Monday, September 30
Forever 21 Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
LEGAL
Following much outside speculation over the last few months, Forever 21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On Sept. 29, documents were filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Real Housewives’ Sutton Stracke Opens West Hollywood Shop Sutton
RETAIL
The Kardashians ran a boutique chain called Dash. Now, another reality-TV star will put her love of fashion, shopping and retail on the line.
Friday, September 27
MSYFAO Promotes An Important Message of Compassion and Caring
MANUFACTURING
Inspired by the unrealistic depictions of relationships found in reality television, San Diego-born Justin and Hunter Moreno launched Make Sure Your Friends Are Okay to promote the social good through compassion and care.
Richer Poorer’s Pop-Up at Univ Will Go For The Long Run
RETAIL
Pop-ups are supposed to be ephemeral. Let 48 hours pass, and the pop-up shop has come and gone.
Thursday, September 26
From Farm to Factory, Fibershed Pushes the Industry Toward Responsible Fiber Sourcing
Farm-to-factory Fiber
After nine years of promoting a local apparel supply chain, through which all sourcing is no farther than 150 miles from a project’s headquarters, Fibershed founder Rebecca Burgess has become devoted to showing clothing makers how to create a more-responsible product.
California Economy Juggles Slowness and Strengths, According to Forecast
Finance
The U.S. and California economies are slowing down, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast titled “The Year of Living Dangerously,” which was released Sept. 26, but the slowdown has bright points that other economies would envy.
Laughton to Lead Athleta
Laughton to Lead Athleta
It was announced Sept. 24 that Mary Beth Laughton was named president and chief executive officer of the Athleta division of Gap Inc.
PacSun Pays $85,000 Settlement in Discrimination Suit
Legal
Anaheim, Calif.–headquartered Pacific Sunwear of California, LLC, will pay $85,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it was announced on Sept. 20.
Mulch Plans on Growing and Expanding Sustainable Fashion Business
Grown with Mulch
The Zarif brothers grew up surfing in San Clemente, Calif., one of the hubs of the California surf scene, but when they developed a ready-to-wear line for their sustainable brand, Mulch, they wanted to keep surf styles at a distance.
Industry Focus: Finance—How would you advise your apparel-industry clients to prepare for a potential recession?
Finance
Around the globe, trusted economic forecasters are predicting a slowdown over the next year, yet there is disparity regarding whether they feel a recession will occur. As previous spans of negative economic growth have shown, the most effective method of navigating through recessionary periods is to prepare in advance, expecting the worst while hoping for the best.
eBay CEO Wenig Steps Down
Retail
There was a quick reshuffling of the executive pack at eBay, the sprawling San Jose, Calif.–headquartered e-marketplace.
Lulus Gets Physical
RETAIL
Digital-commerce emporium Lulus will produce its first physical pop-up shop on Sept. 28.
Wednesday, September 25
Ryllace Makes A Debut in Santa Monica
MANUFACTURING
Britney Young of Netflix comedy GLOW, model and actress Hayley Hasselhoff and model Robyn Lawley made appearances at the debut party wearing the styles of Ryllace.
Monday, September 23
LA Fashion Festival; Film, Virtual Reality, Beauty & Sustainability
FASHION
It was the second run for the LA Fashion Festival.
Thursday, September 19
Salesforce Continues to Streamline Brand-Retail Relationships With New CRM
Retail
To streamline in-store merchandising and marketing, the San Francisco–based customer relationship–management technology company Salesforce introduced its Consumer Goods Cloud as a tool to help brands work more efficiently with retail partners. Salesforce worked on developing the solution to also incorporate Einstein AI.
Eco-friendly Zippers to Be Manufactured Stateside by YKK
Accessories
After five years of manufacturing its Natulon zippers from recycled materials, the Tokyo-based notions manufacturer YKK announced that it will bring production of these goods to the United States.
DuPont Sorona Makes a Sustainable-Apparel Connection With Farm-to-Table Food Sourcing
Sustainability
Through establishing parallels between the locally sourced, slow-food movement and the slowing down of apparel production from fast fashion, DuPont Sorona hosted an event on Sept. 11 to promote more-responsible approaches to fashion.
Spring Romance Takes a Dark Twist for Dalia MacPhee
The Dark Side
Daring to go darker for her Spring 2020 collection, Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based designer Dalia MacPhee recently unveiled her latest collection, which exudes notes of dark romance blended with a bit of fun.
Pantone Expands Its Library by Adding 294 Colors to Matching System
Textiles
Color authority Pantone, LLC, recently introduced 294 colors to its library, the first addition to its Pantone Matching System since 2016.
Boardriders Announces Slate of New Execs & New Campaigns
Manufacturing
Boardriders, Inc. announced a number of initiatives on Sept. 18 that will put it on a path to growth, according to David Tanner, chief executive officer of the Huntington Beach, Calif.–based action-sports company.
Houston Duroe To Helm Surf Expo
Trade Shows
A new show director will helm Surf Expo. It was announced Sept. 18 that Nikki Houston Duroe was promoted to show director and will report to Roy Turner, a senior vice president at Emerald Exhibitions, which owns Surf Expo. Turner had previously served as show director.
Non Traditional Retail Marks Trends in Retail Real Estate
Retail Real Estate
Representatives of some of the newest trends in retail took the stage at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Western Conference & Deal Making convention, which ran Sept. 16–18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in the city’s downtown.
Kornit Digital Taking Its Direct-To-Garment Show On The Road
Technology
Kornit Digital’s Presto S printer is about as big as a limousine and can function as a mini T-shirt factory, said Robert Zoch, a global content manager for the printer company, headquartered in Englewood, N.J.
Hello Kitty Brings Branding Bonanza to L.A.
Cute culture pioneer and licensing juggernaut Hello Kitty will celebrate its 45th anniversary this year, the cartoon character is coming to Los Angeles to celebrate with the Hello Kitty Friends Around the World Pop—Up Tour.
Wednesday, September 18
Forever 21 Opens New Hollywood & Highland Store
Business headlines have been dominated by forecasts of bankruptcy for fast fashion giant Forever 21. But that has not stopped the Los Angeles-headquartered retailer from opening a new store.
Tuesday, September 17
Dia De Los Muertos Comes Early to California Flower Mall
Dia De Los Muertos doesn’t come for its annual costume and horror show for another six weeks.
More Than 2,000 People Attend The Hundreds Family Style Food Festival
EVENTS
The Hundreds streetwear label produced the inaugural Family Style Food Festival at Television City Studios in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District on Sept. 15.
Monday, September 16
What Is Business Casual? The Robert Herjavec Collection by Buttercloth Hopes To Provide the Answer
MANUFACTURING
Business casual may not be the best-defined style of office apparel, but, to Robert Herjavec, business magnate and star of ABC program "Shark Tank," it’s definitely not T-shirts and jeans.
Thursday, September 12
Vans Announces $ 1 Million Donation, The Biggest in its History
Vans’ Record Contribution
On Sept. 11, Vans announced that it was donating $1 million to Imagination.org, a Los Angeles–headquartered nonprofit that produces programs to foster the creativity of youth.
Otis Names Fashion Building After Swimwear Giant Anne Cole
Events
Star swimwear designer Anne Cole served as a mentor and major fund-raiser for the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles’ Westchester section before she passed at age 90 in 2017. Just as the 2019–2020 academic year started, Anne Cole’s estate bequeathed $2.5 million to Otis.
What’s Checking in Beverly Hills: Bringing In More Fashion
What’s Checking: Beverly Hills
North Canon Drive never ranked as one of the premier fashion retail streets in Beverly Hills, Calif. It was always a place to dine at a restaurant or go to a hair salon, but the street is on course to develop a bigger fashion scene.
Fur Ban a Signature Away From Becoming California Law
Retail
California is closer to becoming the first U.S. state to ban sales and the manufacture of fur.
Trusting Her Own Voice, Heidi Merrick Steps Away From Wholesale in favor of D2C
Retail
Over the summer, Heidi Merrick began to lay the groundwork for her plan to move away from wholesale partnerships with retailers, forge stronger relationships with her customers and answer only to herself in matters of business.
Domestic Production Is Central to the TateJones Mission
Manufacturing
In September 2018, high school friends Shawn Harrison and Stacey Horton launched TateJones, a female-founded, Los Angeles–based luxury-basics brand made in the City of the Angels.
Record Cargo Numbers for August at Port of Los Angeles Could Foreshadow Trouble
Import/Export
After moving 861,081 20-foot equivalent units—or TEUs—the Port of Los Angeles reported this week that it has set a new single-month cargo record for the month of August.
The Bold and the Beautiful Shine Brightly During Art Hearts Fashion’s NYFW Shows
Art Hearts NYFW
During New York Fashion Week, the Erik Rosete–produced Art Hearts Fashion unveiled its shows Sept. 5–8 at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Old Navy to Double Stores
Retail
Gap Inc. executives forecast a growth spurt in its physical stores by spinning off its Old Navy division.
Arts District Fire Destroys Fabric Building
News
A major blaze destroyed a building at 1915 E. 7th St. during the early morning hours of Sept. 9, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Barco at 90
MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing work clothes such as medical scrubs is a multi-billion dollar business. Barco Uniforms, headquartered in Gardena, Calif., has been doing well in this market and has the longevity to prove it.
Guess? Goes Green
MANUFACTURING
In 2017, Guess? Inc set goals to develop more sustainable manufacturing. Some of the fruits of that labor will be on display, as the fall '19 looks from Guess? Eco Luxe collection were released recently.
Marianna Hewitt and DL1961 Partner on Capsule Collection
FASHION
Los Angeles-based lifestyle blogger Marianna Hewitt has partnered with New York-headquartered DL1961 on a new capsule collection that promotes more-sustainable practices.
Tuesday, September 10
SIMA Humanitarian Fund Raising Money for Bahamas Disaster Relief
The Aliso Viejo, Calif.-headquartered SIMA Humanitarian Fund, a non-profit run by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, is raising funds to help people in the areas hard hit in the Bahamas by the Hurricane Dorian.
Monday, September 9
RAW's Heidi Luerra Releases Work of Art. It’s A Field Guide for Creatives
EVENTS
Heidi Luerra has worked as an events producer for more than a decade—we can now add the job of author to her resume.
Friday, September 6
Jordache Unveils Venice Beach-inspired Spring 2020 Collection During NYFW
FASHION
As it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Jordache unveiled its Spring 2020 collection to kick off New York Fashion Week, adding Venice Beach, Calif.-inspired touches.
Poketo's Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung Talk About Creative Spaces
Everyone talks about making their passion their job, but Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung actually did it.
Thursday, September 5
Wrangler at 100
Think of life 100 years ago. Technologically, it was a completely different world. In 1919, horse & buggy was the main mode of transportation for many Americans. Most people didn’t own a telephone. The Internet was not even a fantasy for science fiction writers. But the seed for the Wrangler jeans started growing then.
The Cause Collection To West 3rd Street
RETAIL
A new Los Angeles bricks-and-mortar store also plans to be part of give-back retail.
Ahead of Next Month’s LA Fashion Week, Moss Adams Announces 2019 MAFI Recipient
MAFI Made
For its 2019 MAFI award, Moss Adams chose Los Angeles–based designer Coral Castillo, whose formal designs with intricate details celebrate strength and femininity.
NorCal-based and Pacific Northwest Buyers Find Fill-ins and Spring 2020 at CALA SF
CALA SF
On the heels of its inaugural Las Vegas show, the CALA contemporary-apparel trade show hosted its San Francisco edition.
Vegan Fashion Week Returns to Los Angeles
Events
Returning to Los Angeles for its second installment, Vegan Fashion Week, the ethical-fashion runway and trade-show event, will be hosted Oct. 10–15.
California Bans Fur Trapping, Considers Wider Fur Ban
RETAIL
The state of California has taken steps against the cultivation and possibly the sales of fur.
Ring of Fire To Release First Sustainable Denim Line
Eco-friendly Ring of Fire
With a name inspired by the 1963 Johnny Cash hit of the same title, Ring of Fire clothing has been selling graphic T-shirts and denim to better department stores for 12 years.
Helfenbein Steps Down from AAFA
RETAIL
After 14 years of engagement with the American Apparel & Footwear Association, 10 as a member and four leading the organization, Rick Helfenbein announced that he will step down as the group’s president and chief executive officer. The Washington D.C.–based trade association represents more than 1,000 brands.
Levi’s to Acquire Assets from South American Distributor
Retail
Levi Strauss & Co. announced on Sept. 3 that it will spend more than $35 million to acquire all of the operational assets related to its Levi’s and Dockers brands from The Jeans Company. The company serves as Levi Strauss & Co.’s distributor in Chile, Peru and Bolivia.
After a Tough Summer, Forever 21 Seeks To Navigate Uncertain Future
Retail
It’s been a cruel summer for retail giant Forever 21. Just after Labor Day, lawyers for A-list celebrity Ariana Grande filed a suit against Forever 21 and its beauty brand, Riley Rose, in Los Angeles Federal District Court. The suit alleges the company used Grande’s image without her permission. Demanding $10 million in damages, the pop singer is suing for copyright and trade infringement.
Garment Restitution Fund for Workers Receives $16.3 Million
Manufacturing
Some Los Angeles–area garment workers will finally be able to cash checks long denied to them.
Wednesday, September 4
Nick Fouquet Opens on Abbot Kinney
Some fashions ride into the sunset and never return. However this fate might not be in store for the beaver pelt hat.
Tuesday, September 3
ISS Orlando Canceled
Trade Shows
The Orlando edition of the Imprinted Sportswear Shows was canceled Sept. 3 due to threats from Hurricane Dorian.
Sunday, September 1
Surf Expo Canceled as Organizers Prioritize Safety
Trade Shows
The Surf Expo water-sports and beach-lifestyle trade show that was scheduled to be held Sept. 5-7 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., has been canceled due to threats from Hurricane Dorian, which made landfall in the Bahamas on Sept. 1.
