Hot Tempered and Novelty-Driven
Commerce, Calif.–based apparel maker Tantrum Apparel, makers of the 1-year-old Hot Tempered juniors label, launched a second line of better juniors tops under the L8er brand, which bowed for the first time locally during the Los Angeles Junior & Contemporary Majors Market at the California Market Center.
The L8er line takes its trend cues from the more volume-driven Hot Tempered line but reinterprets them for better retailers such as Saks Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. and better specialty chains, said Daniel Sheehan, who co-owns the company with partners Corinne Franco, Ira Rosenburg and Jay Balaban.
“L8er is our more expensive fashion line, while Hot Tempered offers fashion and basics at a [competitive] price,” said Sheehan.
Both collections are currently offering retro ’50s, ’60s and ’80s styles in Tantrum’s signature nylon interlock knit, but the company will reinterpret these looks according to the retailers that carry them. For example, Tantrum might present the capsleeve, ballet-neck “Marilyn” top in a simple version for Hot Tempered but rework the same body with bow details for L8er.
L8er wholesales from $8 to $14, and Hot Tempered wholesales from $5 to $10.
According to the company, Hot Tempered’s item-driven knit tops have performed well with retailers such as The May Department Stores Co. and the J.C. Penney Co. Inc. “The combination of dressy and casual product is definitely very salable,” Sheehan said.
For Spring 2004, Tantrum plans to add knit bottoms, including striped miniskirts, to Hot Tempered to coordinate with the line’s other ’80s-inspired looks, including neon off-the-shoulder shirts. L8er’s styles will include novelty tops and baby T-shirts with vintage screen prints.
For information, call (323) 890- 8000, Ext. 230, or visit Tantrum’s temporary CMC showroom in suite A1391. —Alison A. Nieder
