fred Segal Malibu this weekend.
Thursday, June 6
FIDM and Uniqlo at The Bloc Partner for Recycled Fashion in DTLA
FASHION
Promoting recycled fashion in downtown Los Angeles, Uniqlo at The Bloc partnered with the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising to create student-designed collections to promote sustainable apparel design and production.
Guess Sees Net Loss With Revenues Increasing in the First Quarter
Retail
Carlos Alberini, the new chief executive of Guess?, Inc., was celebrating more than four months on the job with financial news from the Los Angeles company’s first quarter of 2020.
Tinctorium’s Natural Indigo Dye Receives Help From the Godfather of Denim
Tinctorium’s Eco Indigo
Michelle Zhu and Tammy Hsu, co-founders of San Francisco–based Tinctorium, are entering the apparel supply chain with a revolutionary natural product projected to transform sustainable indigo-dyeing methods in denim manufacturing.
Following New Board Hires, The RealReal Files for an IPO
Finance
Luxury reseller The RealReal filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission to prepare for an initial public offering.
Boutique Hub and Atlanta Apparel Partner on Boutique Summit in Georgia
Trade Shows
Atlanta Apparel, the producer of the largest apparel trade show in the United States’ Southeast region, is partnering with The Boutique Hub, the digital-media company in Chippewa Falls, Wis., that helps boutique retailers cultivate their businesses.
White House Announces Termination of India’s GSP Status
Import/Export
Following the White House’s removal of Turkey from the countries eligible for GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) status last month, the Trump administration declared that India has been deemed ineligible for continued inclusion as a beneficiary under the duty-free trade program.
Canadian Company to Open Several Charlotte Russe Stores
Retail
Canadian fashion company YM Inc. will put the young women’s boutique chain Charlotte Russe, formerly of San Diego, back in the retail game.
Montana’s Past, Present and Future is Female
Montana Avenue
Shopping on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, Calif., continues to be perfect for the shopper who likes to walk. We visited the street to see what are some of the area’s hot sellers.
Cold Weather Puts a Chill on Retail
Retail
Southern California has been cold and rainy this winter, and some have described the business of selling beach-inspired and summer clothing as a washout.
Obituary: Carolyn Ajavananda, Designer at Maggie Barry
News
Following a long illness, Carolyn Ajavananda, a designer at Maggie Barry Company, passed away on June 3 after succumbing to complications from a stroke. She was 55.
Black & White Ball Honors Two Outstanding Individuals at Fund-Raising
Events
Some 450 guests gathered June 1 at the recently opened InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel for a fund-raising event benefiting the respiratory hospital National Jewish Health in Denver.
Second Apparel Textile Sourcing Show in Miami Attracts Larger Crowd
Apparel Textile Sourcing
Now celebrating its second year in Miami, the Apparel Textile Sourcing trade show ran at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center May 28–30 with a surge in new visitors and exhibitors.
Los Angeles Apparel Contractor Fined for Underpaying Employees
Manufacturing
After a six-month investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a nearly $54,000 fine against a Los Angeles garment sewing contractor for underpaying 21 employees.
Goop Unveils Men's Collection G. Label Men
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop platform has dispensed advice on wellness, food, and also sold women's fashion. Earlier this week, Goop unveiled a fashion line for the guys.
Wednesday, June 5
True Religion Names a New Interim CEO
Another new interim CEO is named at True Religion.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Sees a Slowing Economy Amidst Trade War
As the economists putting out the UCLA Anderson Forecast were writing their quarterly report released on June 5, the Trump administration had not yet announced its 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods being imported into the country.
Tuesday, June 4
Wrangler Introduces Nearly Zero-Water Denim Dyeing
Sustainability
Wrangler uses foam-dyeing technology to eliminate water when treating denim apparel.
Monday, June 3
Report Says Forever 21 Holding Debtor-in-Possession Talks
For months, the fashion industry has been talking about Forever 21 being in financial difficulties after it started shutting down all its stores in China and selling its giant headquarters building east of downtown Los Angeles.
