Friday, June 27
Gerber Takes Global Path to Growth
Gerber Technology Inc. wrapped up its fiscal year on April 30 and posted $154 million in sales and $13.4 million in profits, a 27 percent improvement over its profits last year. The Tolland, Conn.–based company did b...
New Generation Updates Supply-Chain Software
New Generation Computing Inc., based in Miami Lakes, Fla., rolled out its latest version of e-SPS, a Web-based sourcing software for retailers and manufacturers who manage global pro...
CFA to Host Workers' Comp Forum
Pending workers’ compensation cutbacks will be the topic of discussion at “Workers’ Compensation Reform: an Apparel Industry Speakers’ Platfor...
Serfontaine Launches Men's Denim Collection
Los Angeles–based denim designer Mik Serfontaine made some inroads last season with his Easy Rider jeans for women. He got them on Britney Spears and into key accounts, including Fred Segal ...
Citadel Strikes a Deal With Craig Realty Group
Newport Beach, Calif.–based outlet-mall developer Craig Realty Group has struck a deal with the city of Commerce, Calif., to purchase the Citadel Outlets retail center and of...
Dress-Code Settlement
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has settled its suit with several sales associates in California who said they had been forced to purchase A&F clothing while working in the company’s stores. The Ohio-based ret...
Nike Case Returned to Lower Court
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case revolving around whether the First Amendment right of free speech covers statements made by corporations....
California Companies Named in Import Smuggling Complaint
The U.S. Attorney’s office has accused three Southern California companies of smuggling apparel destined for Mexico into the United States....
1958 Rates
The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by onequarter of a percentage point to 1 percent, bringing the rate to 1958 levels. The federal funds rate is the rate that banks charge other banks ...
Workers' Comp Ruling
San Francisco Superior Court ruled in favor of the California State Compensation Insurance Fund in a suit stemming from the workers’ compensation premiums that the insurer charged in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The $2...
Schwab's Rediscovered
A developer is considering the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood for a mixed-use development that would be anchored by Schwab’s Pharmacy—which a popular (but incorrect) legend says is where actress Lana Tur...
Self Esteem Signs Two Licensees
Self Esteem is on a roll. The Montebello, Calif.–based junior-apparel manufacturer has signed exclusive agreements with girls’ apparel maker No Kidding! and sleepwear and intimates ap...
Friday, June 20
California Brands Go Organic on the Runway
California companies were among the labels on the runway at Wear Organic! The Organic Fiber Fashion Show, held at the 2003 All Things Organic Conference an...
Local Designers Part of Pasadena Art Exhibit
Clothing from several local designers will be on display at the California Design Biennial at the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) in Pasadena, Calif....
FIDM Exhibit Focuses on Home and Fashion
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) will host a joint exhibition of its Chairing Styles exhibit and the work of its graduating textile design students....
Krispy Kreme, Fashion Bistro Open in CMC
Krispy Kreme is coming to the California Market Center. In addition, the Fashion Bistro, a bakery and deli featuring gourmet sandwiches and snacks, has als...
DMG Gains Management of the CMC
London-based DMG World Media officially took the reins of the California Market Center in Los Angeles this week after successfully refinancing the complex with CDC Mortgage ...
Smashbox Fashion Week Sets Show Dates
Smashbox Studios has announced the dates for the Spring 2004 Smashbox Fashion Week. The week will run from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1, 2003, at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif...
FBI to Honor Tyler at Fashion Event
Fashion Business Inc. will host its annual fashion show June 26 at The New Mart’s fashion theater. In addition to featuring a runway show of Richard Tyler’s ...
Cherokee Ruling
Cherokee is entitled to the 15 percent stake in Mossimo’s licensing deal with Target stores, according to a ruling reached by the Los Angeles Superior Court on June 17. ...
Clothestime Woes
Three California apparel makers have filed petitions to force Anaheim, Calif.–based Clothestime into involuntary bankruptcy. Rigo International Inc., Ms. Bubbles and Big Six Fashion said the retailer owes them...
Beverly Center to Host Charity Shopping Night
The Beverly Center will host Shop Fun in the Summertime, a private evening of shopping to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel...
Body Image
Artist Robert Graham and his wife, actress Anjelica Huston, unveiled “Torso” to kick off the $18 million upgrade planned for Rodeo Drive and the surrounding area in Beverly Hills, Calif. Plans c...
Trend Watching for Apparel Executives
Leslie Miller, senior vice president of sales worldwide at Mount Holly, N.C.–based sewing-thread company American & Efird Inc., said American Apparel...
California's Job Losses
California manufacturers shed 4,000 jobs in April, according to the California Employment Development Department. The EDD tallied manufacturing jobs at 1.58 million, or about 11 percent of employment statewid...
Upscale Jones
New York–based Jones Apparel Group announced plans to launch a better lifestyle collection under the Jones New York brand for Spring 2004. The collection will include day and evening looks and may even...
L.A. Reps Find Business at San Francisco Market
SAN FRANCISCO—Immediate orders and staple items for autumn were on buyers’ lists at the Fall II edition of Golden Gate Apparel Association’s (GGAA) Fashion Market of San Francisco, he...
Happy Birthday, Poly
Wilmington, Del.–based DuPont Textiles & Interiors celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch of polyester with an exhibit at the textile and fiber manufacturer’s New York office. The exhibit, which ran ...
California's Confidence
The California Consumers’ Sentiment Index, which measures California consumer sentiment about the current economic condition, rose from 72.2 in the first quarter to 81.8 in the second quarter of 2003, ...
Hot Kiss Hires Breault
Felicia Breault has been named lead sales representative of the Hot Kiss Inc. sales team. She will report to Ben Kaczor, vice president of sales....
Guess Settles FTC Web-Security Case
Los Angeles–based Guess? Inc. has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding allegations that the clothing company did not provide proper security measu...
California College Students File Discrimination Lawsuit Against A&F
The federal discrimination lawsuit recently filed against Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a nationwide purveyor of casual apparel targeting young people, started when a student at the Universit...
Davis Textile's New Address
Davis Textile Group has a new address, according to textile representative Ann Davis. The new office is located at 112 W. Ninth St., suite 332, in downtown Los Angeles. The company’s phone nu...
AAFA Talks: Growth in Sourcing, Trade
SAN FRANCISCO—The nation’s top apparel executives recently turned out for American Apparel & Footwear Association’s (AAFA) third annual meeting, “The Age of Growth: Cultivating Opportunities in Toda...
FGI to Host Vintage-Fashion Panel
Fashion Group International of Los Angeles will take a look at vintage fashion in a panel discussion titled “Is Vintage Old Hat? Vintage Clothing hellip; just a fad—or forever chic?...
Friday, June 13
Fall II/Holiday Market: Hope on the Horizon
Retail buyers, encouraged by improved May sales reports, were upbeat at the Los Angeles Fall II/Holiday Market, held June 6–10 at the California Ma...
The Affiliated Future
Affiliate marketing, first popularized by
Fashion District Renewal Goes to Property Owners
The spat over the Los Angeles Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID) is over....
DMC Names Finalists for Fashion Awards
The Dallas Market Center (DMC) has announced 42 finalists for the 2003 Dallas Fashion Awards, which recognize fashion leaders for outstanding retail performance, design inno...
Wal-Mart Review
The California Department of Labor is reviewing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to see if the retail giant is complying with state wage and hour laws. Under investigation is whether Wal-Mart employees in Califor...
SBI Purchases Fila
New York–based Sports Brands International, owners of the Enyce line of men’s and women’s apparel, completed its purchase of the Fila label from Fila Holding S.p.A. Fila Chief Executive Officer Jon Epste...
New Echo Park Boutique Makes the Grade
The Kids Are Alright, a new boutique specializing in Los Angeles designers, opened May 31 at 2201 Sunset Blvd. in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles. The 850- square-foot store takes its name fro...
Not Over
The California economy is still in recession, said analysts at the Anderson Forecast, an economic think tank at the University of California, Los Angeles. According to the group’s quarterly forecast, j...
Tween Scene
El Segundo, Calif.– based Mattel Inc. and Ohio-based retailer Limited Too have struck a licensing deal to create a line of tween apparel and accessories based on Mattel’s My Scene line of dolls. The My Scene by...
Laundry Chooses Beverly Center for First L.A. Flagship
Laundry by Shelli Segal is expanding into the retail business. The Southern California label, owned by New York–based Liz Claiborne Inc., has opened its first store in Los Angeles....
Surf Scene Meets Wall Street Scene
Quiksilver Inc. Chief Executive Officer Robert B. McKnight made surf history again when he kicked off trading for the second time on June 4 at the New York Stock Exchange....
Contemporary Classics From San Francisco
San Francisco–based designer Jan Warnock used hand-tailoring techniques and European fabrics—such as Scottish tweed, cashmere blends, alpaca, French lace, leather trim and fine Italian wools—to create a ...
Retail Federation Goes Global
The Washington, D.C.–based National Retail Federation (NRF) has formed the International Retail Federation (IRF), a global trade agency that will ser ve retailers by offering...
Miss Sixty Takes On California
Italian denim and casual resource Miss Sixty is set to expand its presence in California—and beyond....
Friday, June 6
Saven Joins Sweater.com as CFO
Jonathan Saven has joined Marina del Rey, Calif.-based knitwear marketer Sweater.com as its chief financial officer....
Blue Cult for Men
Los Angeles–based contemporary-denim label Blue Cult has launched a men’s collection....
Seward Joins California Apparel News Staff
Stylist Jayne Seward has been named fashion editor of the California Apparel News. She replaces Joselle Yokogawa, who has left to pursue other interests in New York....
Cotton Names Marketing Exec
New York–based Cotton Inc. has promoted Kathryn Novakovic to director of fashion marketing....
Zuckerman to House New Buffalo Office
Gene Zuckerman & Associates, one of the oldest and largest showrooms in the California Market Center, is getting a new look. The showroom is embarking on a cons...
Workwear Gets a Denim Infusion
Dickies Girl is catching up to her male counterpart with a fresh new line of denim styles for juniors....
Something Old, Something New
Nestled between the Hollywood Hills and Silver Lake, Los Angeles’ Los Feliz Village combines the Golden Age charm of its northern neighbor with the urban chic of its eastern cousin to form a distinct m...
Dickies Girl Moving to New Digs
Los Angeles–based Apparel Limited Inc., the exclusive licensee for Dickies Girl apparel, will move this summer....
Republic
Marka Hansen is the new president of Banana Republic. The merchandising veteran has been with San Francisco–based parent company Gap Inc. for 15 years, serving most recently as executive vice president for adu...
Court Date
Jones Apparel Group Inc. filed a $550 million lawsuit against Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. on June 3 after talks to resolve a dispute over a lucrative women’s clothing license collapsed. The New York–based companies...
Making It in Japan
The Japanese retail market isn’t an impossible dream...
Women's Suits
Perry Ellis International Inc. has agreed to a deal with European Design Group Inc. for the Spring 2004 launch of a women’s suit line under the Perry Ellis and Perry Ellis Portfolio brands. The agreement is part of th...
Retail Sales
Guess? Inc. reported that retail sales for the four weeks ended May 31, 2003, were up 18.7 percent to $29.9 million from sales of $25.2 million for the four weeks ended June 1, 2002. Comparable-store ...
Belle of The New Mart
Belle Showroom’s bright and airy 1,200- square-foot loft space in The New Mart is clean and modern with minimal deacute;cor. There are frostedglass tables, simple wood chairs and a wh...
It's Showtime at the Cooper Building
The Cooper Building at Ninth and Los Angeles streets in downtown Los Angeles has long been a haven for manufacturers, designers, retailers and almost every other aspect of the apparel business...
Diesel Sets Up L.A. Denim Gallery
Italian contemporary denim maker Diesel, which reported sales of more than $600 million worldwide last year, will offer exclusive denim styles to its retail customers in London, San Francisco...
L'Amici, Skinny Minnie Expand Ops
Fabrics company L’Amici and T-shirt maker Skinny Minnie are expanding their operations by moving to larger locations in Vernon, Calif....
Aris: Brand Building in New Frontiers
Arnold Simon sits in a large leather chair in his spartan office contemplating his next move....
Apparel Search Launches Matchmaking Service
Ringwood, N.J.–based Apparel Search Company L.L.C. has launched Trade Leads, a free online matchmaking service for textile and apparel buyers....
Grass-roots Growth on Hollywood Boulevard
While Hollywood’s retail scene has been dominated recently by highprofile retail projects such as Hollywood & Highland, many indie retailers are also moving to Hollywood Boulevard to take advantag...
London Fog Moving East in Restructuring Plan
Seattle-based London Fog Industries is separating its three primary divisions—Pacific Trail, London Fog Trade and London Fog Factory Outlet Stores—into indep...
Scharff Purchases Dreamgirl
Apparel veteran Christopher Scharff has purchased Lovin’ Enterprises Inc.—maker of lingerie, costumes and clubwear for Culver City, Calif.–based Dreamgirl— for an undisclosed amount....
