California Apparel News

Couture designer Lloyd Klein has been living a cross-continental life for the past six years, with his company’s design and production operations based in Paris and everything else in Los Angeles.

This fall, he will open his first boutique in Los Angeles. He said he hopes to shift his production to the city, as well.

“Currently, everything we do is out of Paris. Ideally, we’d like to do everything locally,” said Groupe Klein Vendome Inc. President John Arguellas, who is based in Los Angeles.

Arguellas said he and Klein were inspired by Richard Tyler. They reasoned that if a designer of Tyler’s caliber could run operations in Los Angeles, so could they. The two had also been looking forward to working near Tyler’s Beverly Boulevard boutique, but the Los Angeles designer shuttered his store earlier this year when he downsized his operations into an atelier in South Pasadena, Calif. “We were sorry to see him go—it would have been fun to have him as a neighbor,” Arguellas said.

Klein and Arguellas are currently on the hunt for high-end contractors to produce the company’s tailored and draped designs. Arguellas said the ultimate goal is to license segments of the collection to several manufacturers.

Klein, who last participated in Los Angeles Fashion Week in March 2004, will unveil the store and his Spring ’06 collection at a private opening party during the Oct. 16–20 run of Los Angeles Fashion Week.

The two-story store and atelier will be housed in a French Normandy–style historic building at 7415 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. The building, designed in 1928 by A.T. Heinsbergen & Co., features a wildlife pond, a small “moat” and a gothic turret. The space originally housed the Heinsbergen architecture firm. Until recently, bridal and eveningwear label Cantu & Castillo operated its design studio in the building, which is still owned by the Heinsbergen family.

Klein, who studied architecture before turning to fashion, is giving the 2,600-square-foot space the look and atmosphere of “an Old World Parisian salon,” the company announced. In addition to the boutique, the new space will include a private consultation lounge and fitting room and an editorial and sales showroom.

The boutique will include 1,200 square feet of retail space to display the entire Lloyd Klein collection, including accessories, jewelry, handbags and ready-to-wear. The company is also investigating licensing agreements for a Lloyd Klein fragrance and leather goods. And the designer plans to reintroduce a menswear line in the next two years.

Following the Los Angeles boutique opening, Klein plans to open stores in New York, Las Vegas and Bal Harbour, Fla.

Klein will continue to divide his time among his three homes in Paris, Los Angeles and New York. The designer previously had a showroom in New York but has since closed it.

“We’re focusing everything in L.A. right now,” Arguellas said.