Wednesday, April 30
H & M Opens in Downtown LA on May 1
Retail
H & M opens its largest store in Southern California in downtown Los Angeles.
Tuesday, April 29
Trina Turk’s Spring Affaire
Trina Turk, one of Southern California’s high profile designers, will produce a runway show and a trunk show for cause on May 3 for A Spring Affaire, a fundraiser for Operation School Bell, which supplies new clothes to impoverished kids from the Los Angeles Unified School District. The event starts 10:30AM at Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Monday, April 28
Wet Seal Exiting Arden B Business to Concentrate on Plus-Size Stores
Retail
Wet Seal Inc. to convert 31 Arden B stores to Wet Seal + merchandise and the rest to Wet Seal merchandise .
Giant Cake at the Center of Beverly Hills Bash on Rodeo Drive
Retail
Rodeo Drive blocked off for Beverly Hills' centennial celebration.
Insight X Komono Party
Temperatures started dipping and it started raining on the night of April 25, perfect time to have a party at the Insight boutique in Venice.
Friday, April 25
Beautiful Fül’s New Line
Beautiful Fül celebrated one year of running its flagship store in downtown Los Angeles on April 24 with what else, a new line.
World Cup Kickoff
The World Cup is a little more than six weeks away, which means it’s time to gear up your quadrennial dose of soccer terminology and fashion.
Thursday, April 24
Trendabl: Mixing Social Networking and E-commerce in Three Clicks
Technology
Jon Alagem, chief executive officer and founder of Trendabl, noticed his friends were posting their outfits and style shots to their social networks, but their followers were unable to find and shop the looks directly. Alagem set out to create an e-commerce space with a customized solution that would be seamless for merchants and users alike.
Forever 21 Opening New Store Concept
Retail
Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 is going after the bargain shopper with gusto.
Footwear Show Lazr Bows at The New Mart
Trade Show Report
The Lazr footwear show kicked off in its new home on the third floor of The New Mart in Los Angeles for its April 23–25 run with a small group of higher-end shoe brands and an eye on the next edition of the show in August.
Support Denim Day
Guess and Garcetti
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, musicians Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter, and Guess? Inc. founders Maurice and Paul Marciano April 23 in kicking off Denim Day 2014 in Los Angeles.
New Fabric for Casual Luxury
Beyond Black & White
Casual luxury is a signature California look, and veteran fashion executive Derek Tucker thought he could up the ante on this style with a fabric that he developed. It’s called Luxmere.
Oak To Open 2nd LA Boutique, on Beverly Blvd
Retail
Oak, the American Apparel–owned high-fashion chain of boutiques, is on the move and will open a second Los Angeles boutique in the next few weeks. However, a specific date has not been announced, said Conor Riley, Oak’s social-media director.
Robert Talbott’s Shop-in-shop Roll Out
Retail
After more than 50 years making neckwear and shirting with roots in Monterey, Calif., the Robert Talbott label will be rolling out a number of shops-in-shop at high-end menswear boutiques across America.
New Era Bows Dodger Stadium Shop
News
A few years after it opened a Los Angeles flagship, Buffalo, N.Y.–headquartered New Era introduced a New Era Team Store at Los Angeles’ landmark Dodger Stadium.
Runway Show at Lazr
FBI and Centric
During the April 23–25 run of the Lazr footwear trade show at The New Mart, Fashion Business Inc. and Centric Software presented a runway show.
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
Bringing More Bling To Desert
Desert Hills Premium Outlets, known as a Rodeo Drive for discount designer clothes, unveiled the biggest expansion in its more than two decades in business.
Wednesday, April 23
Newest Everything But Water Store Opens Near the Beach
Retail
Everthing But Water opens in Santa Monica.
Parke & Ronen Party
Spring is here, and the Parke & Ronen label kicked it off with a party celebrating its seasonal store on Los Angeles' Melrose Avenue.
Tuesday, April 22
Iggy Azalea and Revolve Kick Off a Clueless Summer
Music + Fashion
E-tailer Revolve signed Iggy Azalea as the face of its Summer campaign, releasing a series of shots featuring the Australian singer channeling Cher Horowitz from Amy Heckerling’s 1995 film “Clueless.”
Monday, April 21
Express on a New Retail Venture
Express is rolling out 30 new outlet stores this year, with a couple in California.
Friday, April 18
New Choo in the City
Redesign on Rodeo
Luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo unveiled its newly remodeled and expanded store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Thursday, April 17
Professional Stretch
Going to work should be an exercise in comfort. That’s the idea behind cheeky San Francisco e-tailer Betabrand latest innovation: Dress Pant Yoga Pants.
BedHead Recalls Children’s Pajamas
Manufacturing
BedHead Pajamas Inc. of Los Angeles has recalled 800 pairs of children’s pajamas because they fail to meet federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.
Gap Inc. Reveals Plans for Omni-Channel and Asia Expansion
Retail
In the next three years, Gap Inc. hopes its sales in China will reach $1 billion as it expands the number of stores located there and pumps up its omni-channel offerings.
Edwardian Evolution
Sue Wong
Los Angeles designer Sue Wong found inspiration in the Edwardian era and the Jazz Age for her Fall ‘14 collection, which she showed in her Mid-City studio.
Lazr Trade Show Opens Pop-Up Shop and HQ in Downtown L.A.
Trade Show
Footwear trade show Lazr has a new home and a permanent pop-up shop in the Los Angeles Fashion District.
How This Year’s Economy Will Affect Apparel Sales
Finance
After a harsh winter put a chill on the national economy, warmer weather is putting a spring back into consumer activity, which should translate into higher retail sales and apparel purchases for the rest of the year.
Buyer Focus at Fashion Market Northern California
Trade Show Report
Now in its 50th year, Fashion Market Northern California showcased Fall 2014 styles from international brands and domestic labels during its April 11–13 run at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, Calif.
New Chef Fashion Adds Tukatech Cutter
Technology
NewChef Fashions Inc. has added a Tukatech Tukacut cutting machine to keep up with demand for domestic production of uniforms for hotels, casinos, restaurants, cruise lines, country clubs, culinary schools, the military and the White House kitchen staff.
Levi’s Taps Walmart Exec to Conquer Omni-Channel
Technology
The San Francisco–based apparel giant announced it has appointed Marc Rosen as the company’s new executive vice president and president of global e-commerce.
Eton Introduces Android-Based Production Solution With Quick Implementation
Technology
Alpharetta, Ga.–based Eton Systems will release a new mobile application designed to help apparel manufacturers collect real-time production information to help them manage the factory floor.
Avery Dennison Expands RFID Offerings
Technology
Avery Dennison Retail Branding and Information Solutions has unveiled a new line of RFID (radio frequency identification) products to help retailers maintain inventory accuracy for products such as jewelry, cosmetics, healthcare, housewares and footwear, as well as a new solution for apparel.
Bringing Production Back to the U.S.
Karen Kane
When Lonnie and Karen Kane established the Karen Kane clothing line in 1979, everything was manufactured stateside. Economic shifts that took place during the 1980s forced the Kanes to look overseas.
The/End Clothing
A New Beginning in Menswear
The Los Angeles–based The/End offers a fresh perspective to classic menswear silhouettes with attention to detail, fabrics, texture and form.
Mina + Olya
Finding A Sustainable Luxe
Designers Mina Yazdi and Olya Dzilikhova believe that they have found a way to connect fabulous, luxe style with environment-loving materials.
Hudson Jeans Shifting Production from U.S. to Mexico
Import/Export
The Los Angeles premium-jeans maker was recently acquired for $98 million by Joe’s Jeans, another LA-based denim-pant maker.
Apparel Imports Slow from China and Grow from Vietnam
Import/Export
As wages rise for apparel factory workers in China, less and less clothing is being imported from that country into the United States.
Artisan-Driven Boutique Production in Coastal Mexico
The Quality Skills Center
It was never Amber Sellers’ dream to have her own accessories and apparel factory—until she discovered what she could do with it.
Wednesday, April 16
Match Your Swimsuit to Your Headphones
Fashion
Woodbury University students work with Velodyne to develop stylish headphones that match students' swim collections.
Monday, April 14
Friday, April 11
J. Crew’s Love of LA is in Their Jeans
Point Sur Denim
New York–based J. Crew has written a love letter to Los Angeles in the form of its website announcing its new Point Sur Denim collection.
Under the Gunn: We Have a Winner
Fashion Competition
Project Runway: Under the Gunn, the fashion reality competition that pairs designer/contestants with mentors, wrapped last night with a winning designer and mentor named. Don’t click if you don’t want to know who won.
Undefeated Takes on Galaxy
It's an alternative look for the logo of one of Los Angeles' great sports teams; the LA Galaxy. Streetwear, fashion brand Undefeated developed new logo for the Galaxy emblem in capsule collection LA Galaxy x Undefeated.
Hot Topic Creates Collection Centered Around Disney's "Maleficent"
Retail
Hot Topic rolls out a new collection based on the Disney movie "Maleficent," the Sleeping Beauty story told from the viewpoint of the evil witch, played by Angelina Jolie.
Thursday, April 10
March Sales Mark a Soft Rebound
Retail
March retail sales beat Wall Street expectations with a 3.6 percent gain on a year-over-year basis, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, a leading trade group for the mall industry, but things are still tough for retailers, economists and analysts said.
Lectra Panel Explores Intersection of Technology and Fashion
Technology
Technology’s role in the development of fashion was on the agenda at a panel discussion hosted by French technology solutions provider Lectra and held April 3 in the Buyers Club at the California Market Center.
Louis Verdad Hosts Fashion Event
Made-to-Order
Los Angeles designer Louis Verdad recently hosted a high-fashion tea to introduce his made-to-order collection of tailored dresses, jumpsuits, shorts and blouses.
Klein Named Fashion Icon at L.A. Fashion Awards
Events
Lloyd Klein made his first public appearance since undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma at the Second Annual LA Fashion Awards at Sunset Gower Studios, held April 5 in Los Angeles.
Joseph Gromek Named to Guess? inc. Board of Directors
Manufacturing
With more than 30 years of experience in the retail industry, Joseph Gromek was appointed to the board of directors of Guess? Inc.
Fashioning a New La Brea: District La Brea Complex Adds New Retail
Retail
Boutiques for online clothier Bonobos, fashion line Gant Rugger and Undefeated, a streetwear emporium, will open at the District La Brea compound in the next few months. The new shops could bring more retail attention to Los Angeles’ La Brea Avenue.
Retailers Bring More Competitive Business to Majors Market
L.A. Majors Market
From technology to real estate, the way that major retailers do business is changing, and some of those changes were reflected in the Los Angeles Majors Market, a department store–focused event that ran April 7–9 at the California Market Center.
Ever-Changing Technology Keeps Apparel Makers and Retailers on Their Feet
Technology
Charming Charlie didn’t launch its e-commerce site until seven months ago, years behind many of its competitors. But during its first two weeks of operation, the website was inundated with 700,000 visitors and 34,000 submissions in the gift-card giveaway contest.
Style in Space
Galactic Fashion
NASA is working on its next-generation space suit to replace the Z-1—and you can help the space agency decide what it looks like.
Stephen Hyman, Co-Founder of Susie’s Deals
Retail
Stephen Hyman, a long-time discount retailer with nearly 40 years in the business, died on April 7. He was 66.
Local-Focused LA Apparel Show Returns for Second Season
Made in Los Angeles
A tightly curated collection of Los Angeles–designed and Los Angeles–made collections exhibited in the second edition of the LA Apparel Show, held April 7–9 on the 13th floor of the California Market Center.
Wednesday, April 9
Six Degrees of Retail Separation
Retail
Kmart adds singer Adam Levine's women's collection to lineup.
Monday, April 7
Bronstein Resigns From Wet Seal Board
Executive Moves
Kathy Bronstein resigned from the board of directors of The Wet Seal Inc., according to a company announcement on April 7. She had served on the board for the beleaguered company since September 2012 and also served as its chief executive officer and vice chair from 1995 to 2003.
Ath-Leisure, Folk-Inspiration and Grunge on Horizon for Fall’14
Directives West
Prepare for the athletic-leisure trend to continue, the international-inspired bohemian look to evolve and for grunge to make a comeback this fall.
Dickinson Cameron Builds Burberry, Renovates Barneys in Beverly Hills
Dickinson Cameron is on the move on Rodeo Drive; building the Burberry flagship and renovating Barneys in Beverly Hills.
Fall 2014 Forecast: Marled Yarns, Houndstooth and Ugly Xmas Sweaters
Barbara Fields
The ugly Christmas sweater was one of several Fall 14 trends featured by trend forecaster Barbara Fields of the Barbara Fields Buying Office.
Friday, April 4
Bonobos, Gant Rugger, Undefeated to District La Brea
Retail Spotlight
Boutiques for online clothier Bonobos, fashion line Gant Rugger and Undefeated, a streetwear emporium, will open at the District La Brea compound in the next two months.
Alternative’s Summer Party
It was a time for new looks for the Alternative label. Its Summer and Fall looks were previewed at a party at Alternative's Larchmont Village boutique.
Kitson’s Giant Vegas Shop
Kitson debuts its biggest shop. It's a 12,000-square-foot emporium at The Linq in Las Vegas. " In Vegas; the bigger the better," Kitson Founder Fraser Ross said.
Vera Wang Opens On Rodeo Drive
After a long wait, Vera Wang opened a flagship at 428 N. Rodeo Dr. on April 3.
Koral's New Line
Denim Trends
LA denim brand Koral has a new style with a strategic dart at the side-seam to give the wearer a slimmer fit.
Thursday, April 3
Advanstar Promotes Sampson to New Post
Trade Show
Advanstar Fashion Group named Mike Sampson senior vice president of strategic sales for the company’s trade shows, including Project, The Tents at Project, Coterie, ENKVegas, TMRW, MAGIC Men’s, Sole Commerce, Intermezzo, Accessories Circuit and Children’s Club.
Loyola Symposium Explores Tech, Trends and the Law
Fashion Law Project
The Fashion Law Project at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles hosted an all-day symposium, titled "One Channel Does Not Fit All: The Fashion Law Implications of Omnichannel Marketing," on March 22.
Thimio Sotos Leaves J Brand
Manufacturing
After nearly four years at premium-denim brand J Brand, Thimio Sotos has left the company, where he was the executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Sechung Designs
A Nod to the 1960s
The Spring/Summer 2014 women’s line Sechung combines stylish mod pieces with a rocker edge.
California Cool Meets NY Edge and Scandinavian Roots
Mor & Dotter
In Hanna Cousins’ new collection, Mor & Dotter, the designer mixes inspiration as much as she mixes fabrics.
Obituary: Hobie Alter, 80
Swim/Surf
Hobart “Hobie” Alter, 80, passed away March 29 in Palm Desert, Calif. He was one of the innovators of the sport of surfing and also opened one of California’s first surf shops.
MLV by Mayren Lee Viray
Her POV
With her new line, MLV by Mayren Lee Viray, the fashion designer hopes to shine a spotlight on her own views of women’s contemporary fashion.
LA Market Continues With Split Start Dates in June, August
Trade Show
The California Market Center is moving the start dates of its Select contemporary trade show and its Transit footwear show.
P.J. Salvage
Building a Comfortable Lifestyle
The intimates and lifestyle brand P.J. Salvage has been expanding, opening new markets and new divisions. But one thing remains consistent: a focus on comfort.
How Apparel Manufacturers and Retailers Are Coping With the E-Commerce Threat
Finance
These are tough times for traditional retailers. Many big store chains and specialty stores are finding their business is being swept away by websites that make it easier for people to shop any time of the day or night without even moving from the couch.
Caruso’s Main Street Gamble
Retail
Real estate developer Rick J. Caruso has Main Street America in his sights with plans to redevelop “street-front” retail in various Southern California neighborhoods.
Tuesday, April 1
Who Will Replace the Tiara Café?
LA Fashion District
After more than seven years of serving healthy, California-style cuisine, the Tiara Café has closed its doors in the Los Angeles Fashion District.
Slater Leaves Quiksilver
Surf Moves
After more than 20 years as the public face of Huntington Beach, Calif-based surf giant Quiksilver, Kelly Slater is changing teams.
