Wednesday, May 31
Changes for Fairfax Ave., Rodeo of Streetwear
Fairfax Avenue is still the Rodeo Drive of streetwear, but there have been some notable shops leaving the thoroughfare.
Bella+Canvas Starts YouTube Channel
Fashion
T-shirt maker Bella+Canvas will have YouTube content change weekly.
Max Azria Named CEO of Bug-Zapping Light Company
More than one year after leaving his Los Angeles clothing company, Max Azria has been named chief executive of ZappLight and its parent company, Clean Concept.
Tuesday, May 30
Emerald Expositions Adds SIA Snow Show to Its Stable of Trade Exhibitions
Weeks after raising $264 million in a public offering, Emerald Expositions turned around and acquired for $16.4 million the SIA Snow Show organized by SnowSports Industries America.
Phillip Lim’s Arts District Store
After an eight year run on Los Angeles’ Westside, award winning fashion designer Phillip Lim
Friday, May 26
Pocket Square Clothing’s Big 1st
From pompadoured hair to high end sneakers, men’s styles have been reaching for new heights in the past five years. Pocket Square Clothing hoped it could wrap some of the creative ferment in a handkerchief. It celebrated the first anniversary of its downtown Los Angeles shop on May 25.
Thursday, May 25
The Credit- and Debit-Card Business Is Booming
Retail
Credit, debit and prepaid cards in 2016 saw a purchase volume increase of 7 percent based on a year-over-year comparison, according to The Nilson Report, a Carpinteria, Calif.–based trade publication reporting on the payments industry. In America, credit, debit and prepaid cards’ purchase volume reached $5.648 trillion in 2016.
CCA Showcase SF Style in 2017 Fashion Experience
CCA Fashion Experience
California College of the Arts hosted its annual runway show—called the 2017 Fashion Experience—on the back lot of the college’s San Francisco campus.
Tukatech Introduces New Cloud-Based Solutions for Design Community
Technology
Los Angeles–based technology and software company Tukatech is increasing its offerings for the design community.
Funko Acquires So Cal–based Fashion Accessories Company Loungefly
Manufacturing
Pop-culture consumer products company Funko LLC has acquired Loungefly, a Southern California–based contemporary fashion accessories company that produces products under licensed brands such as Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Sanrio and Pokémon.
Centric Launches Visual Innovation Platform to Share Information Visually Across Company Departments in Real Time
Technology
Campbell, Calif.–based technology solutions provider Centric Software has launched the Centric Visual Innovation Platform, a collection of digital boards for mobile devices such as the iPad and the iPhone, as well as large-scale, touch-screen televisions.
Leading the Los Angeles Fashion District in a New Era
LA Fashion District
Every day, seven tons of trash are collected in the Los Angeles Fashion District, up from six tons a day last year.
Aussie Retailer Showpo to L.A.
Retail
When Sydney entrepreneur Jane Lu started posting pictures of fast-fashion styles on social-media sites for her Australian e-commerce label, Showpo, she was surprised that she got interest from California.
S.M.N. Plans To Offer the ‘Real’ Premium
S.M.N.
S.M.N. Studio sells men’s denim that retails from $200 to $600, but the pricing is not a repeat of the go-go days of Los Angeles’ premium-denim business from a decade ago when denim labels typically asked consumers to pay hundreds of dollars for a pair of jeans, according to Jazmin Kim, cofounder of S.M.N.
The Leverage Makes Millions from Overlooked Market
The Leverage
During a time when conventional wisdom says that retailers are not making big merchandise orders, The Leverage fashion house reported making millions of dollars from an overlooked boutique market.
Reformation Brings Eco, Tech Store Concept to L.A.
Reformation
Reformation made fashion headlines in Northern California this year when it opened an eco-friendly boutique that featured retail tech such as touchscreens. The women’s fashion line recently announced that it will bring its new store concept to its hometown of Los Angeles.
Wolk Morais Shows Collection 5
Wolk Morais
To make a Wolk Morais runway show, you need a few main ingredients.
Will Google Assistant Become Retail’s Next Big Thing?
Technology
Technology company Google recently announced new angles to its Google Assistant. With a voice command, Google Assistant can offer help with a number of tasks, such as making phone calls, playing music and looking up information, similar to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Echo.
Jake Takes A Bow
NorCal fashion label Jake took a bow this year with suiting, dresses and casual looks that explore style, gender and architecture,
ComplexCon Adds Colette’s Sarah Andelman to 2nd Run of Festival
ComplexCon surprised many, when thousands of people bought tickets to the festival’s inaugural run in Long Beach, Calif. last year, to take in its mix of hip hop acts, art displays, food truck style cuisine and yes, retail. On May 25, ComplexCon producers Complex Networks and Reedpop announced a sophomore run for the festival. It also announced a committee to guide the festival. One of the committee luminaries will be Sarah Andelman, co-founder of the Parisian fashion/concept store Colette.
Wednesday, May 24
Betches Teams up With JustFab
JustFab is getting its snark back on thanks to a new partnership with Betches, the website, Instagram, book series and store founded in 2011by Jordana Abraham, Samantha Fishbein, and Aleen Kuperman.
Tuesday, May 23
Sugar + Baywatch Surfs into Ron Robinson
On May 18, the label Sugar introduced its Sugar + Baywatch at Ron Robinson.
Monday, May 22
Avec Les Filles' Los Angeles Pop-up
After spending the past year or so launching the Avec Les Filles brand, and rolling out the brand in 155 Macy’s, Joyce Azria, Avec Les Filles’ founder, said it was time to celebrate. Her way of celebration? Open up a pop-up shop.
Thursday, May 18
Open For Business: Trade Show Organizers Gear Up for the Shows
Trade Shows
In the months leading up to their events, trade-show organizers are working to create an environment for attendees that will facilitate their business—from fine-tuning the exhibitor mix to lining up a slate of B2B seminars.
Shop & Dine
Shop & Dine
The trade-show season is a year-round circuit that is like a movable feast when it comes to hunting for new styles and fashions.
Key Industry Issues on the Agenda at AIMS360 Empowerment Conference
Technology
Don Nunnari first began working with True Religion when the premium-denim brand was in its infancy.
Academy of Art University Honors Vogue Critic Sarah Mower at Graduation Fashion Show
AAU Fashion Show
Sarah Mower, chief critic for Vogue, was the honoree on May 6 when the Academy of Art University in San Francisco hosted its 2017 Graduation Fashion Show.
ArtCenter Hosts Multimedia Runway Show and Exhibition
ArtCenter
ArtCenter College of Design students showcased some of their recent work in the school’s eighth annual Design Runway, an exhibition and multimedia runway show.
Creativity Abounds in California’s Economy
Finance
In 2015, some 747,600 people in California were directly employed in creative-industry jobs, a 13.5 percent increase from 2010, according to the “2017 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California,” released on May 18 by the Otis College of Art and Design.
New U.S. Trade Representative Will Have a Busy Schedule
Import/Export
Days after being sworn in as the new U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer will be traveling to Vietnam to attend a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation countries.
A Free-Trade Agreement Between the U.S. and Europe Waiting in the Wings
Import/Export
Trade experts were expecting a free-trade agreement between the United States and Europe to be signed, sealed and delivered by the time Barack Obama left the White House. But things didn’t turn out as planned as the political winds in Europe and the United States shifted recently from pro free trade to increased protectionism.
Neault Joins Style Fashion Week
Fashion
Christina Neault, who formerly worked as an executive producer for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, has joined Style Fashion Week, a producer of the biannual series of runway shows during Los Angeles Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week as well as events in other cities including Palm Springs, Calif.; Miami; and Dubai.
Mad Engine Acquires Neff
Manufacturing
In April, Danish Gajiani, chief executive officer of Mad Engine LLC, a designer and distributor of licensed apparel, said that his company would acquire more branded apparel and accessories labels.
Obituary: Menswear Executive and Trade Show Organizer Larry, Hymes, 72
Trade Shows
Menswear executive Larry Hymes died on May 11 of heart failure. He was 72. The New York–born Hymes was best known as a West Coast sales representative for menswear brands such as Louis Alvear Inc.
Pirates of Caribbean Sails into What Goes Around Comes Around
Fashion come in and out of style; big shoulders from the 1980s, pompadours from the 1950s, tie dye from the late 1960s. But what about 1710s? High end vintage store What Goes Around Comes Around celebrated a Pirates of the Caribbean T-shirt line.
Wednesday, May 17
High-end Sunglass Store Coming to Fashion District
Retail
A South Korean eyewear company is opening its first West Coast store in downtown LA.
Tuesday, May 16
NYC's In Support Of Pops in L.A.
For the past few years, boutique and showroom In Support Of has been treating New York City to a wide array of emerging fashion designers, each with a unique point of view. Since May 2, In Support Of’s Tanya Sheikh and Ivan Gilkes have been producing their show in Los Angeles.
Monday, May 15
Kinsley James to Los Angeles
For more than four years, Kinsley James Couture Bridal has represented up-and-coming and established designers at its bridal salon in Walnut Creek, Calif. On May 11, it opened a sprawling 3,900-square-foot location on 8231 West 3rd St. in Los Angeles.
Friday, May 12
Billy Reid Kicks off Made-To-Measure Event at Magasin
It was a Billy Reid shindig at the Magasin boutique on May 11.
Thursday, May 11
Upscale Lifestyle Trade Show Coeur Partners With Project Womens
Trade Shows
Coeur, the upscale accessories and lifestyle trade show, is partnering with Project Womens to launch a “premiere apothecary, home and gift trade fair” during the Aug. 14–16 run of Project Womens at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center n Las Vegas.
Department Stores Report Declines for the First Quarter
Retail
Several department stores reported results for their first-quarter earnings on May 11, and the results included steep same-store declines for Macy’s Inc. and Dillards Inc.
UK retailer Prism pops at Platform
UK retailer Prism opened a pop-up shop at Platform boutique retail center in Culver City, near Los Angeles on May 10.
Peri A. Brings the Party To Robertson
Peri Arenas hopes that her new boutique will bring a joie de vivre to retail street Robertson Boulevard. One of her first acts was to produce a debut party for her Peri A. boutique.
Celebrating Disney Artist Mary Blair
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland boutique in L.A.’s Eagle Rock honors legendary artist Mary Blair, the artist best known for her work on Disney’s “It’s a Small World” attraction and the “Little Golden Book” series
The Nuances of Profitability vs. Growth Discussed at Fashion Digital Conference
Technology
Profitability is a powerful weapon for a company, “to be used thoughtfully and consciously,” said Rebecca Kaden, a partner at Howard Shultz’s capital venture firm, Maveron.
CFF, TALA Present Annual Scholarship Awards
CFF & TALA
The California Fashion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the California Fashion Association, and the Textile Association of Los Angeles held their annual 2017 Scholarship Awards luncheon on April 27 at the California Market Center.
Lenzing Takes Eco a Step Further
Textiles
The producer of Tencel, the closed-loop cellulosic fiber made from eucalyptus-tree pulp, has a new eco-friendly fiber. Austrian fiber maker Lenzing has introduced a new fiber made from cotton scraps and wood.
Imports Will Grow Nicely Through the Fall
Import/Export
With unemployment hitting extremely low levels and workers’ wages rising, the nation’s ports should see a decent uptick in cargo-container volumes through at least September.
Hundreds of Guests Attend the Annual Otis College of Art and Design Fund-raiser and Fashion Show
Otis Fashion Show
A fashionable collection of 800 people crowded into a large ballroom at the Beverly Hilton for the annual Otis Scholarship Benefit and Fashion Show, which raises money for students and highlights the fashion collections designed by the junior and senior classes of the fashion design department.
Reformation’s Fight Against Toxic Denim
Reformation
Los Angeles’ Reformation label is one of a handful of companies that has lifted eco-fashion from a cottage industry to a larger scale.
New Key Buyer Program Established at WWIN
Trade Shows
In an attempt to identify new attendees and buyers, the twice-a-year Womenswear in Nevada show held in Las Vegas has appointed Lynn Visser as the new key account manager.
Marciano Museum Set to Open May 25
The Marciano Art Foundation, the new L.A. museum founded by Guess co-founders Paul and Maurice Marciano, is on track to open May 25.
Wednesday, May 10
Reality Star T-shirt Line Goes For the Difference
Another week, another T-shirt/fashion line by a reality star/celebrity/creative. Ho hum. But reality star Sean McElwee promised to do something different with T-shirt line Seanese.
Tuesday, May 9
The Auction Is On for Fashions Created by Otis' Students
Fashion
Students from Otis College of Art and Design put their mentor-inspired creations up for auction.
JustFab’s Internet Brand Room
JustFab, an e-commerce company based in El Segundo, Calif., drank deeply from the Internet’s Kool-Aid. Its recently unveiled brand room was designed by an Internet company.
Monday, May 8
Nuyu’s Wonder Woman line Lands at Ron Robinson
Mightier than 10 armies! It’s the marketing push behind the upcoming Wonder Woman movie. But the Nuyu brand plans to do something different with Wonder Woman styles.
Capital Business Credit Gets a Name Change
Finance
Five months ago, White Oak Global Advisors acquired Capital Business Credit, known for its asset-based lending portfolio. Now White Oak Global is renaming Capital Business Credit to White Oak Commercial Finance.
True West Pop-Up Arrives on Abbott Kinney
Inspired by the high desert and frontier lifestyle, the True West pop-up was curated by Barbara Kramer, co-founder of Designers and Agents, and Jessica Hundley, writer and filmmaker.
Friday, May 5
Bebe Stores Resolves Store Leases and Skirts Bankruptcy
Retail
Bebe Stores settles store lease problems with landlords to move forward.
Thursday, May 4
L.A.’s Fashion District on a Sneaker Kick
Downtown Los Angeles' Fashion District is on a high end sneaker kick. Holy Grail moved to the enclave in April, it is just the latest high end sneaker boutique to open for business in the Fashion District.
Deciding Where Your American Apparel T-shirt Is Made
Manufacturing
Consumers will soon be able to decide where their American Apparel T-shirt is made - in the U.S. or in Central America.
April Sales Bring Better Biz
Retail
After a tough beginning of the year, April proved to be a good month for retailers.
Twin Dragon Introduces New Eco Initiatives for Denim
Textiles
Gardena, Calif.–based Twin Dragon Marketing Inc. has introduced several new environmental initiatives for 2017 for the company’s denim facilities in Mexico and Asia.
Paige Charts Stylish Path With New Stores
Retail
A few months after the Paige brand introduced its first design collaboration, Rosie HW X Paige, the Los Angeles–headquartered premium-denim brand, is embarking on a retail rollout.
Simparel Acquires Shopfloor Support LLC
Technology
New York–based Simparel Inc. has acquired Shopfloor Support LLC, an Alpharetta, Ga.–based solution that collects production data and provides real-time visibility on the factory floor.
Woodbury Celebrates Two Anniversaries on the Runway
Woodbury University
Woodbury University’s fashion design student Haibert Keshishi received the Judith Tamkin Fashion Award for most innovative senior collection at the college’s recent annual fashion show, held in downtown Los Angeles.
Sister Act in Creating the Fenini Collection
Fenini
When Fei Yang was a little girl growing up in Taiwan, she was constantly drawing on anything that had a flat surface—napkins, notebooks, newspapers and walls.
Bachrach Clothing Stores File for Bankruptcy Protection in Los Angeles
Retail
In the wake of several recent retail bankruptcies, the wave of clothing store troubles just keeps coming.
Joyce Azria: Market Upheaval Is Good Time to Launch
Joyce Azria
Joyce Azria is a child of Los Angeles’ fashion industry. Azria talked to California Apparel News on introducing a new fashion label during a time of great change, leadership and why she chose to do business with Macy’s when the retailer is cutting back.
Analysts Talk Retail Survival in a Time of Change
Retail
For the past few months, fashion websites have been passing around forecasts that more than 3,000 stores are scheduled to shutter in the United States. Jeff Van Sinderen, a retail analyst for B. Riley & Co. in Los Angeles, predicts the number of store closures will be even higher.
Wednesday, May 3
Look Sharp
Amazon has been steadily taking a position in the fashion industry for several years. It's latest fashion product takes the mega retailer right into the closets of its customer.
Paula Schneider Steps Down as CEO of Three Contemporary Brands
Manufacturing
Paula Schneider no longer CEO at 7 For All Mankind, Splendid and Ella Moss.
Monday, May 1
West Coast Longshore Workers to Vote on Three-Year Contract Extension
Import/Export
With political and economic change in the wind, longshore workers have agreed to vote on a three-year extension of their current contract expiring July 1, 2019.
Serving the CMC's Hungry since 1984, Bakery Nosh Moves
Since 1984, Bakery Nosh has been located on the second floor of the California Market Center showroom building; serving bagels, cookies and coffees to garmentos and the stylish. On May 1, Bakery Nosh made a big move.
Marchers Gather in Downtown LA in Fashion District
May Day
More than 100,000 people are expected to be marching into downtown Los Angeles today for May Day protests.
Brooklyn Hat Company’s Trina Turk Shindig
Brooklyn Hat Company pulled into the Trina Turk/Mr. Turk boutique in Palm Springs, Calif. for a trunk show recently.
