Friday, January 30
Urban Taps Capsule for its Stylish Champions
Fashion Collab
Urban Outfitters has a new fashion collab with a lot of fashion—and an extra dose of collaboration.
Mall Rats + Gym Rats Unite - Does It Motivate Ya?
Here’s a manifesto from Tracy Anderson, star fitness trainer and Gwyneth Paltrow pal. “ Mall Rats + Gym Rats Unite!” It was on a T-shirt for Anderson's Mass Workout Classes at the Westfield Century City and Westfield Topanga on Jan. 28.
Thursday, January 29
Sears to Close at Westfield Topanga
Retail
In December, Sears announced that it will close 235 locations around the country.
Intimates Market in China Poised for Growth
Manufacturing
The intimate apparel market in China is expected to increase 17.99 percent between 2014 and 2019 as the consumer shifts from basics to fashion lingerie, according to a recent report.
Nordstrom Rack to Open Two Stores in Long Beach Area
Retail
Nordstrom Rack, the off-price division of Nordstrom Inc., will be doubling its efforts in the area of Long Beach, Calif.
Gap Closing Piperlime
Retail
San Francisco–based retail giant Gap Inc. announced plans to shutter its online footwear-driven unit, Piperlime, by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2015.
CALA Prepares for Last Show at the Westin SF Before Moving to New Open-Booth Venue
Trade Show
CALA San Francisco is headed to a new home in March.
Bustling Texworld Showcases Returning Mills and New Exhibitors
Texworld USA
Clear winter weather and a holiday opening day helped kick off Texworld USA with busy aisles and booths for the show’s Jan. 21–23 run at the Jacob K. Javits Center.
Hong Kong Fashion Week Fills the Runway With Dozens of Shows
Fashion Extravaganza
For the first time ever, a U.S. designer was included in the opening night of the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza. Several other parts of the world were also represented on the stage.
Something for Everyone
Hong Kong Fashion Week
As China’s apparel and textile industries compete to maintain their global dominance, similar challenges confront Hong Kong Fashion Week, established more than 40 years ago at a time when many people outside of Asia knew nothing about making clothes in this part of the world.
Tuesday, January 27
The Wild Side of Fashion
Fashion
Hong Kong designer Andy Ho goes all out during Hong Kong Fashion Week.
Crooks & Castles Spring 15 Sprung
Crooks & Castles is one of the high profile brands of streetwear, and in the past year, the brand has held events, such as debuts and parties, close to its flagship store on Los Angeles’ Fairfax Avenue. For the shoot for its Spring 2015 lookbook, Photographer Ja Tecson took models to a leafy, Downton Abbey style estate where they displayed the “castle” side of the Crooks & Castles vision. Take a look.
Major Progress Made in Longshore Contract Negotiations
West Coast Port Crisis
After a federal mediator was called in earlier this year to speed things along, West Coast longshore workers and their employers said they have resolved the sticky issue of how the chassis fleet is maintained and by whom.
Monday, January 26
2014 Best Holiday, Retail Analyst Says
Retail Sales
When retail sales for the 2014 holiday season fell short of forecasts, many industry watchers declared the crucial shopping season a disappointment, but recent research indicates the season may have been better than first reported—and more good news may be on the way.
Psycho Bunny Hops Into New Categories
The Psycho Bunny label might have a crazy name, but it intends to chase some serious business. The fashion label with the logo of a rabbig skull over crossbones announced new partners and is scheduled to show new looks at Project.
Saturday, January 24
Gap Closing Piperlime
retail shift
San Francisco-based retail giant Gap Inc., announced plans to shutter its online footwear-driven unit Piperlime by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2015.
Friday, January 23
Joe’s Jeans CEO Resigns
Premium Denim
Marc Crossman has resigned from his position at chief executive officer of Joe’s Jeans Inc.
Thursday, January 22
Active Collective Debuts Alongside Swim Collective
Shows Outgrow OC Venue
Buyer attendance doubled over last August’s edition of Swim Collective, according to Executive Show Director Shannon Leggett. The show ran concurrently with the hard-launch debut of Active Collective at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif., Jan. 15–16. With a maximum total capacity of 130 exhibitors, the shows were sold out months in advance.
EarthLink Introduces Secure Storefront to Protect Retailers From Data Breaches
Technology
Like the massive data breach at Target in late 2013, the news last fall that a breach may have affected 56 million credit and debit cards at Home Depot made headlines, but according to EarthLink Chief Security Officer Peter Chronis, the number of data breaches in the last year was even higher.
eBay Lays Off 2,400 to Prepare for Change
Retail
eBay Inc. reported that revenue for its fourth quarter increased 9 percent to $4.9 billion. However, the San Jose, Calif.–based company is laying off approximately 2,400 of its employees, or 7 percent of its workforce.
New York Editions of Première Vision, Indigo Get Boost From Weak Euro
NY Première Vision & Indigo
Première Vision New York and Indigo New York returned to Pier 92, on the western edge of Manhattan, for a second time Jan. 13–14. Almost 300 vendors from 24 countries, including a strong showing of Turkish firms, came to exhibit their Spring/Summer 2016 collections in the categories of fashion fabrics, accessories, and textile and surface design.
SIMA Honors Legendary Surf Shops
Retail
Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, a trade group headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., will honor venerable surf shops with the 2015 SIMA Surf Shop Gold Wave Award. The inaugural Surf Shop Gold Wave awards will be presented Feb. 12 at SIMA’s Image Award Show at City National Grove of Anaheim, Calif.
Style and Structure Meet Comfort and Versatility
Lime & Vine
Lime & Vine, which is based a mile away from the corporate headquarters of surf giant Quiksilver Inc. in Huntington Beach, Calif., introduced a full collection for the Fall 2014 season and is set to debut its Spring 2015 collection.
Forever 21 Unveils Giant Solar Project
Retail
The company announced on Jan. 21 that its headquarters in Los Angeles’ Lincoln Heights neighborhood has gone solar. The retailer installed a 5.1-megawatt high-efficiency SunPower solar-power system.
Kellwood Names New CEO
Manufacturing
On Jan. 19, the New York–headquartered Kellwood announced that Joseph Lombardi, the former chief financial officer of Barnes & Noble, a major bookseller, was named the fashion company’s chief executive officer. Lombardi will assume his responsibilities helming Kellwood immediately.
Prana Names New Director of International Sales
Manufacturing
Prana, the lifestyle and yoga line headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., is going more global with the appointment of Pacho Bedoya as its new director of international sales. He begins his new job on Feb. 2.
New American Apparel CEO Outlines New Path
Retail
Fashion veteran Paula Schneider formally took the reins of the downtown Los Angeles–based company on Jan. 5, and she held a conference call with Wall Street analysts on Jan. 20 to talk about where she wanted to guide the brand, which makes its basic clothes for women, men and children in California.
Container Volumes Rise with the Business Tide at Local Ports
Import & Export
The Port of Los Angeles reported that in 2014, cargo-container volumes were up 6 percent over the previous year. Total volumes reached 8.34 million 20-foot containers, which is the third busiest year for the port.
More Business for Giant T-shirt Market
ISS Long Beach
With screen-printing machines whirring and salespeople talking about the next big thing in T-shirts, the Imprinted Sportswear Show Long Beach ran Jan. 16–18 at the Long Beach Convention Center, located by one of America’s busiest ports, in Long Beach, Calif.
SoCal Materials Show Debuts
Bustling Traffic
The debut run of the SoCal Materials Show got off to a brisk start as manufacturers and brands crowded the aisles of the California Market Center’s penthouse on the hunt for sourcing materials for footwear, accessories and apparel.
Morphew's Awards Season Pop-Up
It’s awards season in Los Angeles, the time when the fashion world and the entertainment industry collectively go gaga over the red carpet gown. Enter Morphew, a luxury online retail platform, which aims to say something unique with its red carpet pop-up shop.
Wednesday, January 21
Beckham’s New Clothes
Hey L.A., miss David Beckham after he left the Galaxy soccer team? Sure you do. But the essence of Becks will be in L.A. area H&M stores. Around March 5, a new line Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham will be stocked at H&M in addition to David Beckham Bodywear Collection. Here's a peek. C'mon, take a look...
Target's Critical Style
Fashion Collab x Blogger Influence
Prior to the launch of its new plus-size line Ava & Viv, Target brought in the fashion critics.
LA Design Student Shows in Hong Kong
Fashion
Woodbury University graduate shows her student collection at Hong Kong Fashion Week.
Tuesday, January 20
The Dashiki Strikes Back…with Royal Kulture
When Kevin Afuwah rapped under the moniker ThatAfricanKev, he always made sure to wear a dashiki, a colorful West African shirt. Later, he put his own stamp on the iconic shirt, specifically the logo Royal 1. Voila, Afuwah started his line Royal Kulture.On Jan. 17, Royal Kulture held a viewing event in downtown Los Angeles.
Monday, January 19
GGeisha’s Fashion Underbelly
It’s a new year, and for the notorious GGeisha, flipping the calendar means a new party. Welcome to the new monthly, Underbelly.
California Needs Its Own Fabric
And the Official Textile Is...
A Massachusetts lawmaker has introduced a bill to make gingham (the cotton fabric, not the familiar plaid) the “official textile of the Commonwealth.”
Friday, January 16
Lights! Camera! Fashion!
MBFW Berlin’s Pitch-Perfect Parody
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin has released an ad that perfectly captures the unattainable cool, lush photography and WAY-too-serious absurdity of fashion advertising.
Wet Seal Files Chapter 11
Juniors retailer The Wet Seal Inc. announced Jan. 16 that it has filed a voluntary petition for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Wildfox Swim Shows Off Cruise '15 Collection
Fashion
Wildfox Swim goes from the runway to the retailer with Cruise '15 collection.
Thursday, January 15
Surfin’ Byrd’s Board Comb
The trade show season’s major surf friendly trade shows; Agenda and Surf Expo, have already wrapped up successful events. But we still have surf on the mind. And look what popped up! A comb made out of surfboard fins by grooming company Byrd and boarding company Futures Fins. Cowabunga!
Wells Fargo Opens Commercial Banking Office in New York
Finance
Wells Fargo opened a new commercial banking office in New York to better serve the city’s $98 billion apparel industry.
Small January Market in L.A. Proves to be a Hit with Locals and Upbeat Retailers
LA Fashion Market
The first Los Angeles Fashion Market of 2015 proved to be surprisingly upbeat for many exhibitors, who reported seeing steady traffic from primarily West Coast retailers.
Kitson to Mayor: Let’s Talk
Retail
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s website encourages people to share their ideas to create jobs and deliver better city services for the City of Angels, but Fraser Ross, founder of the Los Angeles–based boutique chain Kitson, said he has been unable to speak with the mayor about L.A. retail.
IBM Survey Says Online Shopping Activity Lags Behind Enthusiasm for the Channel
Technology | Retail
In a survey released during the National Retail Federation’s Big Show and annual conference in New York, the IBM Institute for Business Value found that consumers’ growing enthusiasm for online shopping and “digital interaction with retailers” is not matched by their actual behavior.
Sunny Skies & Busy Booths for East Coast Surf Trade Show
Surf Expo
While much of the Eastern Seaboard suffered under a cold snap Jan. 8–10, weather in Orlando, Fla. was a good backdrop to Surf Expo, the veteran trade show for surfing and other water sports.
I Love Ugly’s La Brea Bow
The black walls and tinted windows of the store on Los Angeles' La Brea Avenue look foreboding. The shop’s name only brings up more vexing questions. I Love Ugly
Ships Stack Up as Port Terminals Try to Clear Back-Logged Containers
Import & Export
As of Jan. 15, there were 13 cargo-container ships anchored beyond the breakwater that protects the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles.
B. Riley Expands Steve Reiner's Role
Finance
Los Angeles–based financial-services company B. Riley Financial Inc. named Steven H. Reiner to the newly created position of chief business development officer, asset dispositions, for the company’s Great American Group LLC subsidiary.
Holiday Sales Increase 4 Percent With Mixed Results
Retail
Sales for the winter holiday season increased 4 percent to $616.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, slightly missing forecasts.
Full Steam Ahead for 2015 as Economy Accelerates and Gas Prices Drop
Finance
Just about everyone agrees that 2015 is shaping up to be a good year for the U.S. economy.
Winky & Dutch: Novelty Metal Jewelry Made in the USA
Manufacturing
After nearly 30 years making novelty jewelry in America, New York–based Winky & Dutch is restructuring the company, streamlining its pop culture–inspired collection and updating its back-end operations.
Monday, January 12
Je Suis Charlie: After The Hashtag
Anguish and outrage over the assassinations of the editorial staff at Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7 has become the cri de coeur for those who love freedom of expression.The hashtag Je Suis Charlie proclaiming solidarity with the assassinated journalists has covered Twitter and Facebook, and the statement has taken root beyond the online world, including T-shirts. Kitson's Fraser Ross talks about making a T that expresses solidarity with freedom of speech, but also avoids appearing that it is capitalizing on tragedy.
H&M Teams Up With Coachella Festival for Collection
Fashion
H&M joins forces with the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival to create an H&M Loves Coachella collection.
Nasty Gal Has New CEO
Executive Moves
Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso named Sheree Waterston the new chief executive officer of the Los Angeles–headquartered retailer.
Friday, January 9
Donald Drawbertson, King of the Fashion Doodle, to Cooper
Donald Robertson has an alter-ego; Donald Drawbertson, a pop artist who makes whimsical, chic doodles, and brings them to the fashion masses.Drawbertson continues to make pop art, and a Cadillac bearing his art, and lipstick, will drive by Cooper Design Space building in L.A.’s Fashion District noon, Monday, Jan. 12.
Stars in Our Past
Costume Design
The pilot episode of Fox drama “Empire” got rave reviews and fantastic ratings when it debuted on Jan. 7, thanks in part to Taraji P. Henson’s performance
Thursday, January 8
Fusing Sport and Street to Encompass an Active Lifestyle Brand
Garbe Luxe
Garbe Luxe is a contemporary activewear lifestyle brand headquartered, sourced and manufactured adjacent to downtown Los Angeles.
2015 Starts With Busy Trade Show
Agenda
A cold winter helped produce a hot show at Agenda, the first trade show of the 2015 trade-show season, which ran Jan. 5–6 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif.
December Seen as Modest
retail
December retail sales results were described by analysts as good but modest.
Showroom Profile: Necessitees
Showroom Profiles
When her CMC lease expired last year, Hallie Shano decided to move across the street to the seventh floor of The New Mart, opening a 1,200-square-foot space that is even brighter than her old space—if that is possible.
Showroom Profile: Frnch Label
Showroom Profiles
The B-wing of the California Market Center’s fifth floor just got a little more French with the opening of a new brand, Frnch Label, a young contemporary line designed in France and Los Angeles and produced in Asia.
Showroom Profile: Tivoli Paris Collections
Showroom Profile
For her very first independent showroom, Smadar Elkayam chose to be in the Gerry Building, where other showrooms carrying European lines are located.
Showroom Profile: Research and Development
Showroom Profiles
Candice Clark, owner of the Research and Development showroom in the Cooper Design Space, shared a showroom on the building’s second floor for about a year and a half but found she was outgrowing the space for her four collections: Just Female, Diarte, Della and Callahan.
Macy’s Inc. Announces New Stores and Organizational Changes
Retail
Macy’s Inc. announced Dec. 8 that it would build two stores in California and that it would close a few under performing stores in the state. The news was part of an announcement of sweeping changes at the department-store giant.
Tukatech Takes Collaboration to the Cloud
Technology
Los Angeles–based apparel software and equipment solutions provider Tukatech has introduced a cloud-based Virtual Sample solution to allow apparel makers to accelerate the approval process when developing product.
NYC Textile Week’s Trade Show Partners Make Plans for a July Launch
Textiles | Tradeshow
Twice a year, textile and apparel executives travel to New York to participate in a slate of trade shows that include textile shows Texworld USA, Kingpins, Première Vision, Indigo and DG Expo; menswear shows MRket, Project New York, Liberty and Capsule; and streetwear show Agenda. And in July the schedule also includes yarn show SpinExpo.
Pac-Man Comes to the Fashion District
Media
Budweiser Light shows up in LA Fashion District, creating a real-life Pac-Man set.
Art + Fashion + Sun + Surf
Street Scene Miami Beach
Miami’s South Beach is always a prime destination for fashionable sun-worshippers, but for a week in December, the Florida hot spot shows off its artistic side during the annual Art Basel celebration of modern and contemporary art.
Eco & Art-Driven
Together California
There’s another world, hidden in plain sight, said Lily Chehrazi and Benedict Barrett, owners and designers of the fashion brand Together California.
Ingear Fashions Introducing Licensing Swim Line Based on the Popular Beer
Corona Swim
Constellation is upping the ante for marketing the popular beer, and its next step will be rolling out a women’s swimwear line bearing the Corona logo produced by Ingear Fashions Inc.
Summer’s Key Trends
Swim Scene
From weekend getaways to exotic island holidays, designers have plenty of chic inspiration for Summer.
Back to the Future
Diane's Beachwear
Diane Biggs could be considered the long-reigning “Queen of the Bikinis.”
Nordstrom Rack to New LA County Location
Retail
Nordstrom Rack is opening a new store in Long Beach, Calif.
Wednesday, January 7
Agenda Emerge: Under the Hood of Nike, Obey and Hurley
What makes the founders of storied brands such as Nike, Hurley and Obey tick? Bob Hurley, Shepard Fairey of Obey and Tinker Hatfield of Nike gave a few clues at Agenda Emerge on Jan. 6.
Will Port Congestion Fees Be Imposed?
West Coast Port Crisis
The worst Los Angeles/Long Beach port congestion problem in a decade still has cargo stacked high on the docks. Goods continue to take two to three weeks to get off out of the ports and onto trucks and rail cars.
Wet Seal Shutters 338 Stores, Fires More than 3,000
retail closings
Beleaguered retailer The Wet Seal Inc. announced on Jan. 7 that it will close two-thirds of its fleet of more than 500 stores after being unable to negotiate favorable terms with its landlords, it also cut the jobs of thousands of its workers.
Tuesday, January 6
Who Will Be Making More Clothes in LA?
Manufacturing
A deal between Coastal Living magazine and Fresh Produce means more apparel production will take place in Southern California.
Gray Skies Ahead
Uniform Style
American Airlines recently unveiled new crew gray uniforms designed by New York–based KaufmanFranco.
Monday, January 5
Caruso to Receive NRF Foundation’s Disruptor Award
Retail Real Estate
The NRF Foundation, the non-profit division of National Retail Federation, the largest trade group for U.S. retail, will feature Rick J. Caruso, developer of The Grove and The Americana at Brand, in “The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.”
Feds Send in Mediator to Help With Longshore Contract Talks
Port Negotiations
The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said it plans to send in Scot Beckenbaugh, a skilled mediator and the service’s deputy director, to get West Coast longshore workers and their employers back to the bargaining table.
Vans' Custom Kicks for the Arts Contest
Fashion Competition
Vans is kicking off its 6th-annual Vans Custom Culture competition for high school art programs and students.
Agenda: Show Starts, Grab Yer Caps
Streetwear and action sports brands love caps, and Agenda trade show is all about streetwear, action sports and fashion. So being good trade show producers, Agenda will give its VIP streetwear and action sports people what they want. Caps! Think caps from Hurley, Herschel Supply Co., and DeathWish Skateboards, which will be given to VIPs at the Agenda trade show in Long Beach, CA., which starts today.
Friday, January 2
France’s Famously Fashionable Immigrants
Fashion Exhibition
Issey Miyake, Martin Margiela and Charles Frederick Worth are among the designers featured in the “Fashion Mix” exhibition at the Museum of Immigration History in Paris.
Victoria's Secret Unveils 2015 Swimwear Collection
Fashion
Victoria's Secret reveals trends for its 2015 swimwear collection.
Thursday, January 1
Retro Street for PacSun Exclusive
YG x RVCA
The music of tattooed rapper YG shot up Billboard charts in 2013. In 2015, he’s starting on a fashionable note thanks to a partnership with RVCA, one of the leading lifestyle, fashion and action-sports brands to come out of Orange County, Calif., in the past decade.
Made-in-USA Capsule Collection Blends Heritage With High-End Details
Karl Kani
Streetwear designer Karl Kani is coming home, so to speak. The Brooklyn native, who has been based in Los Angeles since the 1990s, recently launched an American-made capsule collection for men and women.
Brand Buiding Starts With the Hat
Sunset.Vintage.Flex
Eventually, Sunset.Vintage.Flex will offer all categories of clothes, said Rico Curry, the Los Angeles–area line’s founder. Yet since it started in 2013, the nascent brand’s focus is on headwear.
Made-to-Measure for the 21st Century
Custom-Made and Accessible
Custom made-to-measure clothing has been a luxury few could afford until recently, when a renewed interest in craftsmanship over disposable fashion gave rise to another side of the fashion industry: companies that offer made-to-measure tailoring and custom design at relatively affordable prices and timely turn times.
Business Journals Steps Up Partnerships With Co-Location Plans With ENK for April Shows
Business Journals Inc.—the New York–based organizer of the Moda, Accessories The Show and Fame trade shows—announced plans to shift its May show dates and co-locate with ENK’s Intermezzo and Accessorie Circuit at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
A Peek Into the Flagship Remodel
The Hundreds
In a business where the remodel of a flagship store can take more than a year, The Hundreds, a high-profile streetwear brand, wasted no time in getting its flagship back in the game.
Frederick’s of Hollywood Losing Lease on Flagship Store
Real Estate
Since 2005, Frederick’s of Hollywood has had its flagship store sitting appropriately enough at 6751 Hollywood Blvd., one block away from the Hollywood & Highland retail center and in the heart of the well-trafficked tourist district. But the lingerie store with a beautiful chandelier in the middle of the shop has lost its lease and has to move out by April 27, store staffers said.
