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.
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.
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.
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.
The Imprinted Sportwear Shows Change Name
The Imprinted Sportswear Shows will get a name change.
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.
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.
Fashion Designer Mossimo Giannulli and Wife Charged With Money Laundering
More charges filed against 16 parents caught up in college admissions cheating scandal.
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.
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.
A Look at Fall Fashions on the Runway
Los Angeles Fashion Week
The runways were full for Los Angeles Fashion Week with styles being seen in two locations this season.
Rue21 to Open a Buying Office in Los Angeles Fashion District
Retail
Rue21, the fast-fashion enterprise that now has more than 700 bricks-and-mortar stores across the country, is opening a West Coast buying office in Los Angeles to be closer to clothing manufacturers that supply the company.
Rent the Runway Sued by Competitor FashionPass
Legal
Rent the Runway was started in 2009 by two East Coast women who hit upon the idea of renting out clothes to a broad range of women who like to mix up their wardrobe but may not have the money to buy a full closet of clothes.
A Squad of Female Executives Takes Over at Manhattan Beachwear
Women Take Manhattan
Inside the two-story industrial office building that houses the vast Manhattan Beachwear operations in Cypress, Calif., a mini revolution is going on.
Guess? Inc. Reports Solid Earnings for Fiscal 2019
Manufacturing
Guess? Inc. has been undergoing a lot of executive changes this year, but that didn’t hamper its bottom line.
Trina Turk Visits the Vine for Her Fall 2019 Collection
Trina Turk Collection
For her Fall 2019 collection, Trina Turk took a trip to California’s wine country for her inspiration and colors.
New Shared Workspace Going to The Bloc in DTLA
Retail
For those who like to be able to shop in the same space where they work, then a new co-workspace at The Bloc in downtown Los Angeles might just be the place.
Koral Expands Into Men’s Activewear
Manufacturing
For several years now, Los Angeles designer Ilana Kugel has been the creative drive behind the Koral label, which has been producing high-end, stylish activewear for women who value quality and design.
S&S Activewear Shutters California Warehouse, Opens New Facility in Nevada
Manufacturing
S&S Activewear, the 31-year-old distributor of wholesale apparel, is laying off 136 employees as it prepares to close down its large warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
Disappearing Rains Help Buyer Traffic at LA Market
LA Market Brightens Up
A Los Angeles winter of heavy rains and unprecedented cold weather lifted for buyers attending the March 11–13 LA Market Week.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Sees a Downshifting in the Economy
Slower economy sees slower housing starts this year and next.
Fashion Designer Mossimo Giannulli and Wife Accused of Paying Bribes to Get Daughters Into USC
Los Angeles fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli and his wife were named in a massive federal indictment accusing wealthy individuals of paying bribes to get their children into prestigious universities.
Buffalo Exchange Celebrates 45 Years With Select Vintage and Unique Finds
Retail
The resale fashion house is celebrating with pop-up shops.
Gap Inc. Acquires Janie and Jack Stores
Retail
One week after Gap Inc. said it would be splitting into two separate, publicly traded companies, the company announced it had purchased the Janie and Jack retail chain from children’s retailer Gymboree Group Inc. for $35 million.
Big Challenges for Shipping Industry in 2020
Import/Export
Apparel and textile importers have spent the last year challenged by rising shipping rates and tight vessel space as cargo owners scrambled to bring in merchandise earlier than normal to beat an expected tariff rise on certain Chinese goods.
Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami Adds Events to Second Show
Trade Shows
Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami recently announced the lineup for its three-day show to be held May 28–30 at the same time as Miami Fashion Week.
A Cease-Fire in the Trade War Has the Apparel Industry Wondering What Will Happen Next
Import/Export
The recent lull in the trade war between the United States and China was good news for U.S. retailers, clothing manufacturers and importers who have seen their bottom line eroded by a 10 percent tariff on certain goods imported from China.
Gap Inc. to Split Into Two Separate Publicly Traded Companies
Retail
Old Navy to become a separate company from the rest of Gap Inc.'s brands.
Los Angeles Designers on the Runway at Art Hearts Fashion in New York
California Love for NYFW
Fernando Alberto was one of the Los Angeles designers who showed at Art Hearts Fashion in New York
New CEO Named for the National Council of Textile Organizations
Textiles
Kimberly Glas, a former deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods and materials at the U.S. Department of Commerce, was named the new president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Textile Organizations.
Splendid Names New Creative Director
Manufacturing
The Los Angeles premium label Splendid, which was acquired by Delta Galil Inc. nearly three years ago, has named a new creative director to help grow the brand.
LAEDC Economic Report Sees U.S. Growth Over the Next Two Years
Economy will slow down but will be on a positive path over the next two years.
Charlotte Russe Looking for an Angel to Buy the Retail Chain
Charlotte Russe is available to the highest bidder.
WWDMAGIC Puts the Fun Into the Trade-Show Scene
Trade Shows
Walking into WWDMAGIC is like walking into a warehouse of elaborately decorated stores with a huge party scene going on.
Sourcing at MAGIC Celebrates Chinese New York With a Dragon Parade on the Show Floor
Trade Shows
Sourcing at MAGIC has always been like a mini version of the United Nations. Countries from all over the world exhibit a wide-ranging collection of clothing, shoes, accessories, textiles and machinery.
OffPrice Adds New Section to Discount-Merchandise Trade Show
Trade Shows
New to the longstanding OffPrice show this year in Las Vegas was a section called Boutique Buyer.
Womenswear In Nevada Filled With Buyers Who Gathered for A Surprise Announcement
Trade Shows
Inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the various ballrooms with exotic names such as Amazon, Brasilia and Tropical were packed with clothing and accessories that painted a vivid portrait of the vast apparel offerings sold in the United States.
Tadashi Shoji Looks to Southeast Asia for His Fall/Winter 2019 Collection
Tadashi Shoji at NYFW
L.A. designer Tadashi Shoji had his fashions on the runway during New York Fashion Week for his Fall/Winter 2019 collection, which carried influences from Southeast Asia.
Levi Strauss Files IPO to Trade on New York Stock Exchange
Levi Strauss & Co. is going public with filing of IPO.
Naeem Khan to Headline LAFW
Fashion
The first night of LA Fashion Week will see New York designer Naeem Khan's creations on the runway.
Rodarte Debuts Fall 2019 Collection in Southern California
Rodarte Collection
Kate and Laura Mulleavy are home-grown designers who grew up in Pasadena, Calif. But their careers and their fashion shows for their Rodarte label have taken them mostly to New York, where their creations are seen on the runway during New York Fashion Week.
FIDM Unveils Some 100 Movie Costumes at its Annual Costume Design Exhibition
Movie Costume Exhibit
More than 800 people attended the Feb. 2 preview opening of the annual “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” exhibition, which features more than 100 movie costumes from some 25 films released in 2018.
Markdowns Cost U.S. Retailers $300 Billion in 2018
Retail
Who doesn’t love a sale? Consumers do, but for retailers the idea of discounting merchandise by 10 percent to 25 percent adds up.
