Thursday, September 30
Vans Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month with So Much More Project
FASHION CARES
Vans has partnered with four Latinx visual artists from across the country to launch the So Much More initiative, which aims to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month and shed more light on the Latinx identity.
Fashion Index Aims to Be a One-Stop Industry Resource
Technology
Fashion Index is a one-stop service that wants to serve every aspect of the apparel industry by connecting apparel professionals and companies to a variety of industry resources on one streamlined platform.
Industry Focus: Finance—As we head into the holiday season, what types of investments should apparel companies be making to fortify their businesses and ensure success for 2022?
Finance
As 2021 winds down, the apparel segment has been enjoying an uptick in business from different corners of the industry. The last few months have seen some of the largest trade shows in the industry return to on-site events. With consumers shopping and willing to spend, retailers are enjoying the benefits of the apparel investments their customers are making as they return to offices, college campuses, in-school classes and semi-normal life.
Dresses Are Back
Dressing Up
Unveiling the Autumn/Winter ’21/’22 RNCH collection, Heidi Merrick hosted a ranch-inspired fashion event at The Alisal in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.
Heidi Merrick Shows Ranch-Inspired Autumn/Winter ’21/22 Collection
Merrick’s RNCH
Unveiling the Autumn/Winter ’21/’22 RNCH collection, Heidi Merrick hosted a ranch-inspired fashion event at The Alisal in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.
Industry Focus: Fiber, Yarn and Fabric—What features in fiber and yarn are your clients demanding, and how is this trend shaping the future of your business?
Textiles
Within the foundation of every garment constructed, at the core of each piece of clothing that is made, is the cornerstone of fashion that lays the groundwork for apparel from fiber, yarn and fabric. While consumers of the past were simply satisfied with the composition listed on the tags of their clothing, today’s customers want more.
DUER Opens Its Second U.S. Store
Retail
Vancouver-based performance-apparel brand DUER has opened its second U.S. bricks-and-mortar location and chose Los Angeles as the site.
Surf Expo Supports Watersport and Beach-Lifestyle Communities
Trade Shows
During its Sept. 9–11 run, event producer Emerald’s Surf Expo show returned to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
A Sustainable-Jeans Story: SFI, EB Denim Partner on Vintage-Inspired Collection
Vintage Sustainability
When denim company Star Fades International announced its opening in January, the mission was more than simply cultivating the local Los Angeles jeans market.
Gabrielle Union’s Fashion Line Relaunched by New York & Company's New Owners
FASHION LAUNCHES
Gabrielle Union announced the relaunch of her fashion line with New York & Company under the Saadia Group, a multi-category product manufacturing, wholesale, and retailing company.
Wednesday, September 29
Roberto Cavalli to Launch Cavalli Tower in Dubai
FASHION EXPANSION
Roberto Cavalli has announced the launch of Cavalli Tower, a 70-story skyscraper in Dubai, in a collaboration with Dubai-based global real estate developer DAMAC Properties.
Monday, September 27
Elie Tahari Opens First Los Angeles Shop
RETAIL
Fashion brand Elie Tahari unveiled its first Los Angeles location, which is its second store located in California.
Junk Kouture Enters U.S. Market
SUSTAINABILITY
Junk Kouture, a youth-oriented sustainable-fashion competition, has announced its entry into the United States market as part of its global expansion.
Fashion Nova and Afterpay Announce New Partnership
BUY NOW, PAY LATER
Afterpay and Fashion Nova have partnered together to offer shoppers a more flexible way to pay.
Friday, September 24
Stitch Fix Launches Freestyle Service
E-COMMERCE
Personal-shopping and -styling platform Stitch Fix announced a more-customized experience for its clients through the launch of its Freestyle offering.
Thursday, September 23
Vuori Partners With Gymnast Olivia Dunne
ACTIVEWEAR
Vuori, the Encinitas, Calif., activewear brand recently announced its partnership with gymnast Olivia "Livvy" Dunne, who will work with the label as a brand partner and collaborator.
NTWRK Receives $50 Million in Funding Led By Goldman Sachs
Finance
NTWRK, the livestream shopping platform aimed at Gen Z and Millennials, raised $50 million in funding led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and the global luxury group Kering.
LFW Includes Adaptive Fashion Show Through Faduma’s Fellowship Program
INCLUSIVE FASHION
As the style industry continues to make efforts to shed its notoriously exclusionary reputation, an adaptive-fashion initiative took to the runway during London Fashion Week.
Wednesday, September 22
Riata Capital Group Announces Closing of WSS Sale to Foot Locker
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Riata Capital Group, a Dallas-based private-equity investment firm, has announced the closing of the sale of West Coast–based WSS, a premier specialty retailer of athletic, fashion, and work-related footwear and accessories, to Foot Locker for $750 million in cash subject to customary agreements.
Tuesday, September 21
TravisMathew Launches Eco Collection
SUSTAINABILITY
Men’s lifestyle brand TravisMathew has launched an eco-friendly collection that will lead company-wide sustainability efforts.
Moss Adams Announces Planned CEO Change
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
Moss Adams, one of the largest accounting, consulting and wealth-management firms in the United States, recently announced the selection of Eric Miles as the next chairman and chief executive officer effective April 1, 2022.
Monday, September 20
H&M Premieres Short Film in Support of Climate Week
SUSTAINABILITY
Fashion retailer H&M has revealed a new short film in support of Climate Week NYC, which runs from Sept. 20 through Sept. 26.
Friday, September 17
eBay Offering Chance to Win Rare Sneakers
EVENTS
Inspired by eBay’s sneaker buying and reselling community, the website is launching Inside Drop, an exclusive opportunity for sneakerheads to obtain rare pairs of shoes.
Thursday, September 16
SONSON Launches New Collection Celebrating Creatives and Trailblazers
FASHION ACCESSORIES
SONSON has announced its new Winter/Spring '22 capsule collection, Excellence. The collection celebrates creatives and trailblazers who excel in front and behind the scenes, ones who create a buzz throughout the world and break metaphorical glass ceilings.
Tailored Brands Announces New Chief Technology Officer
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
Menswear-retail holding company Tailored Brands, Inc.,headquartered in Houston and Fremont, Calif., and includes in its portfolio Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores Clothing and K&G Fashion Superstore, has announced Scott Vifquain as its new executive vice president and chief technology officer.
Heading East, California Designers Shine During NYFW
California for NYFW
As the fashionable set returned to the runway for New York Fashion Week’s Spring 2022 hybrid on-site and virtual events, California designers shone through with Golden State style during in-person shows and filmed presentations.
Fabric Alternatives PLNT FIBER and FRUT FIBER Introduced by Pangaia
PLNT-ing Good
Seeking to combat the negative impacts of pollutive textiles in the fashion industry, materials-science company Pangaia unveiled its latest innovations in the fabric space. Manufactured from plant fibers, Pangaia’s PLNT FIBER and FRUT FIBER were introduced as the company commits further to a mission of moving apparel manxufacturing away from nonorganic cotton and synthetics created from petroleum-based resources.
Buyers and Exhibitors Converge at FMNC for Immediates, Spring Styles
Trade Shows
During its most-recent edition, Fashion Market Northern California hosted its trade event at the Embassy Suites South San Francisco as buyers who value local shows met with exhibitors who were ready to take orders on Immediates and Spring. According to FMNC Executive Director Mary Taft, the show is continuing to grow with 25 to 30 new stores in attendance during each edition.
Boma Jewelry Awarded B Corp Certification
Sustainabilty
Boma Jewelry, a Seattle-based jewelry brand, was recently awarded B Corp Certification status, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Boma becomes the only jewelry brand in Seattle, as well as one of less than 20 jewelry brands worldwide, to be awarded the certification.
Resale App Sea n’ Soul Helps Environment, Users Earn Cash
Technology
Sea n’ Soul is here to help Mother Earth. As an avid surfer and environmentalist, John Kozlowski spends most of his days at the beach and in the ocean. As a professional, Kozlowski has spent years as an executive in the retail, fashion and apparel industry with roles at Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren and GQ magazine.
Tiffany Brown Designs Bring Purple to NYFW
FASHION WEEK
In a return to in-person runway shows, Tiffany Brown Designs debuted its Spring/Summer ’22 collection at New York Fashion Week showcasing a menswear and womenswear collection in 50 different shades of purple.
Tuesday, September 14
Kornit Commits to Water Conservation and Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions Reduction
TEXTILE SUSTAINABILITY
Digital-textile production-technology company Kornit Digital Ltd. has released its “2020 Impact and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report,” which reaffirms Kornit’s commitment to achieving specific ESG goals.
VF and Redress Announce 2021 Winner of Sustainable-Fashion Competition
SUSTAINABLE FASHION
VF Corporation, a leader in branded clothing, footwear and lifestyle accessories, in partnership with the environmental charity Redress announced the winner of the 2021 Redress Design Award, which reflects VF’s ongoing effort to innovate and drive the next generation of environmentally conscious designers.
Pacsun Launches Dedicated Gender-Neutral Collection
FASHION EVENTS
Pacsun launched its first fully dedicated gender-neutral collection, Colour Range, featuring t-shirts, sweatpants, cargo, and slim-fit pants in solid and tie-dye prints for adults and kids.
Subskription Launches Custom Product-Drop Platform for Fashion Influencers
SOCIAL COMMERCE
An innovative new platform aims to help influencers better serve and capitalize on their followers by creating custom monthly drops that bypass traditional brand partnerships.
Monday, September 13
Tukatech and FABFAD Announce Collaboration
MICROFACTORY
Fashion-technology provider Tukatech, and FABFAD, the Los Angeles-based digital and full-service microfactory, have announced a collaboration that connects TUKA3D Designer Edition to more than 100,00 unique fabric prints designed and sourced by FABFAD.
Friday, September 10
Louis Vuitton Unveils Savoir-Faire Experience in Los Angeles
LUXURY FASHION
French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton presented its savoir-faire exhibition this week in Los Angeles at Goya Studios, featuring the heritage brand's extraordinarily crafted products.
Thursday, September 9
Vuori Opens Abbot Kinney Location
ACTIVEWEAR
Encinitas, Calif., Climate Neutral Certified activewear brand Vuori unveiled a new location in Venice Beach, Calif., recently, as the company experiences rapid growth.
Wednesday, September 8
Ava by Pol' Atteu Brings Together Disney Star and Beverly Hills Designer
COLLABORATIONS
After being postponed due to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, a collaboration between actor Ava Kolker and Beverly Hills designer Pol' Atteu was released over the summer through Ava by Pol' Atteu to bring affordable luxury to children, teens and women.
Friday, September 3
Carhartt and Metallica Join Forces to Attract Next Generation to Skilled-Trade Jobs
FASHION CARES
As Labor Day approached, workwear brand Carhartt and iconic metal band Metallica planned to collaborate to attract a new generation to enter the skilled-trade labor force.
Amazon and Affirm Announce Partnership for Pay-Over-Time Option
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY
Payment network Affirm announced a partnership with Amazon that will allow Amazon.com customers to choose from more-flexible payment options during checkout.
Thursday, September 2
Sprayground Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of 'How High' Starring Method Man and Redman
STREETWEAR
Known for its celebration of popular culture, Sprayground recently released a new backpack that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the cult-classic film "How High," starring Method Man and Redman.
Curve Los Angeles Returns With Sequel to Its 2020 Debut
Trade Shows
Following the success of its February 2020 premiere, the intimates show Curve Los Angeles was hosted Aug. 23–24 at the Manhattan Beach, Calif., Westdrift Hotel, where buyers welcomed an opportunity to conduct business in person.
Advanced Fashion Design Graduates Unveil Collections at FIDM Debut Show
Fashionable Debut
For the second virtual installment of its annual FIDM Debut, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising showcased the creations of nine students as they graduated into their designer careers.
Kingpins Cancels December On-site Show
Trade Shows
Originally scheduled to take place Dec. 6–7, Kingpins New York has been canceled, show producers announced Sept. 1. Citing a rise in COVID-19 infection rates, low vaccination on a global scale, potential travel restrictions and a bleak outlook from health experts, Kingpin’s organizers made the difficult decision to suspend the New York edition, which would have been the brand’s return to the show floor by hosting an on-site event for the first time in two years.
New Collective to Promote Los Angeles Market Offerings, Attract Buyers
Trade Shows
A yet-to-be-named collective of wholesale-apparel organizations located within the Los Angeles Fashion District has been formed ahead of the city’s October Los Angeles Market Week.
Using AI, Taelor Affords a Perfectly Fit Fashion-Rental Experience to Its Customers
Rental Redesign
Looking around the fashion-rental space, Anya Cheng noticed a heavy focus on women’s apparel. With a career that includes working in social-media commerce for platforms on Facebook and Instagram, in addition to a position with Target, during which Cheng led the retailer’s digital transformation through development of its mobile-tablet application, she used these experiences to develop Taelor.
Luxury Is the Foundation for Elevated Basics at Myles Price
Elevated Basics
While fashion has reevaluated its approach to how style mavens can blend feeling comfortable with appearing chic, Myles Price focuses on developing basics through an approach to true luxury.
DMC Welcomes Record-Setting Number of Exhibitors, Ready and Eager Buyers
Trade Shows
With a record-setting number of exhibitors, the Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market was buzzing with buyer energy throughout 15 floors of curated lines, products and categories at the Dallas Market Center Aug. 24–27. Focused on contemporary men’s and women’s apparel and fashion accessories, the markets are home to up-and-coming and established brands.
TUMI, Missoni Release Exclusive Collection
ACCESSORIES
Tumi, the leading international travel and lifestyle brand, has partnered with Italian luxury-fashion house Missoni for an exclusive collection of bags, hard cases and travel accessories.
Wednesday, September 1
& Other Stories Partners With Nordstrom to Release Collection
FASHION
& Other Stories, a one-stop styling destination creating modern and feminine wardrobe treasures designed in Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles, is making a new home at Nordstrom.
