Stories for October 2008

Subscribe

Friday, October 31

Real Estate Opens Up in Former Garment Contracting Spaces

Los Angeles’ garment contractors are struggling, and they’re leaving behind a wave of unoccupied real estate in their wake....

Fashion Parties Never Stop in L.A.

For the Los Angeles’ fashion scene, no rest is permitted because store parties have been keeping social calendars busy....

Cautious Outlook at L.A. Textile Show

There was plenty to see and plenty to do at the Oct. 27–29 run of the Los Angeles International Textile Show, but many exhibitors reported lower traffic, fewer buyers and more-cautiou...

Risk Management: Protecting companies from employment practices claims

Robert Mahl is vice president of Sander A. Kessler & Associates Inc., a Santa Monica,...

Lifting News

Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco is unveiling a new blue-jeans style that promises to do a little more than make you look sporty. The new Ultimate Lift 544 jeans are supposed to enhance your derriegrav...

Pure Style Girlfriends

Juliana Lutzi’s company, Pure Style Girlfriends, takes the essential items in a woman’s fashion first-aid kit and gives them a stylish upgrade....

Value Less

Value City Department Stores, a retail chain launched in 1917 in Columbus, Ohio, has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company plans to close its 66 stores and liquidate its assets. In court documen...

Anand Jon's Rape Trial Wraps Up

The Anand Jon rape trial was expected to be sent to a six-man, six-woman jury on Oct. 31 as attorneys presented their closing arguments in the case being heard in Los Angeles Superior Court....

Capsule Launches Las Vegas Trade Show

Capsule, the indie menswear trade show that has organized exhibits in New York and Paris, is now setting its sights on Las Vegas....

O.C. Retail Center's Fate Rests With Voters

Residents in the growing Orange County city of San Clemente, Calif., will show their approval or disapproval for the unconventional Playa Del Norte retail center when they go to the polls Nov...

Plant Closure

UCO Fabrics Inc., a specialty denim manufacturer, plans to close its plant in Rockingham, N.C., and lay off 198 workers. Competition from lower-priced textiles made around the world has been a challenge for the compa...

Anita Arze: Hand-Knit Tradition, Modern Design

Anita Arze dug into her cultural roots and drew upon the handcraftsmanship of Bolivian knitting for the basis of her eponymous line of wraps, ponchos and coverups....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Joseph Domingo

Bay Area designer Joseph Domingo’s

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Born Uniqorn

Hollywood fashion label Born Uniqorn might seem tailored for the party life, but co-founders Taryn Manning and Tara Jane showed the line’s practical side at...

Only Hearts Kicks Off Charity Campaign

Only Hearts is starting the holiday giving season early with its “I Heart Sharing” campaign. The New York–based brand will use its Only Hearts boutiq...

Baja California Port Project Delayed

The turmoil in the world’s economic markets is prompting the Mexican government to extend the bidding deadline for its new port in Baja California....

Lectra's New U.S. President

Technology provider Lectra has promoted Roy Shurling to president of its North American division, succeeding David Rode, who left the company earlier this year and is now with Philad...

JH Partners Acquires La Perla

Bologna, Italy–based fine-lingerie company La Perla has a new owner. In July 2007, the San Francisco–based private-equity firm JH Partners LLC acquired a 70 percent stake in t...

Letter from the Editor: The Future of Fashion Week

For those of you who think Fashion Week in Los Angeles is over, I have this to say to you: You have not been paying attention....

W Jewelry: Designer-Inspired With a Local Twist

One of the fashion industry’s and Hollywood’s top costume designers’ favorite stops in the Los Angeles Fashion District is the Details showroom, located on the ground floor of...

Deshabille by Kathryn

In the landscape of lingerie design, affordable practicality and sexy-fun fashion don’t always intersect. Kathryn Hull found this out when she wen...

Apparel Samples Returned to Rightful Owner

What do you do when your apparel samples go missing?...

Duo Charged

Two former employees of ENK International, the Manhattan company that organizes fashion trade shows, have been charged with stealing trade secrets and computer hacking. The complaint, filed Oct. 27 in U.S. Di...

What Swoosh? Nike Logo on Down Low at L.A. Marketing Push

Not everybody is impressed by the world’s most dominant brand names. However, one of the most dominant footwear and fashion labels—Oregon-based Nike Inc., which earned $18.6 billion for fiscal 2008...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Viridis Luxe

Viridis Luxe, one of several green lines highlighted during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver C...

Knockin' on SCP's Penthouse

In Spring 2009, a Prada and a Miu Miu boutique will set up shop at luxury retail center South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif. But on Oct. 28, a group of journalists was treated to a dinner and a special viewing of South Coast Plaza’s newest section. It is called The Penthouse, and it was...

Creative Space Opens Near Fashion District

The building at 915 S. Mateo St. in downtown Los Angeles, which was once an aging former apparel manufacturing space, is now a state-of-the-art office/design facility aimed at the apparel industry....

Monday, October 27

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Juuml;nker

You don’t hear this at every fashion show: “Hey folks, there’s still time to get a lap dance in before the show starts!”...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Andrew Christian

The party started late at the Oct. 17

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Joyrich

The cheerful, colorful designs of Los Angeles–based Joyrich closed the slate of shows on Oct. 18 at BoxEight in Los Angeles. The brand, which is sold out of a multi-label store by the same na...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Post'age

Menswear label Post’age showed its

Friday, October 24

L.A. Market Better Than Expected for Many

Faced with an uncertain economy and an increasingly anxious consumer, many vendors and retailers revised their expectations for the Los Angeles Fashion Market Spring 2009, typically one of the calend...

Two Garment District Fires in Five Days

For the second time in less than a week, a fire adjacent to the Los Angeles Fashion District prompted scores of firefighters to respond to the blaze....

Streetwear Sale

Liz Claiborne has sold its Enyce label to Sean “Diddy” Combs, the singer who is also chief executive of the Sean John label. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Claiborne bought the brand, whi...

Great for Goody's

Here’s a semi-successful retail story. Discount clothing chain Goody’s has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, filed in June. To be more profitable, the Knoxville, Tenn.–based company has closed 69 store...

Fashion Icon Dies

“Mr. Blackwell,” the Los Angeles fashion designer and acerbic critic known for his annual “Worst Dressed List,” which targeted female celebrities, died Oct. 19 in Los Angeles. He was 86. The forme...

3-D Technology Expanding Well Beyond the Design Studio

Once upon a time, 3-D technology was the domain of Hollywood special-effects technicians and video-game producers. Then CAD companies began incorporating it into pattern-making to help pattern designers visua...

Knock It Off

Louis Vuitton Malletier has won a $3.5 million judgment in a New York court following its counterfeit lawsuit against three companies and two individuals accused of making products identical to those ...

Kitson to Open in Santa Monica

The Kitson empire will raise its flag in Santa Monica, Calif. The pop-culture boutique chain became prominent by mixing fashion and celebrity culture after opening its first...

'Project Runway'—The Finale Party

“Project Runway” held the finale party for the last episode that will...

Sensormatic Electronics Acquires Vue Technology

Boca Raton, Fla.–based Sensormatic Electronics Corp., maker of loss-prevention sensor tags for retailers, has acquired RFID (radio frequency identification) specialist Vue Technology,...

Obituary: Susie Lehr, 52

Showroom owner Susie Lehr died of an apparent brain aneurysm, said her friend Joy Ferrara. ...

Nicola Bertti in Beverly Hills

Southern California weather is still moderately warm, but that didn’t stop guests at Nicola Bertti’s store party on Oct. 15 who shopped current Fall merchandise in anticipation of the chill of autumn. Guests si...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Rojas

The Rojas boutique on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles is a go-to for outfitting neon club kids that spend their nocturnal hours busting moves on the dance floor. Those rhythm-blessed fans turned out to...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Michel Berandi

Michel Berandi’s

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: MartinMartin

After several seasons away from the runway,

Yunique Opens West Coast Office

New York–based PLM (product lifecycle management) software provider Yunique Solutions hired veteran technology executive Rodney Harrelson as its Western regional sales director, a new...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Brian Lichtenberg

Brian Lichtenberg, the underground fashion darling whose sexy, body-conscious styles are favorites with editors and club kids alike, didn’t disappoint with his Oct. 17 show at BoxEight Studios in Los ...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Up Next: Emerging L.A. Designers

Classic and new wave styles seemed to be the respective inspirations for emerging designer labels Keemia and Monn’Amur. On Oct. 15, the labels gave a view of their Spring 2...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Beau Monde Pink Label

With one foot in Paris and one foot in Los Angeles, designer Jennifer Van Leuvan’s

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Yotam Solomon

Young designer Yotam Solomon showed his

Fessler Gets Grant for Solar-Powered Factory

Orwigsburg, Penn.–based knitwear manufacturer FesslerUSA received a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) to help fund the installation of a solar power pl...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Secta

Timeless, chic and subtly sexy—that was the look of Secta. The New York–based collection debuted on the runway at BoxEight...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show

The Green Initiative Humanitarian show should have been called “Where the Wild T...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Leila Hafzi

Tibetan mythology played a center role in designer

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Anzevino and Florence

Imagine if Goldilocks landed on the moon in a ballet dress. That was the look of the Anzev...

New Zweave 2.0 Available

South Orange, N.J.–based Zweave Inc. has released a new version of its PLM (product lifecycle management) application, Zdesign 2.0., designed specifically for the retail, footwear and...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Amelia Toro

For Amelia Toro, fashion might as well be about dance. It’s because a dancer’s graceful movement was one of the inspirations for the Colombia-based designer’s...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Lana Fuchs Couture

Lana Fuchs was one of several designers from the desert making their debuts at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Culver City, Calif...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Jordi Scott

New York–based line Jordi Scott came out west to showcase its Spring/Summe...

West Coast Companies at N.Y. Tech Conference

Emerging technologies such as product lifecycle management, radio frequency identification and 3-D design applications will be among the subjects discussed at the Apparel Technology Conferen...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Voom by Joy Han

With this being an election year, Joy Han took advantage of the political scenario, as well as the California Market Center’s newly renovated patio, to stage her Voom by Joy Han Spring...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Kucoon

In a play off its name, Kucoon opened its

Raj Expands Headquarters, Adds Employees

Swimwear maker Raj Manufacturing, based in Tustin, Calif., has added 10,000 square feet of warehouse space to make room for its new brands, new employees and expected sales growth....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Samora

French fashions often raise eyebrows, and Los Angeles–based label Samora hoped French cachet would give its Spring...

Adrenalina's Bid to Purchase PacSun Rejected

On Oct. 20, tiny Miami, Fla.–based retailer Adrenalina made a $296 million unsolicited buyout bid for Anaheim, Calif.–based retail giant Pacific Sunwear of California. Adrenalina, a three-store core a...

Stepping Out

Shoe Pavilion, the Sherman Oaks–based publicly traded company, is closing all 64 of its stores by the end of the year. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, was one of ...

Exit Strategy

After 25 years with the company, Michael Scarpa is leaving Liz Claiborne Inc., where most recently he was the chief operating officer. Scarpa will not be replaced. His duties will be divided among oth...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Sue Wong

Sue Wong presented her latest collection, titled “

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Debra Davenport

Debra Davenport’s first collection, shown Oct. 15 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios i...

Textile Show Seminars

The

AAFA/CFA Summit: Tough Economic Times Mean 'Think Harder, Smarter'

The economy will be treading water for quite a long time, which is why retailers and manufacturers will need to sharpen their skills in marketing, merchandising and brand building to survive....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Christian Audigier

Christian Audigier is not shy about emblazoning his name and initials over every square inch of his clothing. And for...

Syspro's ERP Appeals to Small Businesses

Taiwanese footwear and apparel manufacturer Pou Chen Corp. signed a contract to use business-management software by Costa Mesa, Calif.–based Syspro....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Fremont

Fremont brought its hipster sensibility to the runway Oct. 16 at BoxEight in Los Angeles with a collection...

Gerber to Release New WebPDM

Gerber Technology has updated its popular WebPDM software, which manages specs, costing and other data during the pre-production process....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Nonja McKenzie

Fresh to the runway scene was designer Nonja McKenzie, a Los Angeles stylist who

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Trovata

Trovata brought its brand of low-key preppy cool to West Hollywood, Calif., with a rooftop party at the Palihouse. The Orange County, Calif.–based line threw a Los Angeles Fashion We...

Gottschalks Delisted from NYSE

Leaders of troubled department-store chain Gottschalks Inc. said they would appeal its recent delisting from the New York Stock Exchange, which is scheduled to take place Oct. 27....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: D'Amore by Marceau

Caroline D’Amore couldn’t make the Oct. 14 debut of D’Amore by Marceau at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif. She was filming a movie on the East Coast, but th...

Third Run for European Rendez-Vous

Los Angeles designers and fabric buyers dropped in to check out the latest collections from several European fabric mills at the European Textile Rendez-Vous, which was held Oct. 14–1...

Lucky Brand Looks for Interactivity With Shoppers

Los Angeles–based Lucky Brand is exploring new ways to communicate with its customers over its Web site,

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Idol Radec

A nostalgic trip down memory lane inspired the

Rays Apparel to Shutter Doors

Rays Apparel, the Irvine, Calif.–based licensee of the surf brand Split, confirmed that it will cease operations....

On-Demand Printing Goes Luxe

The emergence of on-demand printing has lowered the barriers of entry for the smallest of apparel companies and even consumers. Coupled with online ventures such as Cafeacute; Press ...

French Coat Makes the English-Style Boutique

Sammie Rawjee is serious about offering a bit of London fashion in Beverly Hills. She typically travels to the British capital one week each month to find new merchandise for her shop, Sammie LA London. It o...

American Apparel Advances RFID Projects

American Apparel, which recently announced a plan to employ radio-frequency identification merchandise tracking technology in some of its stores, is about to roll out the inventory-management...

GlobalTex Names New Business-Development Exec

The new GlobalTex textile show, debuting in Los Angeles in April, has appointed David Pennes as its vice president of new business development....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Dye 4 Gething

The Grecian inspiration was clear in the

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Lauren Conrad Collection

Reality TV star Lauren Conrad debuted the second season of her fashion line, Lauren Con...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Tulle and Cloth Logic

Men and women shared the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., for the...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Raquel Allegra

Designer Raquel Allegra elevates the concept of a deconstructed T-shirt to artistic heights. For

Tuesday, October 21

When Animals Walk (Runways)

Mikey Koffman recently learned controversy can be found even in the seemingly most innocent of statements when she produced the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show on Oct. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox...

Friday, October 17

Tt Collection

Cooper Design SpaceSuite 308(213) 243-0986...

Holly Surya

California Market CenterSuite A1092(213) 624-7424...

Ways & Means

824 BuildingSuite 305(213) 784-2646...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Whitley Kros

The designers behind Whitley Kros—Marissa Ribisi and Sophia Coloma—always have a lot of fun with their label, named after a fictitious character who travels around the world with her entire war...

Clothesnik: From Home to Dry Cleaners and Back Again

Eco-conscious entrepreneur Jane Wyler is out to cut down the consumption of one more form of disposable plastic bags. Wyler’s cotton canvas garment bag, called the Clothesnik, is designed to r...

FBI Offering Digital-Printing Rentals

Fashion Business Inc., in conjunction with Lake Forest, Calif.–based Brother International Corp. and its distributor, Paramount, Calif.–based Stitch City Inc., has r...

New Lines: The New Mart

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cortado ...

Tra La La: Pinup-Era Lingerie Gets Modern

High-waist panties and intricately stitched balconette bras that look like they could have been worn by vintage pinup models come to life with a modern twist in Kristine Hardig’s innerwear line, Tra L...

RFID Exec at Avery Dennison

Pasadena-based label and ticketing company Avery Dennison Corp. named John L. “Jack” Farrell Jr. vice president and general manager of Avery’s RFID division. Farrell will be based in the company...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Ed Hardy

The Ed Hardy empire just keeps growing. On Oct. 13, designer Christian Audigier gave a crowd full of acolytes at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., just what they wanted—more, more, more...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Kevan Hall

Designer Kevan Hall is a regular at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif. And this season, the creator of red-carpet gowns and cocktail dresses opened the five...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Suh-Tahn

Designers Shannon Nataf and Dimitry Tcharfas made their first appearance at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., on Oct. 12 with their Suh-Tahn collection, which was long o...

Education Resource Guide

These Los Angeles educationa...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Julia Clancey

British designer Julia Clancey

Max Azria to Be Fecirc;ted in Dallas

Max Azria will receive the “Fashion Excellence Award” at the 33rd Annual Dallas Fashion Awards on Oct. 25 in the Dallas Market Center....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Katy Rodriguez

Katy Rodriguez created a voyeur experience for her Spring ’09 presentation. The vintage retailer turned designer presented her col...

Ambiguous Founder Leaves to Start Comune

Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote “There are no second acts in American lives,” but Frank Delgadillo plans to prove there are second acts in the worlds of skate and active appa...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Sjobeck

On Oct. 11, the Malibu, Calif.–based men’s and women’s casual beach-lifestyle brand Sjobeck made its way west to stage its first-ever fashion show. Held at The Victorian in Santa Monica, Calif., Sjobe...

Ed Hardy/Le Marais LLC

Gerry BuildingSuites 303–308(213) 622-7708...

Quotas to End Soon, But Apparel Makers Still Cautious About China

With the end of quotas on Chinese-made clothing more than two months away, apparel makers are trying to figure out whether this really means the beginning of free trade. Most are extremely doubtful....

Kascade Showroom

Lady Liberty BuildingSuite 301(213) 612-4509...

New Lines: Gerry Building

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cortado ...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: The Jack Rabbit Collection

The Jack Rabbit Collection celebrated its Spring ’09 collection...

New Lines: California Market Center

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cort...

Janine Milne Studio

The New MartSuite 1010(213) 488-9500

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Maggie Barry

Los Angeles designer Maggie Barry presented a Victorian circus-themed collection on Oct. 13 at Club 740 in downtown Los Angeles....

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Crispin & Basilio

Crispin & Basilio designer Donny Barrios had California in mind when he began designing his...

Hubert Guez Joins Ed Hardy as Chief Executive

Since its inception in 2004, Los Angeles apparel company Ed Hardy has been on a meteoric rise....

Gray's Day at Smashbox

Singer Macy Gray was front and center at two of Thursday’s shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.The singer, clad in blue jeans and a colorful Ed Hardy T-shirt,...

L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Elmer Ave.

Despite their outsider approach to fashion, the designers of Elmer Ave. found themselves at the center of an appreciative crowd for their Oct. 13 presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif. For their...

New Lines: The Lady Liberty Building

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cortado ...

New Lines: Cooper Design Space

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cortado ...

Allen B. at JCP

Los Angeles– based designer Allen B. Schwartz, maker of the A.B.S. collection, will launch an exclusive women’s sportswear and dress collection called Allen B. at JCPenney beginning Spring 2009. The Allen B. collection will i...

Ashworth + Adidas

Carlsbad based golf apparel and hardgoods maker Ashworth Inc. struck a deal with TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, a segment of German footwear giant Adidas Group, which will acquire the golf company for $72.8 million. “The Ashworth br...

New Lines: The 824 Building

Each market-week issue, the California Apparel News lists new tenants and lines in the wholesale buildings located in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Compiled by Rhea Cortado ...

Tuesday, October 14

Elmer Ave: Why We Show

Fashion shows are expensive productions even in the best economic times. Yet fashion designer Jonny Day shoulders the cost because, he says, a runway show is the best instrument to separate a designer from the rest of the crowd....

Monday, October 13

K.Z.O., Gen Art and the Recycled Dead

Deer legs, chicken feet and porcupine skulls? In case you’re wondering where those shocking accessories featured in K.Z.O.’s runway show at Gen Art came from, here is the answer. The line, called “Road Kill,” is created by designers Christopher...

Method to the 'Mad Men'

A parade of Tinseltown’s stylish ladies—Emmy Rossum, Molly Sims, Sophia Bush, Kristen Bell, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Eve and Rose McGowan—turned out in their cutest short party frocks for the Hollywood Style Awards, presented by Hollywood Life magazine and Nikon. The event...

Kevan Hall at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

A standing-room only crowd packed the main tent at Smashbox Studios to see the opening fashion show, headlined by Los Angeles designer Kevan Hall. In the audience, sitting in the front row was Los Angeles Mayor Antonio...

Friday, October 10

Directives West: 'L.A. Modern'

Directives West followed up its contemporary, juniors and girls’ presentation with a smaller one for the better and moderate markets. Titled...

Eco Resource Guide

Alternative, premium fashion statements inspired by and created for free-thinking individuals everywhere, in 2007 released Alternative Earth, an eco-friendly collection of the brand’s signature fashion-forward, vintage-soft apparel. Alternative Earth features shirts made from 100%...

Credit Crisis Cuts Into September Sales

Retailers Nordstrom and JCPenney lowered their third-quarter earnings forecast as they reported lackluster September sales numbers this week. The revised earnings forecasts were the ...

European Designers Highlight Masters Series Workshop

A slate of acclaimed international designers will participate in a workshop and fashion show as part of the Arts of Fashion MasterClass series set for Oct. 25–29 in San Francisco....

Directives West: 'Dreaming About California'

Directives West, a merchandising consulting firm headquartered in the California Market Center, showcased its vision of key...

One Step Retail Garners Awards

Los Angeles–based One Step Retail Solutions received awards for sales and performance from Retail Pro Inc., a developer and marketer of point-of-sale and inventory- management softwar...

Strategic Partnerships a New Way of Life for Tech Vendors

Many technology vendors are adopting the buddy system as a way to stay competitive during a challenging time. Be it through mergers and acquisitions or marketing partnerships or joint ventures, teamin...

Retailers Hunt for Bargains, an Edge at Majors Market

The bad news just kept coming. ...

Breakup at Liz

Designer NarcisoRodriguez is leaving Liz Claiborne Inc. after more than a year at the New York–based clothing company. In May 2007, Liz acquired a 50 percent stake in the Narciso Rodriguez name and trademarks ...

Eco Is The New All-American

Is Eco the new All-American? Well, if beauty pageants and fashion go hand-in-hand, then it must be true. Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, turned up at last night’s Gen Art Soyjoy “Fashionably Natural” to lend her support to the...

Outlook Lean and Mean Going Into Holiday '08 Season

What a difference a year makes....

m-Commerce: Coming to a Phone Near You

Last year, the question was asked: Will apparel embrace m-commerce, shopping via wireless Internet or mobile devices? The answer appears to be “yes”—but we’re not quite there yet....

Indie Fashion Event Bows in Bay Area

San Francisco’s fashion scene was dealt a blow following the closure of San Francisco Fashion Week earlier this year, but Bay Area designers now have a new platform with whic...

Fashion District BID on Its Way to Approval

The Los Angeles Fashion District, which earlier this summer was in danger of being dissolved, is on its way to continuing on for another five years, as property owners have approved a petiti...

Economists Talk Optimism and Tough Times at ICSC

Even at a time that many economists are calling one of the worst markets in a generation, some retailers are expanding. ...

Varvatos Talks Brand Building at Malibu Debut

Elegantly disheveled sneakers and suits definitely not like your father’s pin stripes—these are just a couple aspects of John Varvatos’ rolling brand machine. When the award-winning designer (h...

Jerry Leigh Automates Sourcing, Production

Van Nuys, Calif.–based manufacturer Jerry Leigh is in the process of automating its sourcing and production operations with new software provided by Miami Lakes, Fla.–based NGC Softwar...

New Execs

Eddie Bauer Holdings, based in Seattle, has added two new executives to its staff. The retailer has named Jean Park as its divisional vice president, men’s merchandising, and appointed Scott Hutsenpiller as the vice p...

Textile Designer, Merchandiser Linda Dorsey, 65

A celebration-of-life gathering is planned for Oct. 11 at the Pasadena, Calif., home of Linda Dorsey, who died on Oct. 3 after a long battle with colon cancer. She was 65. ...

Spring 2009 Denim Trends

Premium-denim manufacturers put an innovative spin on tried-and-true trends. ...

Wizard of Oz

Robert Langtry is out to change the way you think about Australian wool. For starters, it comes in green. ...

Ahead of the Curve

Trend forecaster Denimhead consults on the future of jeans....

Smashbox Studios and IMG to Separate

The marriage is over....

Big Dog Goes Small

By the year 2009, there won’t be any more Big Dog retail stores in the country. Big Dog, which changed its name earlier this year to The Walking Company Holdings and is headquartered in Santa Barbara, ...

Lake Ave. Stores in Pasadena Up for Sale

One of Pasadena’s retail gems, The Lake Avenue Shops, has been put on the block for $15.5 million, said Irvine, Calif.–based broker Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, which ...

Denim Resource Guide

Supplier Gulf Denim is motivated by the simple ideal to provide the highest standards of quality and service. Beginning with the critical selection of raw materials from world-class sources, no short-...

Latino Fashion Week

For the third year, the Dominican Republic Fashion Week will be held in Santo Domingo. This year, the six-day event takes place Oct. 13 to 18, including 23 runway shows at the Occidental Hotel El Emba...

Ramping Up Rampage

Iconix BrandGroup in New York, which owns the Rampage label, announced it entered into a licensing agreement with ECI to exclusively manufacture Rampage sportswear and dresses. The collection will launch in Spring 20...

Wednesday, October 8

American Express Offering VIP Packages for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

American Express card holders have a chance to purchase VIP packages to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. The package includes seats at the runway shows and a special cocktail reception. American Express...

Smashbox Studios and IMG Split

L.A. Fashion Week is headed for another stage of evolution. The Los Angeles Times reports that Smashbox Studios and IMG will “part ways” after the Spring ’09 season of shows, which kicks off on Sunday. This confirms recent rumors that had been...

Monday, October 6

Martin Martin, Berandi Join Boxeight

Word on the street is that Martin Martin will return to Los Angeles Fashion Week as part of the Boxeight lineup. Husband-and-wife design team Eric Martin and Diane Moss Martin were a longtime highlight on the Los Angeles Fashion...

Scott + Schott = Motorcycle Chic

For his Sept. 30 runway show in Paris, Los Angeles–based designer Jeremy Scott teamed with New York–based outerwear label Schott to put his own twist on the classic American motorcycle jacket. Schott is best known for its...

Friday, October 3

Larry Hansel Launches New Line, Re-enters Juniors Market

It’s the end of an era....

The Ecko is Strong With You

New York–based streetwear maven Marc Ecko has released a limited-edition “Star Wars Collection” of men’s apparel. The screen-printed hoodies and tees feature imagery from the six “Star Wars...

It’s All About The Shoes

Shoetube.tv, a new only-video channel and social-networking community dedicated to shoe lovers, recently...

L.A. Fashion Week/Market Calendar

NOTE: Most Fashion Week events are invitation-only. Please contact the fashion-show producers prior to the day of the show. Also, please confirm all times and locations before the event, as t...

It#039;s All About The Shoes

Shoetube.tv, a new only-video channel and social-networking community dedicated to shoe lovers, recently...

L.A. Fashion District to Party Down(town)

The Los Angeles Fashion District and Reveal Los Angeles, the upcoming fashion and design event organized by IDG World Expo, will host a p...

Delia's Sells Skate Brand CCS

New York–based catalog and online retailer Delia’s Inc. sold its CCS skate apparel/shoe business to footwear chain Foot Locker Inc. for $102 million in cash. In connection with the deal, Delia’s struck a separate agreem...

Nuwa Textiles: The Greening of Polyester

When environmentally friendly business practices began to grow in popularity, textile maker Michael Shih decided to look at his family’s nearly 40-year-old textile business to see what could be done to...

Iconix Goes Home With Waverly

New York–based Iconix Brand Group Inc.—owner of the Candie’s, Bongo, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, Rampage, Oce...

Academy Award Calls It a Wrap

An era in Los Angeles men’s retail came to an end when Academy Award Clothes announced recently it would shut its doors....

New Report on Los Angeles' Creative Economy Released

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. released its second annual report on the creative economy of the Los Angeles region. The report, commissioned by Otis College of Art &...

Forever 21 Makes an Offer for Mervyns' Stores

Mervyns’ bad luck may be Forever 21’s good fortune....

Barbara Fields Hosts Trend Open House

Barbara Fields is changing the format of her juniors trend-presentation event this season to an open house and private-appointment event during the Oct. 6–8 Los Angeles Majors Market. ...

Designer Eletra Casadei, 55

Eletra Casadei died on Sept. 27 following a long battle with brain cancer. She was 55 years old....

Costa Rica Gets Extension to Join Free Trade Agreement

Costa Rica has gotten a three-month extension to join the Dominican Republic–Central American Free Trade Agreement....

Krell in at Mothers Work

Philadelphia-based maternity retailer Mothers Work promoted Chief Operating Officer Edward Krell to chief executive officer, following the retirement of current Chief Executive Officer Dan Matthias. ...

Tukatech to Be Featured in New Textbook

Veteran patternmaking instructor Helen J. Armstrong is going digital....

Shopping Centers Get Creative to Fill Vacancies

The recent flurry of store closures and bankruptcy filings from national retail chains has left shopping-center owners in the predicament of figuring out what to do with all that empty space....

Fluevog Remodels for Tough Times

The retail market may be going through a tough time, but fashion footwear designer John Fluevog could not think of a better moment to unveil the new look of his self-named footwear boutique, ...

FIDM's Textile Show

The next generation of textile design will be on display at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles beginning Oct. 8, when the design school hosts its annu...

Buying Vince Online

Los Angeles–based contemporary brand Vince, a division of Kellwood Co., has launched an e-commerce Web site at

Thursday, October 2

BOXeight art music fashion—the Lineup

BOXeight has announced a partial lineup for its Los Angeles Fashion Week event, called BOXeight art music fashion.So far, designers include Fremont, Anzevino Florence, UNIF, Kucoon, Raquel Allegra, Yotam Soloman, Le Sang Des Bates,...

Wednesday, October 1

The Battalion Featured on 90210

Los Angeles–based, eco-friendly line The Battalion was featured on the Sept. 30 episode of 90210, the CW network’s spinoff of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 series. The episode involved a runway show...