Stories for February 2012

Retail Sales Mixed in February

External factors kept retail sales mixed in February....

Piston Clothing Takes Off With ’Sons of Anarchy’ License

For years, half brothers Johnny Lucero and Eric Anthony faced off in a friendly completion, each designing clothes for the hot-rod set. More recently, the family competition has played out through licensing ...

Apparel News Daily Reader

New fashion stars pepper the Oscars (Daily Herald)Angelina Jolie leg sparks online craze of parody photos (BBC)Accessories step ahead as Italian fashion...

The Red Carpet Goes Green at Oscar 2012

Ifyou looked very closely at the red carpet at last Sunday’s Oscars, you might have noticed a bit of green—and we’re not talkingabout best actress nominee Viola Davis’s emerald frock.

Billabong Rejects TPG’s Second Buyout Offer

Australian surf brand Billabong rejected a second, higher buyout offer from TPG Capital upon the advice of the company’s non-executive directors and a major shareholder....

Christian Audigier Still Trying to Sell Two Properties

How tough is the housing market? Maybe Christian Audigier, the former guru of Ed Hardy apparel, could tell you. He has been trying to shed a couple of properties without success.In May he listed his spectacular...

MeUndies: Give Me Convenience Or Give Me...

Confederacy's newest, and only, vending machine.Life is all about convenience. So why can’t we get underwear from a vending machine?!?Entrepreneurs Jonathan Shokrian and Barak Diskin must have been obsessing about this same thought.But they did...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Angelina Jolie Criticized for Frail Appearance at 2012 Oscars (US Weekly)Galleries: First vivid threads of a fiber celebration (Philadelphia...

Ekquality Style Hause's Pre-Oscar Party

Manuel Jackson of Ekquality Style Hause.Scan any crowd in Los Angeles, you’re going to spot more than a few women’s fashion stylists, but there are few men’s stylists.Manuel Jackson plans to bring up the vanguard for this field of men’s...

Robert Rodriguez Adds a New Edition

A look from the Spring 2012 collection for Robert Rodriguez Collection Los Angeles designer Robert Rodriguez is expanding.He already has his Robert Rodriguez Collection of contemporary wear, his Robbi ...

LA on the Red Carpet

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi ShojiCongratulations to all the California designers whose gowns appeared on the red carpet at last night’s Academy Awards. A special shout-out to Octavia Spencer, who took home the Oscar for best supporting...

Clade Takes Downtown L.A.

Maya ReynoldsMaya Reynolds has placed her Clade menswear line in some of Los Angeles’ most exclusive boutiques; Traffic, Church and Opening Ceremony. Since she opened up her own boutique, also called Clade, in November, she has a perch to provide an alternative...

Canadian-Based NRI Distribution Opens Warehouse in Southern Calif.

Inside NRI Distribution’s new warehouse in Compton, Calif., no space is wasted.

Schiff Joins American Apparel

Basics manufacturer and retailer American Apparel Inc. hired Jordan Schiff, a former Urban Outfitters Inc. executive and analyst at Deloitte, to be a general merchandise manager for the Los ...

U.S.-Korea Free-Trade Agreement to Be Reality Soon

The U.S. trade representative said the free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea will go into effect March 15.

Kiva Systems Lands on Fast Company’s Most Innovative List

Technology and robotics company Kiva Systems has been named one of Fast Company magazine’s “World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.” The business, known for its ...

Tavik Partners With Incipio

Fashion and swimwear brand Tavik, based in Southern California’s Orange County, has a new home—and possibly more—in the offices of Incipio, an Irvine, Calif.–based designer and manufacturer o...

QVC Features Oscar Red-Carpet Styles

Multimedia retailer QVC is bringing back star-studded style with its “The Buzz on the Red Carpet—Live From L.A” special Academy Awards broadcast. The show will ...

Billabong Reacts to TPG Capital Bid

Billabong International Ltd. is trying to avoid a wipeout.

China V.P. Xi Jinping Inks Deal to Buy American Cotton

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping toured the

Apparel News Daily Reader

Bosom buddies: Victoria Beckham gets very hands with Eva Longoria's modesty (The Daily Mail) Purple Is the New Red (Elle)Photographer Chen Man on China’s...

Buzz on QVC's Academy Awards Party

From left Angie Simmons, Lisa Robertson, Karen Zambos, Rachel Pally and Mike George at The Buzz on the Red Carpet party.It’s awards season in Los Angeles and gala Academy Awards parties are sprouting up all over the place. But there was only one awards party devoted to shopping. It was multi-platform retailer QVC’s The...

Organic Cotton Plus Becomes Certified to Global Organic Textile Standard

In a further step toward embracing eco-friendliness, Ridgefield, Conn.–based online fabric retailer Organic Cotton Plus has been certified to Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)....

T-Shirt Resources

Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. ensures the highest-quality products backed by environmental sensitivity and around-the-clock support throughout your supply chain. Our distincti...

Stop Staring, Bettie Page Head Back to Court in Trade-Dress Dispute

The fight between rival retro-clothing makers Stop Staring! Designs and Bettie Page Clothing is poised to continue.

Apparel News Daily Reader

Polished London Fashion Week sheds its quirky image (Reuters)Milan fashion week reflects Italy's mood of austerity (The Guardian)London Fashion Swings Again (Wall...

Stars Turn Out to Celebrate Costume Design

Kate Beckinsale ( Photo: Getty Images)It was a star-studded evening in Beverly Hills for the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards. Clint Eastwood, Kate Beckinsale, Rooney Mara and host Jane Lynch are just a few of the...

Leave the Fur. Take the Cannoli.

Big hair! Big nails! Big furs! And shoulderpads out to heah. For a Canuck pub,

Elizabeth Dye and Duchess Clothier Open San Francisco Showroom

As a longtime wedding dress designer, Elizabeth Dye found she was often dressing the same couples as menswear designer Duchess...

Lectra Names New Software R&D Director

Paris-based technology solutions provider Lectra named Laurent Alt director of the company’s software R&D department.

Chinese Vice President Signs Cotton Contracts in L.A.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping accepts a replica of a China Shipping Line vessel at the Port of Los Angeles.(Photo courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles)Chinese Vice President Xin Jinping toured the Port of Los...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Adele-Approved Mascara Launches Stateside Tomorrow (Elle)Joan Rivers: Anyone who takes fashion seriously is a fool (The Cut)Tight Ties, Killer Heels: Clothes...

FastFit360 Launches New Studio Application

Cloud-based application FastFit360 launched its latest release of FastFit Studio, which is its first major Studio application release this year. The application is used by retailers such ...

Marni at H&M Collection Celebrates Launch in LA

Consuelo Castiglioni, R Jones and Sofia Coppola, photo by Neil Rasmus/BFAnyc.comIt was a chic affair when Hollywood stepped out to celebrate the global launch of the Marni at HM collection. Held at the Sowden House in Los Feliz on Feb. 17, Drew...

Apparel News Daily Reader

How Did 'Zombie Boy' Become a Fashion Icon? (The Atlantic)Whitney Houston's Bodyguard Memorabilia Going Up for Auction (Time)Fashion Week audience sports...

Cheryl Koo's Hustle

A woman's look from The Other by Cheryl Koo.Finding shelf space in high profile boutiques is hard for emerging designers. But Cheryl Koo did just that. It started when Koo was introduced to the owners of high profile boutique Traffic in Los Angeles’...

S.L.A.T.E. Debuts New Layout

LAS VEGAS—MAGIC made a bigger gambit for the business of the burgeoning skate and streetwear market when it introduced a new look and layout for its Street and S.L.A.T.E. sections,...

CurveNV Spreads Out in New Location

LAS VEGAS—This season, upscale lingerie and swimwear show CurveNV moved from several small ballrooms in The Venetian to a single large space in the Sands Expo and Convention Center f...

Long Beach Independent Retailer Opens Chain of Southern California Stores

Jon Tubbs originally planned to open a single boutique in Long Beach, Calif., but when Feb. 11 rolled by, he found himself running a burgeoning boutique empire.

Conde Nast’s Florio to Lead Fashion at MAGIC and Project

The organizers of MAGIC in Las Vegas announced that Tom Florio, former Condé Nast executive and Vogue publishing director, will become chief executive of Adv...

Lighter Traffic but Strong Sales at WWDMAGIC

LAS VEGAS—Despite the crowded halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center, retailers at

Big Buzz at MRket, ModaLV and ATS

LAS VEGAS—This season, organizers of MRket, ModaLV and Accessories The Show reconfigured the show to have a single entrance at The Venetian, accessible from the Sands Expo and Convention Center side...

Directives West, Doneger Highlight Men’s Trends for Fall ’12

LAS VEGAS—Buyers, manufacturers and editors turned out early on Feb. 13 to catch the latest Fall menswear trends when The Doneger Group and Directives West hosted their “Young Men”...

New Name and Investor for People’s Liberation

People’s Liberation, the Los Angeles company that makes the William Rast label in conjunction with celebrity Justin Timberlake, is changing its name and its business model.

International Sourcing Seminar Highlights Supply-Chain Transparency and IT Solutions

Reducing costs and increasing speed to market are just two of the enormous pressures that retailers face in today’s apparel industry, according to Jeff Streader, an operating partner of Marlin Equity,...

Harmony Art Receives GOTS Certification

Receiving the eco-apparel market’s top seal of approval, the Global Organic Textile Standard, is rare. Only 1,500 companies across the globe received it, according to the GOTS Internation...

Sourcing Offers Access to Resources-Offshore and at Home

LAS VEGAS—Big red-and-white stripes, reminiscent of an American flag, greeted visitors to the Feb. 12–15 run of the Sourcing at MAGIC show in the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Traffic Down, Orders Up at Project

LAS VEGAS—Traffic seemed to decline at Project, which ran Feb. 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. However, many vendors reported decent business.

Business Booming at Capsule

LAS VEGAS—This season, Capsule moved from a ballroom in The Venetian to a new space on the ground floor of the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Sold-Out OffPrice Buzzing With Buyers on the Hunt for Bargains

LAS VEGAS—The OffPrice show kicked things off on Feb. 10—several days before MAGIC opened—at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, where the reports were good from long-time exhibitors and companies showing for the first time.

Livity Founder Launches PositiveBoutique

PositiveBoutique recently launched as the cyber place for natural foods and eco-fashions.

Billabong Sells Large Share of Nixon Label

Surf’s up for Nixon watches.

Apparel News Daily Reader

Victoria Beckham Made Fashion Ambassador for Britain (The Hollywood Reporter)Ralph Lauren on the Runway (The New York Times)London takes over fashion spotlight from New York...

Lip Service: Widow Maker

While in Las Vegas earlier this week, I bumped into Drew Bernstein, owner of L.A. brands Lip Service and KillCity.The always entertaining Bernstein had plenty of news. First, there’s a new line at Lip Service—it’s called Widow and it’s an edgy men's and women's collection which was showing at Pooltradeshow. Thecompany recently...

Where's Christian Audigier?

Christian Audigier sighting in Beverly Hills, Feb. 3. Photo credit KM Press Group.A few years ago, you couldn’t get away from Christian Audigier on L.A’s fashion scene. In 2012 the formerly ubiquitous designer/marketer seems to have disappeared. Before you ask Christian...

Pool’s Splash for the Newest Styles

LAS VEGAS—Karmaloop and Urban Outfitters shopped Pooltradeshow during its Feb. 13–15 run at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The youth-oriented retailers walked through the show on a quest for the l...

Howe Exceptional

I caught up with Jade Howe, designer of men’s line Howe, at the recent Project show in Las Vegas and he gave me the scoop on the latest collection. “It all started when I was watching the Occupy Wall Street protests,” Howe said. “I thought ’when did free enterprise become a bad word?’”The designer’s response? The 1 percent tee, pictured above. Perfect for that exceptional guy. Howe, the brand, is on a roll with several...

ENK Vegas Rides a Bullish Mood

LAS VEGAS—Business was buzzing at the

WWIN Scores With Upscale Merchandise

LAS VEGAS—At Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN), Steve Barraza, owner of Los Angeles–based updated contemporary line Tianello, said strong business at WWIN was following steady business since the begi...

Vegas Fashion Notes

Apparel News’ Deidre Crawford took in the Vegas trade shows this week to see what’s selling....

Apparel News Daily Reader

Nightclub Legend, 95, Collapses Dead in Fashion Week Front Row (NBC)On the Street: Fashion Week showgoers take over Lincoln Center with chic ensembles (New...

Apparel Industry Adds Jobs in Southern California as State Economy Slowly Improves

Despite a slow-growing economy, Southern California's apparel industry last year saw a nearly 6 percent rise in employment over 2010. That was the first time in a decade the industry experienced a min...

MAGIC China Will Provide Brands With Strategies, Introductions for Entering the Chinese Market

Brands looking to break into the Chinese market will get an assist from MAGIC this fall when the trade show giant...

Reliability Is Tops in Apparel Sourcing for Retailers and Brands, Survey Says

The key to success in the apparel industry boils down to this: on-time delivery of quality goods....

Apparel News Daily Reader

Fashion Design 101 (Wall Street Journal’s Heard on the Runway blog)Kate Moss for Supreme, Again! (Elle)New York Fashion Week 2012 - The Shoes (The...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Model’s Path to Fame via YouTube and not Runway (The New York Times)Fashion Photographer Lillian Bassman Dies (Los Angeles Times)The Duchess and the Hobbs...

Zappos Looking for Emerging Designers

Attention all emerging designers. Zappos is looking for you.The online retailer of all things shoes and clothing has just launched a special program to once a month showcase an emerging designer whose collection...

FIDM Celebrates a Gala Night of Motion Picture Costumes

With Hollywood’s awards season in full swing, the

Apparel News Daily Reader

Sometimes the Fashion Point Is Hard to See (The New York times)Fashematics: Miguel Adrover (The Cut)What Happened to Women’s Trousers? (The New York Times)Liz...

Kohl's Gets Ready to Rock & Republic

Rock Republic, the high-end L.A. denim brand that crashed and burned in a bankruptcy filing nearly two years ago, is rising from the flames. It makes its debut in Kohl's stores on Feb. 15 as a lower-priced clothing line. It...

The People’s Movement

Kevin Flanagan has done his due diligence at action-sports brand machines as vice president of marketing for Reef, group show director at the Action Sports Retailers Trade Expo and...

Fabricbook Aims to Be Craigslist for Fabric, Trim, Apparel

Designers and piece-goods buyers have a new online resource for finding in-stock fabrics.

X-Rite Color Seminar Program Expanded With New QC Workshop

Grand Rapids, Mich.–based X-Rite Inc., owners of Pantone LLC, will kick off its North American series of color workshops on Feb. 28.

Tarantino to Open The Sparkle Factory

Tarina Tarantino will put sparkle in downtown Los Angeles grit....

Monrow: Classics Perfected, Made in L.A.

At the heart of Monrow is a killer-fitting sweatpant. Otis College of Art and Design classmates Michelle Wenke and Megan George launched Monrow’s clean, sophisticate...

Shoe In: What’s Trending at ENKWSA

Las Vegas-Affordability and wearability were the focus for companies presenting at the ENKWSA show in Las Vegas. The selection complemented the sourcing and supply-chain offerings a...

American Apparel’s January Up 14 Percent

Los Angeles–based vertical retailer American Apparel reported a 14 percent increase in preliminary net sales for January to $41.4 million. ...

Finance Resource Guide

Bibby Financial Services

Supply-Chain Software Tapped to Manage Calif. Human-Trafficking Law

When California’s new Transparency in Supply Chains Act went into effect on Jan. 1, apparel companies found themselves under increased scrutiny to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human ...

Scott x Scott: It’s a Family Affair

Sarah Scott appreciates fine lines and feminine, unfettered silhouettes. Her Sarah Scott labelwas conceived under Scott x Scott, the Los Angeles–based lifestyle brand whose philosophy...

Sourcing & Fabric Resource Guide

Asher Fabric Concepts

E-Commerce Spending Hits $161.5 Billion, According to ComScore

E-commerce spending rose 14 percent in the fourth quarter over last year, according to Reston, Va.–based research firm

N.Y. Fashion Week: Corey Lynn Calter

Corey Lynn Calter helped kick off the Fall ’12 season at New York Fashion Week with a colorful presentation Feb. 8 at Pier 59 Studios. This season’s lineup featured...

People’s Liberation Gets New Name and Investor

People’s Liberation, the Los Angeles company that makes the

Lira Swim: Bikini Flirtation

Lira Clothing debuted in 2007 as a go-to label for premium action-sports looks at moderate prices. For the Spring 2012 season, it debuted Lira Swim, a juniors swim line designed with plenty of sass.

Naked Princess: Living the Lingerie Lifestyle

Los Angeles–based lingerie collection Naked Princess is created for the truly romantic. ...

Texworld Adds Sourcing Section to Paris Show

Messe Frankfurt France, which organizes the Texworld fabric show in Paris, said it is adding an apparel sourcing section, filled with manufacturers from around the world.

Fashion Finds Guide

Five seasons a year, buyers from around the globe flock to the California Market Center (CMC) for Los Angeles Fashion Market, the West Coast’s premier destination for thousands of apparel, gift and lifestyle collections displayed in hundreds of the CMC’s sh...

Wildfox Couture: Swimwear for the Cowgirl in All of Us

Wildfox Couture is known for its American vintage-inspired collections that are hip and rich in graphic designs.

To Russia With Love: Los Angeles Apparel Makers Tap Into a New Territory

California’s lifestyle apparel, known for its casual and cool looks, thrives in stores across the United States and overseas, but will that look translate into Russian?...

Talenthouse Connects Creative Community With Opportunities to Succeed

Want to design a T-shirt for DJ Steve Aoki? Or for music group Thievery Corporation?

Crafting Beauty: Private-Label Fragrance

For many apparel brands, the launch of a signature fragrance is part of a wide brand-building effort into new categories and products.

U.S. Apparel and Textile Imports Dip as Prices Rise

U.S. consumers were definitely in a conservative mood when it came to buying clothing in 2011....

Teijin Expands Its Recyclable-Poly Concept to China’s Uniform Market

The Teijin Group launched a new program in China to collect and recycle used uniforms in a closed-loop system to create chemically recycled polyester yarns. ...

Surface Trade Volume Up With Canada and Mexico

Exports sent by truck and rail to two of the United States’ larger trading partners, Canada and Mexico, were up 12.7 percent in November 2011 compared with the same period the year before.

Bread & Butter Expands With High Fidelity

The 11th edition of Bread & Butter, an international trade show for selected brands, opened its doors for its Jan. 18–20 run with this year’s “High Fidelity...

Las Vegas Seminar and Events Calendar

Beginning Feb. 10, Las Vegas is hosting nearly 20 apparel trade shows including the massive MAGIC show—MAGIC Mens/Wear, WWDMAGIC, ISAM, S.L.A.T.E.,

Apparel News Daily Reader

Androgynous Male Model Dominates Fashion Week Runways as Both aMan and a Woman (Fox News) Buildinga Fashion Brand For Moms And Daughters Alike (Forbes)ModelsForm Rights Group Ahead...

HSS Sweeps SIMA Retail Awards

Aaron Pai of Huntington Surf Sport.Huntington Surf Sport swept the two biggest retail categories at the SIMA Image Awards Feb. 9 in Anaheim, Calif.The landmark Huntington Beach, Calif.-based surf shop won both awards for men’s retailer of the year and women’s retailer of the year. It’s the first time in the history of the Image awards that any retailer took both...

It's Good to be Agave

’It’s good to be George Clooney.” And thus begins an odd segment on CBS “Person to Person” profiling George Clooney and his StudioCity home. It’s always fun to check in with how the stars live. “There’s some lady who makes salads for me…and some...

Dow’s Latest Technology Has Impact by Design

Technology

Midland, Mich.–based Dow Corning introduced its latest Deflexion technology at the recent ISPO trade show in Munich, Germany.

Crailar, Tuscarora Partner for Flax-Blend Yarns

Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc., maker of Crailar yarns, struck a licensing deal with Mt. Pleasant, N.C.–based Tuscarora Yarns to create new blended yarns using Crailar ...

Containerized Imports Showed Positive Signs in 2011

A rise in the auto industry and the housing market pushed containerized import cargo traffic up 3 percent in 2011 over the previous year, according to The Journal of Commer...

NBC's "Fashion Star" Highlights The Business of Fashion

Fashion Star's fierce fashion team: Nicole Richie, John Varvatos, Elle Macpherson and Jessica Simpson.It’s not often that a reality show has much to do with reality, but James Deutch and E.J. Johnston wanted to take a different approach with their new show, “Fashion Star.”What sets the show apart from other fashion series is its partnership with...

Unique Loves Local

Unique LA , the marketplace for hand-crafted and locally made items is returning to the CaliforniaMarket Center this weekend for a pre-Valentines Day sale.The show runs Feb. 11-12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.It’s $10 at the door (kids under 12 get in free)...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Kate Moss Demonized for W’s March Issue (The Cut)Five Things We Can't Wait to See at Fashion Week (E! Online)Fashion Week's first trend: Heart-health awareness (USA...

Denimocracy, From Leggings to Jeans

Denimocracy calls its rebranding effort a “beautiful disaster.”

Hillary Rush to Close Influential L.A. Boutique

The lingering effect of the Great Recession continues to take a toll on the Los Angeles boutique scene....

Cotton Costs Cut Into Levi’s Profit

Levi Strauss & Co., one of the world’s largest blue-jeans makers, saw a 12 percent dip in its 2011 profit due to sky-high cotton prices that more than doubled in a two-year period.

Andrew Christian,Too Sexy?

Designer Andrew Christian in a 2008 photo, via Andrew Christian Inc.Underwear and sportswear manufacturer Andrew Christian Inc. said its First Amendment rights were kicked to the curb.In an open letter to sprawling video website YouTube, dated Feb. 8, the Glendale, Calif.-based Andrew...

California Designers Help Kick Off New York Fashion Week

Corey Lynn Calter, Fall 2012, photo courtesy of Joe Kohen/Getty Images via Zimbio.comCalifornia designers continue to make a statement at New York Fashion Week. Corey Lynn Calter helped kick off the Fall '12 season with a colorful presentation today at Pier...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Anti-leather campaign ahead of Delhi fashion week (The Times of India)Ellen DeGeneres Responds to Criticism of JCPenney Deal (ABC News)Karl Lagerfeld...

Apparel News Daily Reader

RNC whacks Obama fashion fundraiser (Politico)Finally! Beyoncé Makes First Post-Baby Appearance in New York City (E! Online)New Marketing Tactics at New York...

Vintage Show at the Queen Mary in Long Beach

Calling all vintage fashion buffs. There's a big show for you coming Feb. 10-11 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach.More than 100 booths will be set up, with 60 of those selling vintage fashion. This is the third year for...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Free Taxi Ride for Fashion Week Comes With Option to Buy (Wall Street Journal)Viewing Fashion Week from the not-so-cheap seats (Philadelphia Inquirer)New exhibit merges high...

Are You Ready for Some Football Couture?

Madonna donned her best Valkyrie-wear for her Super Bowl performance Actually, it was Givenchy and included at least four wardrobe changes and a cast of famous friends singing along, including Cee Lo Green, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj and the...

Primary School

Like Legos, only fashionI've got primaries on the brain—and I’m not talking about the presidential race. I’m talking about primary colors. Lately I'm seeing everything in cheery shades of red, blue and yellow....

Las Vegas Resource Guide

APPAREL

Jenette Bras Opens in Pasadena

Jenette Goldstein opened her Jenette Bras shop in 2009 in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles to be a haven for women such as herself who wear the hard-to-find small bands and full-cup sizes. G...

The Gather, a Boutique Trade Show, Growing in San Francisco

The Gather, a boutique trade show in San Francisco, started two years ago as a collective of just five local sales reps. Jennifer Zweig—the sales rep for Obey for Northern California, Arizona and Nevada—organizes the event and said she and fellow regional sales reps were looking to attain the efficiency—but not the environment—of a trade show.

Manhattan Beachwear Lands Top-Sider Swim License

Cypress, Calif.–based Manhattan Beachwear Inc. struck a licensing deal with Sperry ...

Retailers Look to Social-Media Analytics for Next Steps

It’s a given that a Facebook or Twitter page can raise the profile of a business, but retailers are still trying to figure out exactly what’s to be learned from all those followers....

CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Launches Web Series

The Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund premiered its new Web series on Hulu last week. Vogue magazine and the CFDA ...

Macy’s, Intel, Starmount Update the Traditional Store Model with New Technology

The basic model for the physical store has not changed in decades, but the traditional setup of merchandise, cash register and sales staff might be taking a big step forward with new technology.

Columbia Names New Merchandising Exec

Portland, Ore.–based Columbia Sportswear Co. named Adrienne Moser vice president of global apparel merchandising and design for the Columbia brand. ...

Costume Designers Guild to Present Awards at Upcoming Gala

The Costume Designers Guild will hold its 14th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards on Feb. 21 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills....

E-Commerce’s Brand-New Bag

Over the past decade, few places have been more fashionable than Japan, and new e-commerce venture Little Black Bag thinks the whole world will embrace the Japanese shopping custom o...

Onno for All Seasons

Onno is a label ready for anything....

Good Retail Sales Kick Off 2012

January sales were good....

Designers Named for San Francisco Incubator at Macy’s

The first batch of designers headed for the new “Designers in Residence” program, housed inside the Macy’s at Union Square in San Francisco, has been named....

Fashion Market Northern California Keeps Growing

SAN MATEO, Calif.—Inside the cavernous San Mateo County Event Center, which has been the home of Fashion Market Northern Califo...

The Korff Kounsil: Purist Denim and Thoughtful Knits

Rikke Korff believes in singular, iconic products. Her two labels—The Furies and Skargorn, under umbrella company The Korff Kounsil—are built on being the absolute best at som...

Hot Topic Reports 1.3 Percent Increase in 4th Quarter

Coming off a good holiday season, Hot Topic Inc. reported a 1.3 percent increase in same-store sales for the fourth quarter of its 2011 fiscal year, compared with a 2.1 percent decline during the same peri...

Billabong's Roadside Attraction

Billabong celebrated the launch of its Fall 2012 collections in true surfer style. From Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 the company showcased its stable of brands beachside at the Surf and Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach. The mega-company’s trade show event, titled The Roadside Attraction, was created...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Is Fashion Elitist? (The Telegraph)Prabal Gurung Embraces the Past (The New York Times)Cheap Chic: Couture Comes To Discount Retailers (NPR)Employment...

Farewell Hillary Rush Boutique

Hillary RushHillary Rush is closing her Hillary Rush boutique March 1 and Los Angeles will lose another talented retailer from the bricks-and-mortar scene.Unfortunately for Los Angeles, this influential retailer on 8222 W. Third Street said she...

Macy’s Klein Retires, Setting Off Changes in Macy’s Execs

Macy’s Inc. announced that Ron Klein, its chief stores officer, will retire effective March 31, bringing an end to a 36-year career with Macy’s, which included a stint as chairman and chief executive of Macy’s East. T...

Stila Loves L*Space

It’s supposed to be winter right now in Southern California, though the thermometer has read otherwise lately. When those overcast clouds decide to arrive, the new Stila Loves L*Space makeup palette is a handy cheater trick to getting...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Wonder women Go Metallic (The New York Times)Beckham Says Naked Posing Days Are Over (The Telegraph)Meet the cast of ’Fashion Star’ (Entertainment Weekly) LVMH...

Don Cornelius and Soul Train's Old School 70s Style

Don Cornelius. Photo courtesy of vibe.comIn honor ofDon Cornelius's passing, a tribute to the TV icon and some of the funky fashions the show helped popularize. Known for his sharp dressing and smooth baritone, Don Cornelius launched a dance and music phenomenon with his hit show “Soul Train.” The show premiered in 1970 and quickly became a sensation, running until 2006. As an iconic writer, producer and host, Cornelius introduced a multitude of influential black artists, including The Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin.During its heyday in the 70s and 80s, the show was looked to not only for the latest dance moves, but also the funkiest fashions, the influences of which can still be seen today.Three-piece suits were big, colors were bright and bell bottoms were king. And who knew Rosie Perez, Carmen Electra, Nick Cannon and MC Hammer were all former Soul Train dancers? Photo courtesy of thedopegirl.com Photo courtesy of fashionfame.com Photo courtesy of....

Macy’s Union Square Could Split

It’s hard to find available retail space in San Francisco’s Union Square, one of the West Coast’s most exclusive shopping spots, but a huge chunk of it is now up for grabs. That’s good news for prospecti...

Soul Train: Iconic Music and Iconic Fashion

“Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius died today. Seems like a good time to remember the influence his iconic show had on music and fashion....

Victoria Lurves Kittens

Another hat tip to Fashionista, which landed an exclusive to the fashion video debut of Victoria Beckman’s new diffusion line, Victoria. The ridiculously stylish and fun video is loaded with super-cute clothes—and kittens. No idea why, perhaps in a nod...