Monday, August 31
Wish Looks Toward IPO in Confidential Filing
TECHNOLOGY
The e-commerce marketplace Wish announced Monday that it had submitted a confidential draft registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed public offering of its Class A common stock.
NuOrder to Work With Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
TECHNOLOGY
Recently, the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance announced a partnership with NuOrder, a Los Angeles–headquartered business-to-business e-commerce company, to develop an online platform for its members, said Rich Hill, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s president.
Canada’s Moose Knuckles Teams Up with L.A. Artists
FASHION
Based in Canada, outerwear brand Moose Knuckles has been running a campaign to raise funds for people suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic with its MKGAF jacket-customization tour.
Friday, August 28
Gap Inc. Beats Wall Street Forecast for Second Quarter
RETAIL
Gap Inc. reported that its online sales skyrocketed 95 percent and its same-store sales increased 13 percent for the second quarter of its 2020 fiscal year compared with the same quarter of the previous year, said Sonia Syngal, Gap Inc.’s chief executive officer.
Thursday, August 27
Downtown L.A. Fashion Business Found Guilty in Multimillion-Dollar Scams
LEGAL
The owner of a downtown Los Angeles apparel company agreed to plead guilty to a group of scams to avoid paying millions of dollars in customs fees and taxes, according to a statement released by the United States Attorney’s office on Aug. 26. Sang Bum “Ed” Noh and his company, Ambiance Apparel, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of a false tax return and pay over $117 million in fines and restitution.
Cotton Citizen Unveils Fred Segal Shop-in-Shops
RETAIL
With the Labor Day weekend on the horizon, Cotton Citizen, a made-in-Los Angeles, premium-garments brand, unveiled shop-in-shops at the Fred Segal Sunset flagship in West Hollywood, Calif., and the Fred Segal store in Malibu, Calif.
Snapper Rock 2021 is Bright with Sustainability in Mind
SWIM/SURF
Upon unveiling its 2021 collection, swimwear brand Snapper Rock presented new patterns and greater sustainable efforts.
Wednesday, August 26
Foot Locker Brings Power Store Concept to Compton, Calif.
RETAIL
Foot Locker opened its first West Coast Power Store on Aug. 26 in Compton, Calif.
Tuesday, August 25
NTWRK Launches Virtual Festival, Complex Networks Announces New Event
TRADE SHOWS
Aaron Levant, founder of the Agenda trade show, introduced Transfer today, a virtual culture, design and retail festival, running through tomorrow on the NTWRK platform, a video commerce channel headquartered in Los Angeles.
San Diego’s Santos Swim and Kith + Kimono Team Up For Virtual Party with the Influencer Francesca
EVENTS
On Aug. 26, there’s going to be a virtual party for San Diego brands Santos Swim and Kith + Kimono.
Epson Increases Speed, Efficiency With New SureColor Technology
TECHNOLOGY
Over the past few years, fashion manufacturers and brands have become increasingly focused on direct-to-consumer business. Epson America hopes to support this business model.
Monday, August 24
EDIT +: New Collection from Chief of The North Face Korea
FASHION
Jean Sung, an executive director and chief marketing officer of The North Face Korea, recently introduced Fall 2020 styles for a separate brand, EDIT+, an emerging global ethical and sustainable fashion label for women and men.
Friday, August 21
Giannulli and Loughlin Sentenced in College-Bribery Scam
LEGAL
One chapter in the 2019 Operation Varsity Blues college-admissions bribery scandal was closed Aug. 21 when designer Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin, his actor wife, were sentenced for their involvement.
Levi's Says 'Vote' in Public Service Announcement
FASHION
Denim giant Levi’s released a public service announcement urging voters in the United States to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Nicholas Mayfield Helps LAMusArt Celebrate 75th Year by Donating Piece for Auction
EVENTS
Known for his illustration-style artwork, fashion design and furniture, designer Nicholas Mayfield uses his pieces in different categories to not only offer unique elements of style—he is also extending a helping hand to spread important messages. He is now working with the Los Angeles Music and Art School by donating one of his artistic works for an auction that will benefit the organization.
Thursday, August 20
Liberty Fairs Unveils Virtual Trade Show
Trade Shows
Liberty Fairs introduced its first virtual trade show on Aug. 17, co-produced with the Joor wholesale marketplace. The virtual trade show enjoyed more than 1,800 unique visits to its site, libertyfairs.com, on the first day of the show, said Edwina Kulego, the new Liberty Fairs vice president, who joined the trade-show producer in July.
Core Surf-and-Skate Retailers Saw Big Rally
Swim/Surf
Surf-and-skate retailers have been riding one of the few silver-lined waves for their businesses in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many team sports have been discouraged as public-health groups and government officials recommend safe practices to slow the spread. Gyms and fitness studios have been closed, but consumers looking for a new outlet have been discovering board sports, which don’t require being on a team or exercising indoors.
Hurley Family Unveils New Brand With Surf Star
Swim/Surf
John John Florence, a two-time world champion surfer, recently announced that he was starting a new brand called Florence Marine X. Scheduled to launch for Spring 2021, Florence Marine X will offer men’s apparel, board shorts, wet suits and other categories.
Designers & Agents Goes Virtual
Trade Shows
Designers & Agents is the latest trade-show producer to announce that it will put together a virtual trade event.
Court Rules Landmark Fred Segal Sign on Former Location Must Go
Legal
A legal decision recently decided the fate of the Fred Segal sign on Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue.
Brixton Charts a New Course With a Bricks-and-Mortar and New Lines
Brixton's New Course
After some 16 years in business, Brixton, headquartered in Oceanside, Calif., is going for a rebrand. The label with roots in action sports will unveil its new outlook with a bricks-and-mortar store in Encinitas, Calif., a town known for its surf shops such as the pioneering core board shop Hansen Surfboards.
Centi Closes Funding Round, Prepares Technology for Launch Later This Year
Technology
Founded in March, Zurich’s Centi Ltd. announced on Aug. 18 the closing of its first funding round. Bernhard Müller, who serves as the company’s chairman, launched the Bitcoin SV payments processor Centi as a technology that could adapt point-of-sale systems to accept these types of payments during retail transactions.
Deep, Smoky Denim and Cool Blues Define Ética for Fall 2020
Basically Beautiful
Approaching its denim with fresh features added to basic styles, responsibly made brand Ética added unexpected details with its notions, pockets and surprising updates to its pieces for Fall 2020.
Fall 2021 Blends Structure and Athleisure in Rich Hues With Pops of Dramatic Color
Fall 2021 Forecast
This season is marked by the liberating and positive force of color, which is something we feel more than we understand.
In the Pursuit of Happiness, Alexander Grant Launches _by.Alexander
Alexander Grant’s by.Alexander
After producing some of music’s most-popular songs over the last 20 years, Alexander Grant—known more widely as Alex da Kid—is venturing into luxury fashion with the launch of his _by.Alexander clothing.
Wednesday, August 19
Opok Introduces GOTS Certfied Boxer Briefs
MANUFACTURING
We’ve seen organic denim, T-shirts and dresses. San Francisco-headquartered brand Opok recently released an organic boxer-brief line. The boxers are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and organic dyes.
Tuesday, August 18
Rose Bowl Flea Market Goes Virtual
EVENTS
Looking for inspiration and treasure hunting at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, Calif., has been a rite of passage for almost every creative in Los Angeles fashion.
Monday, August 17
Skechers Flagship Opens on Rue de Rivoli in Paris
RETAIL
Sneaker-and-lifestyle brand Skechers recently announced the opening of its Paris flagship on the city's Rue de Rivoli.
Fashion to Rally After COVID-19 but Must Make Changes, Report Says
RETAIL
PreciseTarget, a data-science and machine-learning market-research company headquartered in Bethesda, Md., recently released a forecast that predicted a recovery pathway for the fashion industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the study also forecasted that the pandemic would force the fashion business to make big changes.
July Retail Sales Up
RETAIL
Retail sales showed some momentum last month. The U.S. Census Bureau released numbers Aug. 14 that found overall retail sales during July increasing 2.7 percent in a year-over-year comparison and 1.2 percent compared to June.
Friday, August 14
Michael Relich to Helm PSEB, PacSun and Eddie Bauer Operator
RETAIL
Michael Relich was named interim chief executive officer for PSEB LLC, the operating company for Eddie Bauer LLC and Pacific Sunwear. Relich served as PSEB’s chief operating officer.
Lucky Brand Acquired by Group Including ABG and Simon Property
RETAIL
After a month following downtown Los Angeles–headquartered Lucky Brand Jeans' LLC’s chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the stalking-horse bidders Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group completed a deal to acquire the prominent jeans brand and retailer, according to an Aug. 14 ABG announcement.
With Fall/Winter 2020 Campaign, Michele Morrone Named the Face of Guess Men's
FASHION
With the launch of its Fall/Winter 2020 campaign, Guess? announced actor and singer Michele Morrone as the face of Guess Men's.
CFF and BDC to Host Inaugural Seminar Supporting Fashion’s Black Community
FASHION
Two Los Angeles–based fashion organizations have joined forces to create a program that will support business development within the fashion community’s Black population.
ADNAS Receives Notice of Allowance on Cotton-Tagging Technology Patent
SUPPLY CHAIN
Advancing its reach into authentication technologies to thwart the counterfeit-goods trade and provide increased transparency in fashion, Applied DNA Sciences announced that it received a notice of allowance regarding its tools, which afford DNA tagging of cotton fibers during the ginning process.
Thursday, August 13
European Designers Craft Their Takes on L.A. Styles
MANUFACTURING
For more than 60-years, Los Angeles style has been deeply influential in jeans and T-shirts, and the city continues to make a deep impression for two European designers who spent a lot of time in L.A. and recently released fashion lines.
Cotton Heritage Teams Up With Tukatech for 3D Digital Design
TECHNOLOGY
In May, Los Angeles–headquartered fashion-technology firm Tukatech Inc. introduced its latest version of the TUKA3D Designer Edition. Tukatech recently announced that the premium-blanks company Cotton Heritage, headquartered in Commerce, Calif., was working with the 3D visualizer.
Lululemon To The Bloc in DTLA
RETAIL
Technical athletic company Lululemon Athletica recently opened a pop-up shop at The Bloc retail center in downtown Los Angeles.
Wednesday, August 12
Rubin Schubert, 74: L.A. Textile King Passes Away Leaving a Legacy of Sustainable Sourcing
OBITUARY
The old saying “legends never die” might be true, but the recent passing of downtown Los Angeles Ragfinders founder Rubin Schubert proves that legendary fashion personalities take a piece of all who know them when they leave.
Tuesday, August 11
Lawsuit Against S.F. Fur Ban Goes Another Round
LEGAL
A challenge to a fur ban in the city and county of San Francisco petitioned for a new day in court.
Acquiring Custom Gateway, Kornit Digital Expands Its Cloud-Software Reach
TECHNOLOGY
Digital-printing technology provider Kornit Digital announced that it has acquired the United Kingdom–based cloud-software workflow-solutions company Custom Gateway.
Levi’s New XX Chino Cargo Pant
MANUFACTURING
Levi’s released its XX Chino line earlier this year. The venerable denim brand decided to continue the collection for Fall/Winter 2020. New looks include an ergonomic cargo-pocket style.
Monday, August 10
Chicago’s High-End Miracle Mile Neighborhood Looted
RETAIL
Some 100 people were arrested in Chicago Aug. 10 for charges including looting high-end boutiques of the city’s Magnificent Mile neighborhood.
Macy's Rolls Out Macy's Backstage Shops
RETAIL
As Macy’s reopens stores, it continues to rollout locations for its offprice Macy’s Backstage sections located in its department stores. On Aug. 8, it opened 11 Macy’s Backstage stores within stores, with two of these shops located in Southern California.
Friday, August 7
Guess Originals Fall 2020 Relies on Retro '90s Inspiration
FASHION
Retro elements from Guess? reappear in the Fall 2020 Guess Originals collection that is inspired by the brand's 1990s style.
Thursday, August 6
South Coast Plaza Unveils The Pavilion, A New Shopping Program
RETAIL
South Coast Plaza temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it has unveiled some programs to keep business going. On Aug. 7, it will introduce The Pavilion.
With the Power of One P.O., Everything Can Change for Black-Owned Apparel Businesses
Power of the P.O.
One major deal can change everything for a small company, yet it can be more crucial for determining the success of Black-owned businesses and those led by members of underrepresented groups, said Dawaud Muhammad. As the co-owner of a Black-owned printing-and-embroidery company, Muhammad leads Big Printing Textile Co., LLC, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area town of San Leandro, Calif.
Paraiso Miami Beach Announces a Hybrid Digital-Physical Swim Week
Trade Shows
Paraiso Miami Beach rallied from the cancellation of its July swim week due to COVID-19 by announcing a combination of in-person events and a virtual trade show. This fresh concept will afford opportunities for brands and designers to increase exposure of their Resort 2021 collections.
True Religion’s Jeffrey Lubell Back on the Scene With New Collection
Freedom Rings
Returning to the industry with a new denim collection named Coût De La Liberté, Jeffrey Lubell reenters the market with a collection that is made with a message in Los Angeles.
L.A. Market Week Blends Traditional Showroom Visits With Digital Meetings
Trade Shows
While the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed retail and trade events in the apparel industry, business seems to be slowly opening up. During the Aug. 2–6 edition of L.A. Market Week, buyers visited downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District and logged onto digital platforms. Showrooms at the Cooper Design Space, The New Mart and the California Market Center welcomed buyers to safely shop their lines.
New Name, $100 Million Remodel Announced for Hollywood & Highland
Retail
The new owners of the Hollywood & Highland retail and entertainment center recently unveiled a new name, Ovation, and details of a $100-million overhaul to the sprawling complex that dominates the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Los Angeles amid the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Banshee Swim Enters the Industry Screaming a Message of Acceptance and Transparency
Banshee Swim
Growing up in Washington state, Amanda Fronckowiak always sewed clothes, aspiring to become a designer, but she didn’t know on what category she wanted to focus. Fronckowiak might not have envisioned a swimwear-design future, but that changed during an internship in California prior to her graduation from Central Washington University.
Sustainability Continues to Drive the Apparel Industry
MANUFACTURING
As bricks-and-mortar businesses slowly open under new COVID-19 safety guidelines, e-commerce popularity has increased. During this time, shoppers gained more freedom to research brand commitment to sustainability, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry adviser of the data and analytics company The NPD Group, Inc.
Wrangler Introduces Collaboration With A Notable Fan: Bob Marley
Bob Marley's estate has worked on a number of fashion collaborations in the past. However, the latest, Wrangler x Bob Marley, fits well with the reggae star's history.
Tuesday, August 4
Darren Romanelli Partners with LeRoy Neiman Foundation to Benefit COVID-19 Relief
FASHION
Los Angeles-based artist Darren Romanelli, also known as DRx has partnered with the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation to create a capsule collection blending the artists' works to benefit a good cause.
Obituary: Steven Frumkin, Fashion Educator
FASHION
Fashion educator Steven Frumkin died on July 23 in Miami, Fla., from COVID-19, according to a statement from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Monday, August 3
Men’s Warehouse Parent, Tailored Brands, Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
RETAIL
A string of high-profile bankruptcies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have been filed, and the latest is Tailored Brands, Inc.
‘Making the Cut’ Winner Jonny Cota Opens Store to Build New Brand Experience
FASHION RETAIL
A few months after his victory on “Making the Cut,” a fashion-competition show produced by Amazon Prime, Los Angeles designer Jonny Cota opened a new, self-named store on Aug. 1 at the Row DTLA campus of retail, dining and creative offices in downtown Los Angeles.
eBay Teams Up With NBA Star P.J. Tucker For Sneaker Loft
RETAIL
On Aug. 3, eBay announced Sneaker Loft, an e-pop-up shop that it produced with P.J. Tucker, who plays for Houston Rockets NBA Team, and a sneaker aficionado extraordinaire.
