California Apparel News

Apparel News’ Deidre Crawford took in the Vegas trade shows this week to see what’s selling. Heritage brands, found objects, bright colors and exotic fashions were just a few of the popular trends she spotted.

Nancy Heinrich and George Tart, owners of Fun Junk in Olympia, Wash., search flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores for “junk” to turn into fun accessories. “We take industrial components and try to find ways to make it into something,” Heinrich said.

Their bracelets made from 19th century typewriter keys are one of their most popular items. They also sell the individual keys to jewelry designers and small businesses to design their own goods. The couple regularly show at Capsule in both Las Vegas and New York.

Swedish outdoor brand Fjällräven showed off its old-school outerwear, which is made to be functional and fashionable. People are embracing authentic heritage brands and looking to get away from “everything being about hi-tech membranes and crazy bright colors,” according to John Walbrecht, the North American president of the company.

Kristina Angelozzi, designer of the Brooklyn brand Fischer, said the brand’s vintage aesthetic was popular with Pacific Northwest buyers. Angelozzi said she takes inspiration for her designs from history and her earlier background as a costume designer in the theater.

Former NBA player Kevin Willis debuted his new Willis Walker menswear line, which is tailored to athletically built men. Men 6’ 3” and taller often have to have their clothes custom made, so his new line of luxury suits, shirts, premium denim and accessories fills an overlooked gap in the retail market, Willis said.

The line includes high-fashion suits and shirts in a variety of prints, colors, cuts and fabrics designed to break the mold of the traditional boxy suits and staid colors often associated with “big and tall” clothing.

KeiKei’s Coconut Sandals, which are made with colored beads made from coconut shells or mother of pearl, were popular with boutiques and surf stores at the ISAM Swim Show, according to the company’s founder Ryan David.

Los Angeles-based Big Cat Designers was at WWDMAGIC showcasing four South African designers. Big Cat CEO and owner Diane Kalil showed a variety of modern, feminine and African-inspired designs by Terrence Bray, Colleen Eitzen, Leigh Schubert and Nicole Rasmussen. “They really have to be creative since they don’t have access to the spectrum of fabric in Africa that we have in downtown L.A.,” she said.

Freeway showed modern, pleated vintage-inspired dresses, which proved to be popular at the show.

The Teen Vogue Blogger lounge at WWDMAGIC featured bloggers who not only blogged, but crafted. Alicia Dirago was painting handmade African-inspired bangles using everyday materials like mailing labels to create the designs.