Stories for April 2016

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Friday, April 29

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Crash-Test Denim

DSM Dyneema has been working with denim mills to make a super-strong denim for performance markets like motorcycling and action sports.

Thursday, April 28

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Warehouse Sale for Goods from India

Retail

Raj Imports Has a Big Warehouse Sale in Downtown Los Angeles

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Sue Wong Launching Licensing

During a birthday celebration at her Los Feliz home, Sue Wong announced plans to begin licensing.

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Rokit: Skate Meets Street Basketball

Rokit

Rokit menswear line is a Los Angeles–based lifestyle brand that bridges the subcultures of skate and street basketball.

CFA Presents Scholarships at Annual Luncheon

Events

The California Fashion Foundation, the charitable arm of the California Fashion Association, presented its annual scholarship awards at an April 21 luncheon at the California Market Center in Los Angeles.

Lectra Exec Charts Path for U.S. Market: Tech Co. Looks to Nearshoring, Evolving Consumer Demands and the Need to Optimize

Technology

Jason Adams, with just a few months under his belt as president of Lectra North America, offers some positive impressions of his start at the cutting equipment and software specialist.

Axis and Capsule Team Up for Events in L.A. and New York

Trade Shows

The Capsule and Axis trade shows both announced plans recently to launch events in Los Angeles, and now the two shows are joining forces at LA market as well as in New York.

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WHY by Kingpins Branding Show Debuts in Amsterdam

WHY by Kingpins

During the April 13–14 run of the Kingpins denim supply chain show in Amsterdam, organizers launched a new sister trade show focused on the branding side of the supply chain.

Kingpins Amsterdam Show Draws International Crowd

Trade Shows

Kingpins returned to Amsterdam for its fifth run at the Westergasfabriek, where the trade show bowed alongside a new branding show organized by Kingpins as well as a consumer event called Denim Days, which gives retailers, brands and textile mills a chance to meet with end consumers.

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Consumers and Trade Mix at Amsterdam Denim Days

Denim Days

After the Kingpins trade show wrapped up its two-day run in Amsterdam, textile representatives, designers and denimheads got a chance to celebrate their love of all things denim at Blueprint, a two-day festival held during Amsterdam Denim Days, a week-long, city-wide event featuring workshops, seminars, sales and parties.

NW Materials Show Changes Fall Dates

Trade Shows

Because of a holiday in Asia, the NW Materials Show is pushing up the dates of its fall trade show by two weeks.

Deckers Names New President of Fashion Lifestyle

Manufacturing

Deckers Brands—the footwear and apparel company in Goleta, Calif., known for its Ugg boots, Teva and Sanuk footwear, and other labels—has appointed Andrea O’Donnell as president of fashion lifestyle.

Garment Factory Manager Found Guilty of Offering Bribe to Labor Inspector

Legal

The general manager of a Southern California clothing factory was found guilty on April 26 by a federal jury for offering to pay a bribe to a labor inspector to close down an investigation into back wages owed to factory workers, said the U.S. Attorney’s office.

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Marcianos Jump Back Into the Clothing Business

GM Studio

Georges and Armand Marciano have joined forces with designer Cinzia Simone to create a new upscale clothing brand called GM Studio that will partially launch in July with the full launch scheduled for September in time for the Fall 2016 season.

Kingpins Heading to Miami

Trade Shows

Kingpins, the boutique denim trade show, has added a new venue to its lineup, which includes New York, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

Wednesday, April 27

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Chan Luu Opens First U.S. Store

Retail

Los Angeles-based designer Chan Luu sets her first U.S. shop near the ocean.

Tuesday, April 26

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Vintage Fashions at Weekend Expo

Fashion

Vintage Fashion Expo at The Reef this weekend.

Monday, April 25

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BNKR Plans Grand Opening

Retail

BNKR to soon open its first U.S. flagship in downtown Los Angeles.

Friday, April 22

UBM Advanstar Buying BJI Fashion, Taking MAGIC to Japan

Trade Shows

Trade show giant MAGIC is getting even larger. UBM Advanstar, parent company of MAGIC, Project, Pooltradeshow, Coterie and Intermezzo, will expand its trade show holdings with the acquisition of Business Journals Inc., which produces the MRket, Stitch, Accessories The Show and Fame trade shows. UBM Advanstar also struck a deal to take the MAGIC show to Japan in 2017.

Thursday, April 21

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Fashion Down Under Australian Designer Showcase

The Australian Consul General's home in Los Angeles provided a sun-drenched backdrop by a showcase of Australian designers.

Capsule Launching LA Show in October at the CMC

Trade Shows

The Capsule trade show is coming to Los Angeles.

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Denim With Less Water Demonstrated, Discussed at Calik Event at ECO PRK

Denim With Less Water

To get the perfect washed jean, denim makers put pants through multiple wash cycles.

Customs Officials Step Up Apprehension of Counterfeit items at the Border

Import/Export

Customs officials said they saw a 25 percent increase in the number of counterfeit goods they confiscated last year at the nation’s ports and at the border.

Industry Voices: How California’s Minimum Wage Increase Will Impact the Industry

Manufacturing

With the recent decision to increase California’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022, we asked industry watchers what they think the impact will be on the state’s apparel industry—the largest manufacturing center in the U.S.

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Grlfrnd Denim: Revolve Denim Has a Vintage Look With a Contemporary Fit

Grlfrnd Denim

E-commerce powerhouse Revolve clothing has added another line to its roster with the launch of Grlfrnd denim, a made–in–Los Angeles vintage-inspired denim collection that is produced by Alliance Apparel, the manufacturing business acquired by Revolve last year.

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OC Mix: Regional Trade Show Bows in Irvine, Calif., With Contemporary, Swim Brands

OC Mix

A small group of Southern California fashion and accessories labels hosted OC Mix, a mini trade show held April 18–19 in a space within the Irvine, Calif., headquarters of Z Supply LLC.

Loyola Event Tackles the Legal Risks of Social Media, Technology and Advertising

Legal

The legal ramifications of the continuous evolution of technology and social media and how they affect the fashion industry were discussed at two panel discussions at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles on April 15.

Lord & Taylor Cited for Not Disclosing Payments to Fashion Bloggers

Legal

In the last decade, the fine line between paid advertising and commentary has grown more complicated as social-media sites and fashion blogs become the norm for getting out the word about a new product.

Wednesday, April 20

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Teva Partners With Artists for Spring Collection

Fashion

Teva has a launch party in downtown Los Angeles for new collection.

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Everything But Water Hosting Marysia Trunk Show

On April 23, fans of Marysia Swimwear will have a chance to meet designer Marysia Reeves at the Everything But Water store in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Dogeared Opening in Santa Monica

Just in time to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, Dogeared will open its first retail store in June in Santa Monica, Calif.

Tuesday, April 19

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Denim Day Coming Soon

Social Causes

Guess partners with Peace Over Violence as fashion sponsor of Denim Day.

Monday, April 18

Sport Chalet Closing

Retail

After 57 years in business, Southern California sporting goods retail chain Sport Chalet is closing all stores and shuttering its online business.

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Frame's First Store Lands in LA

Retail

Frame, started by two Swedes, is a hot label that chose its first retail location to be in Los Angeles.

Friday, April 15

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Two Weeks Left to See FIDM Movie Costume Exhibit

Fashion

More than 100 movie costumes are on display until the end of April at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's museum in downtown LA.

Thursday, April 14

Textile Trends

Manufacturing

Textile Trends

California Label Offering Woven RFID Labels from TexTrace

Manufacturing

A Swiss company has developed a woven RFID (radio frequency identification) tag that can stand up to production processes such as stone washing, bleaching and enzyme finishing.

Sustainability, Transparency and ‘Clean’Denim Production at Kingpins Transformers LA Pane

Manufacturing

To kick off the opening of the new Candiani Design Center in Los Angeles, denim trade show Kingpins hosted an event for the city’s denim industry that focused on the challenges—and benefits—of sustainable denim production.

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T-Shirt Trends for Fall 2016

Fall T-shirt Trends

From LA to London, T-shirts are a “go-to” fashion staple. And this Fall, juniors can look for plenty of new styles to update their wardrobe.

Obituary: Famed Retailer Fred Hayman, 90

Retail

Fred Hayman, the king of Rodeo Drive who put the Beverly Hills luxury street on the world shopping map, passed away on April 14. He was 90.

China Agrees to End Export Subsidies

Import/Export

After months of negotiations, China has agreed to put a stop to the export subsidies it has been granting for years to a host of industries, giving them an unfair advantage when competing with other companies around the world.

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Collared Greens: Leveraging a Made-in-America Supply Chain for a Green Take on Preppy Menswear

Collared Greens

Collared Greens might be one of the catchiest names around for an apparel firm. Its play on words comes from its roots in the South, where everyone knows eating collard greens on New Year’s Day, along with black-eyed peas, brings good luck and fortune.

NRF Supply-Chain Expert Appointed to Government Advisory Committee

Import/Export

Jonathan Gold of the National Retail Federation has been appointed to a U.S. Department of Commerce committee to advise on supply-chain issues that affect the international competitiveness of the nation’s businesses.

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Rodeo Drive Comes to the Desert

Desert Fashions

Sophisticated looks were front and center on the runway at Fashion Week El Paseo, held April 2–9 in Palm Desert, Calif.

Alliance Apparel Moves Into LA Fashion District After Partnership With Online Retailer Revolve

Manufacturing

Since Alliance Apparel was acquired last year by online retailer Revolve, the Los Angeles clothing company has seen things change at lightning speed.

Old Navy Gets New President

Retail

Coming off of months of declining sales in all its labels, Gap Inc. announced it was naming Sonia Syngal as Old Navy’s new global president.

Retailers Go Back to the Drawing Board to Draw in Consumers

Finance

As consumers alter their buying patterns, developers across the country are blowing up shopping centers and redrawing their mall maps to give more real estate to restaurants, nail salons and gadget stores and less square footage to clothing outposts.

Wednesday, April 13

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BNKR Store Opening Soon in DTLA

Retail

BNKR will pull off the wrapping paper in late April.

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Ravers Returning to Macy’s Herald Square

On April 20, Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street in New York will host a rave. Again.

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Clothing, clean thyself!

Scientists in Australia have created nanostructures that can use light to automatically clean fabric.

Monday, April 11

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Cult Gaia Pops

Making floral crowns was a hobby for fashion student Jasmin Larian. Fast forward to 2016, she parlayed a craft business into fashion label Cult Gaia. All things Cult Gaia will be on display at its first pop-up shop, at the Platform boutique retail center in Culver City. The shop popped on April 9

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Victoria's Secret Shuttering Catalog Business

Retail

Victoria's Secret saying good-bye to all those catalogs stuffed in your mailbox.

Friday, April 8

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Italian Vogue’s Eye for Fashion

Ever wonder what editors look for when scouting new design talent?

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Nas Curating Ghostbusters Collection

Fashion

Hip-hop star Nas is working with Sony to curate a Nas x Ghostbusters collection to coordinate with the movie's release this summer.

Thursday, April 7

American Apparel Workers Get Pink Slips

Manufacturing

Scores of American Apparel workers are being laid off as the Los Angeles clothing company is revamping its production process shortly after emerging from bankruptcy protection in February.

L Brands Beats Estimates During Soft March Business

Retail

L Brands—the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath & Body Works—beat Wall Street estimates.

Anne Fontaine’s Gala South Coast Plaza Runway Show

Fashion

Designer Anne Fontaine made a trip to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., for her label’s first comprehensive West Coast runway presentation.

FIDM Debut Highlights Work in Fashion, Costume Design, Textiles and Interior Design

Fashion

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising hosted its annual Debut runway show and gala on April 2 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Trendstop Fall ’16 Color Forecast

Trends

Get ahead of the competition with key color insights coming through for Fall ’16 as fashion forecast agency Trendstop presents California Apparel News readers with a taster of their trend analysis.

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Barbara Fields Talks Trends for Fall ’16

Barbara Fields

Buyers who attended the Barbara Fields Buying Office’s Fall ’16 Trend Presentation will be well ahead of the retail game. The veteran buying and trend expert presented an in-depth look at the season’s key trends at her event, held April 1 and April 4–6 during LA Majors Market.

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‘Optimistic’ Outlook at Fashion Market Northern California

FMNC

Booth space was sold out at the April 3–5 run of Fashion Market Northern California, which is held at the San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, Calif., and attendance was on par with last April, according to Suzanne de Groot, executive director of the show.

California Approves Highest Minimum Wage in the Country

Finance

By 2022, California will be the state with the highest minimum wage in the country, making it an expensive place to do business.

Roach to Head Volcom Women’s

Manufacturing

Lyndsey Roach, an action-sports veteran, was named the global head of women’s business for Volcom, it was recently announced.

Surf’s Heartland No Longer No-Go Zone for Designer Styles: Kin Opening in Huntington Beach

Retail

For decades, Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, Calif., have been known as the Rodeo Drive of Surf.

Majors Market Buzzing

Trade Shows

The 2015 Back-to-School season was considered a disappointment for much of the juniors market, but the future looks bright, according to many of the exhibitors at the April 4–6 run of LA Majors Market, primarily held at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles.

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Directives West Highlights Major Trends for Fall/Winter 2016

Fall Forecast

Floppy hats, faux-fur vests, peasant tops, leather jackets trimmed with fringe, slouchy sweaters, ponchos, lacy dresses, plaid pieces and plenty of worn denim were at the top of the trend chart for Fall/Winter 2016.

PacSun Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Retail

Pacific Sunwear of California has not turned a profit in years.

Wednesday, April 6

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Streetwear Sample Sale at Fashion District Bar

Fashion

Menswear label Zanerobe hopes to party and sell samples at the same time.

Interest Rates to Rise This Spring as Economy Improves

Finance

UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts that the U.S. economy will grow moderately in 2016 and 2017.

Tuesday, April 5

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Anne Fontaine's Gala South Coast Plaza Show

Franco-Brazilian designer Anne Fontaine made a trip to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif. on March 31. The occasion was a gala runway show for the international brand’s Spring-Summer 2016 season.

Monday, April 4

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Louis Vuitton Men’s To South Coast Plaza

South Coast Plaza is Louis Vuitton central. The luxury resort already had three Louis Vuitton boutiques. Now, it's going to get a fourth - Louis Vuitton Men's.

Friday, April 1

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M The Movement Goes Public

The M The Movement produced a trunk show March 29 at restaurant The District by Hannah An. Take a look.

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Bloomie's Opening Outlet in Orange County

Retail

First Bloomingdale's Outlet in Southern California is opening later this year.