Old Is New Again
West Bank Clothing showroom is relaunching two Los Angeles–based lines, Melanie Apple and Mo & Su, during Los Angeles Market Week.
The showroom already carries two Los Angeles–based lines, Lure and American Groove; one San Francisco–based line, Emozione; and three New York–based lines, Jon, Robin Jordan and Nicole Miller. In addition, the showroom also houses the new Miller Girl line, which made its debut during Los Angeles Fashion Week.
Melanie Apple
Melanie Apple has teamed up with San Simeon Inc., a Beverly Hills, Calif.–based women’s apparel company that produces private-label clothing, to relaunch her contemporary casual line for Spring 2004. The line showed on the East Coast at Fashion Coterie and officially relaunches during Los Angeles Market Week.
After a two-year sabbatical, the designer created a new line of fun, girly looks with a classic, preppy feel. The line consists of three coordinating groups. “Cote d’Azur” has embroidered stretch-silk looks. The “Hamptons” group has cotton/spandex styles in solids, stripes, floral prints and a fashion silhouette striped pattern. Both groups have vibrant color palettes of yellow, fuchsia, light blue, white and black. The third group, “The Beach hellip; ,” is a collection of linen looks with feminine details— including lace, ribbons, embroidery and eyelet trim—in a soft color palette of petal pink, ice blue and lily white.
Wholesale prices range from $32 to $110. According to Jody Hughes of West Bank Clothing, the designer hopes to reopen her former West Coast accounts.
Mo & Su
Designer Susan Yim and her husband and partner, Matthew, will relaunch Mo & Su as a daytime and special-occasion dress line for Spring 2004.
The original line, launched in Spring 1998, featured mostly sportswear as well as some dresses. After deciding to take a break from the Mo & Su line in November 2002, the pair launched Midi, a contemporary sportswear line, for Spring 2003.
“The main reason we decided to bring Mo & Su back is we thought it was the right time for a new dress line,” Matthew Yim said. “We thought we could do something fun and exciting and give the customer what they need at the right price.”
The line consists of hip daytime dress looks, as well as more-sophisticated evening looks with diverse fabrics, modern styling and a vintage feel. For Spring, the line will focus on daytime looks in cotton with novelty details such as bows, embroidery and lace trims. Wholesale prices run $65 to $135.
For information, contact the West Bank Clothing showroom in suite 1101 of The New Mart, or call (213) 629-2822.
—N. Jayne Seward
