California Apparel News

Typically a man about town, Lloyd Klein, a couture designer for his self-named fashion house, Lloyd Klein, made his first public appearance since undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. The appearance was at the Second Annual LA Fashion Awards at Sunset Gower Studios, held April 5 in Los Angeles.

Klein, bearing a shaved head after chemo but looking fit, went to the event to present an award. He was surprised when he was given the show’s honor for the fashion icon category. “This reminds me of [my] Paris days, when [we] were in the same room as Jean-Paul Gaultier,” Klein told the audience of 300 at the awards show. “This is my first night out after a few months of chemotherapy. In a few months, I think, I’ll be over cancer,” he told the cheering crowd as he accepted the diamond-shaped trophy given by the LA Fashion Awards.

The hour-long awards show was produced by Mikey Koffman and Endless Road Entertainment, which until January was called The Gallery LA. It produces runway shows such as Los Angeles Fashion Weekend that typically take place during Los Angeles Fashion Week. Koffman also recently produced the Palm Springs Fashion Weekend, which ran Oct. 25–27 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs, Calif.

Fashion label Shail K received the night’s couture award. Another fashion label,

Nathanaelle Couture, received the award for contemporary women’s label. Amour Swimwear got the award for resortwear, and the award for emerging designer went to the Le MaLi label. The design suite award went to custom leather and accessories line Straitjacket Sam. Labels and designers are put on the slate for the LA Fashion Awards after they participate in LA Fashion Weekend, according to an Endless Road Entertainment statement. A panel of judges selects the award winners.

Koffman also presented awards to businesses that have worked with her in the past. The award for radio station of the year went to 97.1 AMP Radio, which provided music for the event. Partner of the year went to the Nobu Hotel. The financial partner award went to Bibby Financial Services. Planet Salon of Beverly Hills received the beauty partner award. Ginger Boyle and Dean Roybal, the salon’s co-owners, have been providing hair-styling services to Koffman’s projects for years