California Apparel News

The recent terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., have drawn compassion for the victims and the families affected, with a number of Los Angeles citizens seeking ways to provide assistance.

Hot Kiss, Space Girlz Match Funds

Just days after the attack, two Los Angeles-based junior manufacturers decided to join forces to help. Moshe Tsabag, owner of Hot Kiss, and Richard Skolnick of Space Girlz offered to match whatever funds were raised by their employees to help those in need.

“I was tired of watching so much television and seeing everything going on in New York,” said Tsabag. “I decided I needed to do something about it.”

Tsabag had met with his employees on Sept. 13 and encouraged them to go to the local American Red Cross and donate blood but still felt compelled to do more. That same day, he spoke to Skolnick and the two discussed a matching-funds program for employees. Tsabag acted immediately and his employees responded.

“I gathered my people at 10:00 on Friday morning and told them that we needed to do more since we are over here safe while all the suffering and damage has happened in New York,” Tsabag said.

Tsabag asked his employees to give as much as they could and pledged to match them dollar for dollar. By the end of that day, the company had raised more than $6,000.

“It was a wonderful, spontaneous thing,” said Tsabag. “We raised a nice amount of money and we will give it to the Red Cross.”

Tsabag said he would continue to urge his friends in the apparel industry to undertake similar efforts. He and Skolnick are compiling a list of their friends to contact.

“In this way, the apparel industry in California can do something for the New York victims and their families,” Tsabag said.

Reps Join Forces

A group of California Mart and New Mart resources has launched a drive to assist victims and their families.

Tessuto in Suite C-536 and Erin Evans in Suite B-539 of the California Mart and KLA in Suite 704 of the New Mart are serving as drop-off points for donations that will be turned over to the American Red Cross. The donations will then be used for medical supplies, transportation and daily operations needs in the two impacted cities.

“All of us in the fashion community are so interconnected with New York. We just want to help,” said Ginger Vasquez of Tessuto.

Checks can be made out to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and be dropped off at or mailed to any of the aforementioned showrooms. The Cal Mart is located at 110 E. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90079. The New Mart’s address is 127 E. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Credit card donations can be made by calling 1-800-HELP NOW. For more information, call Vasquez at (213) 489-7997.

L.A. Sample Sale Planned

Haute Press in West Hollywood is throwing a sample sale on Oct. 6 to raise funds for those affected by the recent terrorist attacks.

Called “Retail Therapy,” the event will donate up to 20 percent of proceeds to the World Trade Center Relief Fund in conjunction with the American Red Cross. At the sale, dozens of local designers will sell their apparel, jewelry, hair accessories and beauty products at wholesale prices or lower.

Estevan Ramos, James Pearce, Seven jeans, Isabella Fiori, Varga and Ya Ya will be among the designers attending the event. Shoppers also will find there vintage T-shirts by Smashing Grandpa, rhinestone initials by Tomossini and reconstructed jeans by Jane’s Army. Additionally, retailers Blonde, Veronica M. and Barkley Hope will have displays.

Past “Retail Therapy” sales have attracted around 200 people, and Victoria Del Rico, the show’s co-organizer and Haute public relations executive, is hoping more will attend this year in honor of the charitable drive.

“People perceive this as a shallow industry, and we can’t sit back and do nothing,” said Del Rico. “We wanted to give back on behalf of the fashion industry in New York, and we’ve received a tremendous response from designers here.”

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Haute P.R. offices at 8961 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. For more information, call (310) 271-1777.

Lisner’s Labels Join Efforts

Janette Lisner said that as she watched the news coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she tried to think of a way she or her business could help. Lisner is a multi-line sales rep for Iskander, Georgiann, Amy Jo Jeans and Northstreet Designs, who works out of her self-named showroom in the California Mart.

The rep contacted the manufacturers she represents to ask if each would donate a portion of future sales to the American Red Cross. They jumped at the chance to help, Lisner said. —Alison A. Nieder, Nola Sarkisian-Miller, Robert McAllister, Darryl James