Stories for March 2012

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Friday, March 30

Surf Industry to Meet in Cabo

Members of the surf industry will meet in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, May 16–19 for Surf Summit 15, an industry conference that features morning surf sessions; afternoon semin...

Thai Nguyen

The March 10 installation of elegant dresses shown by Thai Nguyen at Concept L.A. Fashion Week was like traveling back in time to Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City....

Nuvula Fall/Winter 2012

International label Nuvula introduced its Fall/Winter 2012 Collection at Ace Gallery Los Angeles on March 9 as part of Concept Los Angeles Fashion Week....

Busy L.A. Textile Show Includes Expanded Offerings

The Los Angeles International Textile Show lived up to its name with a broad mix of international exhibitors showing during the show’s March 26–28 run at the California Market Center. ...

Mosaic Celebrates Fashion and Hope

The faith-based community group Mosaic hosted a runway show and fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity as part of its Fashion4Habitat event on March 17 for Los Angeles Fashion Week....

Stop Staring! Fall ’12

Stop Staring! designer Alicia Estrada found inspiration in early Hollywood and Mexican cinema stars—including Delores del Rio, Maria Felix, Marga Lopez and Lupe Velez—for her Fall ’12 collection, shown M...

Amazon.com Raises Fashion Ante

Best known for selling books and electronics, as well as its Kindle e-reader, Amazon.com Inc. has placed its focus on becoming a bigger player in the fashion business....

CIT, CFA, Apparel-Industry Leaders Discuss Fashion’s Hollywood Opportunity

The fashion industry has an untapped opportunity—and it’s located practically right in the L.A. Fashion District’s backyard: Hollywood. ...

Elaine Marie Style Fall 12

The March 10 installation showcasing the Elaine Marie label during Concept L.A. Fashion Week at the Ace Gallery took a page from the 1970s fashion book by featuring high-waisted bell-bottom plaid pant...

Intermix Expands With Brentwood Store

Contemporary boutique chain Intermix is in the middle of a Los Angeles County expansion. The New York–headquartered retailer’s co-founder Khajak Keledjian presided over the opening of...

Belle N. Matisse

Black was the predominant color for the Belle N. Matisse collection, shown at a March 10 installation at Concept L.A. Fashion Week at Ace Gallery....

Project Ethos

Project Ethos hosted its annual fashion show and concert March 13, celebrating 12 up-and-coming designers at Avalon in Hollywood. More than 1,200 guests showed up to catch two runway shows, a performance by L...

Sanrio Names First Female Chief Operating Officer

Sanrio Co. Ltd., the Japanese makers of Hello Kitty, has named Janet Hsu as chief operating officer of its U.S. subsidiary, Sanrio Inc....

LA Fashion Weekend: Betsey Johnson and Vilorija

Veteran  designer Betsey Johnson displayed whimsically mixed color and saucy prints for her Spring 2012 season at a runway show at L.A. Fashion Weekend@Sunset Gower Studios Ma...

XCVI Fall ’12

With buyers lining the front row, Los Angeles–based XCVI opened its Fall ’12 runway show with a rousing performance by violinist Jennifer Spingola, who regaled the crowd while navigating the runway in s...

LA Fashion Weekend

Los Angeles Fashion Week ended with a bang and plenty of glitz and glamour at L.A. Fashion Weekend’s final showcase, which was produced by Mikey Koffman and held at Sunset Gower Studios on March 18. Th...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Fashion News: Madonna, Eva Longoria debut new fragrances (Los Angeles Times All the Rage blog)High fashion: The man with 1,000 stewardess uniforms (CNN)China...

722 Figueroa's Spring Fling

From left, Fred DePerio of Mage Design, Alexis Sepkovic of March Lab, Jonny Hughes of Altru Apparel, and Willard Ford of 722 Figueroa Showroom. Behind them an unidentified friend.It didn’t feel like spring outside, but the 722 Figueroa showroom in Los...

Vans Warped Tour Fashion Confessions

Judah Leary from It Boys! and Dani Artaud of Mr. Downstairs, What are you wearing?JUDAH: Urban Outfitters coat, HM pants and shoes, American Apparel Henley shirt.DANI: Cotton On. Pants from American Apparel. "I style myself. It...

Concept L.A. Fashion Week Installations

Concept Los Angeles brought together a collection of eclectic designer installations at Ace Gallery Los Angeles as part of its Fall 2012 showing....

Ina Soltani Fall ’12

Designer Ina Soltani offered a salute to girls who like to rock for her Fall ’12 collection, shown March 12 at Style Fashion Week LA at Vibiana....

Katin Heads to the Olympics

Top designers Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney designed uniforms for the American and British teams, respectively, for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and venerable Cal...

Thursday, March 29

American Apparel Turns 15

American Apparel Inc. celebrated its 15th anniversary on March 29, and State Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D–Los Angeles) and Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar, who each represent American Appa...

Happy Birthday, American Apparel!

We were going to bake you cupcakes to celebrate, but we didn't have the time to make enough for all 6,000 employees. That's a lot of cupcakes! Several California officials—including State Assemblyman Gil Cedillo and Los Angeles City Councilmember José...

Bisou Bisou Designer Starts Yoga Wear Line

Michele BohbotIt seems that everyone is into yoga these days. Even your grandmother.And a lot of smart apparel makers are following this trend by branching out into yoga wear. The latest to join the yoga apparel club is...

Karen Kane's Holiday Challenge

The top-three dresses on the runway at FIDM (Brandon Clark/abimages)Last summer, Los Angeles designer Karen Kane issued a challenge to students in the third-year advanced fashion design course at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising. The students were to...

Apparel News Daily Reader

HM Will In Fact Open A New Retail Chain (New York Magazine)A Fashion Magazine Unshy About Baring a Bit of Piety (New York Times)Fashion clash: The bright way to...

Wednesday, March 28

Apparel News Daily Reader

2012 Dubai World Cup: Weird Fashion Focus (Yahoo Sports)Pilati: Past, Present and Future After Yves Saint Laurent (The New York Times)Claudia Schiffer Poses...

Stars Shine for Valentino Store Opening on Rodeo Drive

Kim KardashianValentino has a lot to celebrate.The Italian fashion house is marking 50 years in business. In addition, it opened its new flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills last night. Anyone who is anyone...

Gen Art Celebrates the New Garde

Elkin’s Fall collection and female empowerment were the focus of Gen Art’s event last night at Le Petit Ermitage. This season Gen Art selected Elkin as its New Garde Los Angeles' honoree and it was a fabulous evening indeed. The event, which was held in...

Tuesday, March 27

Apparel News Daily Reader

HM to Launch a Luxury Brand (The Telegraph)Versace Actually Made Money Last Year (The Cut)Mad Men Fashion recap: The Swinging Sixties Have Arrived (New York...

Monday, March 26

Nice Collection, But Can You Dance in It?

Los Angeles–based menswear line Madisonpark Collective answered that question with a resounding “Yes!” at its March 14 runway show at Style Fashion Week La at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. The runway show featured several...

Light Wash by American Apparel

Los Angeles vertical manufacturer American Apparel has solar panels on its factory roof, which generate 150 kilowatts of power and provide up to 15 percent of the company’s energy needs. According to the company, the solar panels need to be washed every...

Have You Gone Completely 'Mad'?

This cocktail party is a little loud.Can you stand another “Mad Men” fashion update? Of COURSE you can! After last night’s season 5 kickoff, we now know the year is 1966 and at least one character was wearing a minidress—a...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Jessica Simpson Gets Personal With 'Fashion Star,' Baby Girl, And Stylish Future (Star Pulse)China Fashion Week Kicks Off (Wall Street Journal) Director R.J....

Friday, March 23

Willis & Walker, Marcraft Apparel Bring ’Big and Tall’ Out of the Box

Kevin Willis manufactures his Willis & Walker suits and sportswear in the United States and overseas, but for the big-and-tall collection’s premium denim, the pro athlete turned fashion designer headed fo...

Future Unclear for Live! On Sunset With New Development Project

The future is uncertain for emporium Live...

Skingraft

This season, designer Jonny Cota took an unlikely urban-youth turn for the creation of his Skingraft collection. “I kept being inspired by the idea of Japanese Gothic hip-hop. What would that look like?” Cota said.

L’une Collection

Anh Volcek is not your typical designer. Her materials include plastic and glass, and her work place is comprised of a ventilated space and a mask. Being fascinated with innovation and advances with fabrics and technology, she incorporated unusual...

AM4U Unveils Demand-Activated Manufacturing Technology

Technology

When I was invited to view a demonstration of a new apparel technology at California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, I wasn’t sure e...

L.A. Independent Fashion Consortium

At The Echo nightclub on March 15, host Clint Catalyst said that the LA Independent Fashion Consortium was a showcase for an “alternative” breed of clothing that is locally grown. Indeed, there was a visible h...

Japanese Brand Growze Builds First Store in Los Angeles

The allure of celebrity is powerful enough to support a number of businesses, from magazine publishing to weight-loss schemes, and two Japanese entrepreneurs ar...

Octavio Carlin

Octavio Carlin counted Ancient Egyptian culture and art deco as influences for his Fall 2012 line for his self-named Octavio Carlin line, but he also looked to find new angles and l...

Gallery Asha Selling Remaining Inventory

Gallery Asha in Los Angeles, an importer of African textiles, is closing its doors and selling off its remaining inventory. ...

Brush Up on Business, Fashion Trends at L.A. Textile Show

Registered attendees at the March 26–28 run of the Los Angeles International Textile Show at ...

Furne One

Red-carpet looks are the domain of Dubai-based designer Furne One, but for his March 15 presentation of Furne One Presents Amato at Style Fashion Week LA, Furne One stepped into science fiction.

Dina Bar-El

Dina Bar-El’s fashions are a fixture on the red carpet. During the 2012 awards show season, fashions by the Los Angeles designer were worn by E! Entertainment  news host Kristina Guerrero and Access...

Mila

“Project Runway” alum Mila Hermanovski presented a chic modernist perspective for the runway debut of her Fall ’12 Mila collection, held March 14 at Style Fashion Week L.A.

East Coast Ports Behind on Accommodating Bigger Ships

The arrival of the largest cargo-container ship to ever sail to the United States was much ballyhooed by Southern Califo...

Education Resource Guide

Fashion students at The Art Institute of California–Los Angeles work toward becoming tomorrow’s newest professionals, the next generation of skilled fashion employees. Our fashion design and f...

Clariant Breaks Ground on $130 Million Facility

Swiss chemical company Clariant recently broke ground on its new, nearly 400,000-square-foot Clariant Innovation Center at the Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt, Germany....

Wet Seal Rebrands After Poor Sales

In its guidance for its 2012 first quarter, juniors and women’s retailer The Wet Seal Inc. warned the company will report declines in same-store sales ranging from the mid to high single digits.

Synesthetic Fashion Show Featuring HOWL Clothing, Grayson Mitchell Kelly and First Communion

In a spare loft-like space in downtown Los Angeles, HOWL Clothing, Grayson Mitchell Kelly and First Communion made an earnest presentation. The invite-only event on March 16 was filled with art school–type sp...

Sue Wong

For her Fall 2012 presentation, Sue Wong hosted a champagne lunch and presentation at her Los Angeles atelier. “This is my place of business. This is where I thrive. This is where I do all my creative work,” Wong said. “I really like to invit...

Bettie Page’s New Stores Strike a Pose

The Bettie Page Clothing label, which makes dresses and separates inspired by 1950s pinup queen Bettie Page, is opening stores.

Apparel News Daily Reader

YSL in the USA (The New York Times)Venus Williams’ Big Comeback to Tennis and Fashion (The Daily Beast) Images from Tokyo Fashion Week (Wall Street...

Otis Fashion Students Design for the Circus

Ariella Seltzer and Christina Ingalls worked together to design a “Crystal Moon” costume for the Night portion of the Otis fashion show. Graduating fashion students from Otis College of Art and Design have been busy preparing for their final year-end...

Go Red for Women Celebrity Red Dress Fashion Show

Style Fashion Week LA closed its five-day run of events at Vibiana with the Go Red for Women Celebrity Red Dress Fashion Show, held March 16. The show benefited the American Heart Association’s Go Red...

Intermix Moves In: Brentwood Retail Heats Up

Intermix founder Khajak Keledjian in front of his new Brentwood boutique.Los Angeles’ exclusive Brentwood neighborhood is so many things, but it was never a magnet for fashion retail. That reputation will change in the next month.The...

Boys Gone Wild

Have you seen Madonna’s new “Girl Gone Wild” video yet? She looks “Brigitte Bardot” fab and “Truth or Dare” fit. But I think this one’s about the fellas. The video features Ukrainian dance/pop troupe Kazaky, and,...

Madisonpark Collective

Madisonpark Collective debuted its men’s Summer and Fall collections on the runway at Style Fashion Week LA at Vibiana.  Male dancers opened the show, giving an action-packed energy to the runway prese...

LA Fashion Weekend presents AshleeBrooks, Sarahi, Laha and Skineez

LA Fashion Weekend at Sunset Gower Studios continued its three-day event on March 17,  kicking off with producer Mikey Koffman greeting guests and showcasing her rendition of style with a video of clo...

Earnest Sewn to Build Off-Price Pop-Up

The words “cheap” and “premium denim” do not often run in the same sentence. However, the Earnest Sewn label will be experimenting with an o...

Gloria Jeans Corp. Embraces FastFit360

Gloria Jeans Corp., one of Russia’s largest retailers and a leading manufacturer of denim garments in Europe, is deploying FastFit360’s cloud communication platform across its global oper...

AAFA Summit Highlights Trends and Challenges in the Apparel and Retail Field

WASHINGTON, D.C.—For apparel and footwear makers, China is still the place to be even though Chinese wages are expected to double in the next five years....

Thursday, March 22

Amazon Acquires Robotics Company Kiva Systems

E-commerce giant Amazon.com is acquiring robotics company Kiva Systems Inc. for approximately $775 million.

Apparel News Daily Reader

Giorgio Armani Accused of Trying to Steal Stella McCartney’s Olympic thunder(The Cut)From Gaga to Kimonos at Japan Fashion Week (Reuters)Coco Chanel: The Unlikely...

L.A. Apparel Company Enters the "Shark Tank" on ABC TV

A look from the GoGo Gear collectionMake sure you tune in tomorrow night (March 23) to watch ABC's "Shark Tank."One of our very own Los Angeles apparel company owners, Arlene Battishill of GoGo Gear, and her partner,...

GTM Sportswear Selects NGC for PLM and Supply-Chain Management

GTM Sportswear, a Manhattan, Kan.–based manufacturer of custom and embellished team sportswear, has selected NGC Software’s Extended PLM software for PLM and supply-chain management and global sourcing.

Wednesday, March 21

Apparel News Daily Reader

Fashion from around the world (News Monitor)Paris Fashion Week runways draw celebrities (The Daily Herald)Toys ’R’ Us Sells Hunger Games Replica Costumes...

Tuesday, March 20

Apparel News Daily Reader

Spanx: Real Woman Tested, Vogue Approved (The Cut)Ageless, Like Armani (The New York Times)’Mad Men’ fashion moves to miniskirts and pants (Kansas City Star)...

Cherokee Arrives in Russia

If you're traveling through Russia and see a few billboards that look familiar, you have Cherokee to thank for that.This week, the California company entered the Russian market. Cherokee branded apparel for men, women...

Lamb & Flag's Winston Talks Shop

Gary Winston, pictured right, talks at Lamb Flag in Brea. Photo credit: Greg Epstein Photography.Gary Winston, vice president of Kellwood Company’s new Lamb Flag chain talked about the finer points of visual display and store design at...

Bella Dahl Introduces New Tencera Fabric

Los Angeles–based contemporary line Bella Dahl launched last year with a collection of jeans, tops and dresses in “super-soft” fabrications and wash treatments.

Monday, March 19

Apparel News Daily Reader

Jewelry With an Environmental Motif (New York Times) Bird Is the Word (Wall Street Journal)'Hunger Games' fashion comes to fiery life (Chicago...

Sunday, March 18

Cheers to Fashion Week!

Volker Corell offers a toast to designer Sue Wong after her Fall '12 presentation at her studio. Tonight is the last night of Los Angeles Fashion Week with the finale show at L.A. Fashion Weekend at Sunset Gower. When our photographer Volker Corell...

Friday, March 16

Social Media: E-Commerce Boom--or Bust?

Social media has the world’s attention, but many retailers are still unclear on how to use these venues, where hundreds of millions of people go for news, entertainment and friendship.

Gypsy Junkies

Designer Marcus Paglialonga was speaking to his inner gypsy when he created his Fall 2012 collection, which mixed a bohemian vibe with rock ’n’ roll glam. It was seen on the runway March 10 during Concept L.A. Fashion Week at the Ace Gallery,  Los Angeles.

Chambers Fall 2012

For designer Devin Carlson, Los Angeles Fashion Week is familiar territory. Typically, he shows his Fremont collection of men’s and women’s contemporary apparel. But for his March 9 show at Concept L.A. Fashion Week a...

Directives West Fall ’12

Directives West, the merchandising consultancy firm founded in Los Angeles in 1982, always does a great job of presenting the season’s trends and then showcasing them on the runway....

Jen Awad at Concept L.A.

“Hot Mess” was the name of Jen Awad’s Fall 2012 collection, exhibited at Concept  L.A. Fashion Week at Ace Gallery Los Angeles March 10, but funky humor aside, it was the most sophisticated collection of the emerging designer’s career.

Real Estate Vacancy Declining, Retailers Still See Opportunity

Business remains tough for boutique retail, but 2012 began on a bullish note for retail real estate for some boutique chains....

Fashion Group International-L.A. Presents ’Meet the Designer and Muse’

Los Angeles’ fashion industry stepped out on March 8 to celebrate Fashion Group International’s “Meet the Designer and the Muse” fund-raiser. Models, muses and fashion lovers filled Ace Gallery to take in the designers’ creations and their...

Nami at Concept L.A.

The Fall 2012 collection for Nami could be parsed by its influences, said its designer, Sarah Nami Ahn, who showed her latest collection at

Laili Lau

If a prize were given out for the designer who traveled the farthest to participate in Concept L.A. Fashion Week at the Ace Gallery Los Angeles, Laili Lau might be the winner....

U.S., European and Asian Brands Vie for Chinese Business at Novomania

SHANGHAI—Doing business in China requires an understanding of the Chinese market as well as branding and real estate expertise....

American Apparel Replaces Senior Credit Facility

Los Angeles–based vertical manufacturer and retailer American Apparel Inc. replaced anexisting $75 million senior credit facility that was set to expire in July with a three-...

PacSun Forecasts Loss and Improvements for Second Quarter

Pacific Sunwear of California forecast a loss for its second quarter in 2012, but during a conference call with Wall Street analysts on March 13, the mall-based surf and skate retailer promis...

Volcom Opens ’Box Shop’ in London

Costa Mesa, Calif.–based surf and streetwear brand Volcom opened a store in Boxpark, a concept mall in London’s Shoreditch district described as the United Kingdom’s first “pop-up mall.” The mall...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Michelle Obama Wears Marchesa to the White House State Dinner (Wall Street Journal)Gloria Sachs, Fashion Designer for Working Women, Dies at 85 (New...

Dripped: Welcome to L.A.'s Fashion Underworld

Phyllis Navidad and GGeisha of DrippedFar from the bright lights of Los Angeles Fashion Week,GGeisha and Phillis Navidad staked claim to the city’s fashion underground.They produced the first fashion week edition of Dripped, their fashion party and trunk show on March 15. It...

Harper's Orange County Fashion

It’s Los Angeles Fashion Week, and fashion eventsare popping up all over the region. Erica Thomas produced her Spring 2012 trunk show at Harper’s , her leading boutique in Corona del Mar in South Orange County. Swim was a focus at the....

S&G Clothing

Designers Sequoia Emmanuelle and Gita Salem looked west for inspiration for their Fall 2012 S&G collection, shown March 9 at Concept L.A. Fashion Week at Ace Gallery Los Angeles. But instead of hitching the collection to the cl...

Thursday, March 15

East Coast Longshore Workers to Start Negotiations on New Contract

The International Longshoremen’s Association, whose members work at the ports alo...

The West is Dead at What Goes Around Comes Around

Will Cheng (pictured left) and Kaelen McCrane (right) are very normal guys. “I love looking at this stuff,” said Will of the rare loud vintage for sale at What Goes Around Comes Around on March 13, where they showed their line, The West is Dead. “But I...

Apparel News Daily Reader

'Fashion Star' a hit with retailers, but not with viewers (Fox News)Top CFDA fashion prizes going to Johnny Depp, Tommy Hilfiger and maybe the Olsens (Washington...

Wednesday, March 14

Apparel News Daily Reader

Another Fashion Heavyweight Weighs in on Dior (Elle)The Door's Wide Open: First Look At Intimates From The Kardashian Kollection (Refinery 29)’Mad’ About Fashion: ’Mad...

E-Commerce was Made for Snark

“A: This is going to be the weirdest wedding ever. D: At least they invited Sad Panda."I’m going to have to create a bookmark tab for shopping snark sites like Regretsy, Anthroparodie and now this tumblr site: Heavy....

Tuesday, March 13

Tie One On at LA Fashion Week

L.A. Fashion Week and L.A. Fashion Market are in full swing and the ApparelNews team is out in force looking for the latest news—and fashion. Our intrepid photographer Volker Corell spotted a gaggle of well-dressed gents at...

Superdry Label Expanding to Santa Monica

The Superdry store in Las VegasThings are changing for the Superdry label, that British brand that use Japanese graphics and vintage Americana to make urban casual clothing.Superdry USA, which is distributed in the...

The Brits Are Back

Nicholas Kirkwood, Louise Gray, Christopher DeVos and Todd LynnThat is the LONDON show ROOMS have arrived in Los Angeles for LA Market and Fashion Week. The British Fashion Council kicked off the three day brand showcase with Hollywood...

Apparel News Daily Reader

The Closet Question: Who Would Wear This Stuff? (The New York Times)Jessica Simpson and ’Fashion Star’ can’t quite give anew look to a familiar format(New York...

Get Your Kicks

High style, yet rough around the edges. We found these high-priced kicks near the end of Route 66. Do you love Christian Louboutin? When you see red, are you really just day...

Hot off the Runway at Style Fashion Week LA

We were at the Stop Staring! and Ina Soltani shows at Style Fashion Week LA last night—at the beautiful Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. Our photographer Volker Corell captured the scene on and off the runway. (Hey! That's me!)The...

Monday, March 12

Mad for Fashion

The fifth season of “Mad Men” kicks off on AMC on March 25 and I, for one, can’t wait. When the series began, it was set in 1960 and last season concluded in 1965. No word on where—or, more precisely, when--the show will pick up. The season 5...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Piers Morgan on Kate Moss: A Spoilt Little Madam (The Cut)Street Style: All Black (The New York Times)Michael Kors to sell more shares (New York...

Saturday, March 10

Attire to Inspire featuring Yotam Solomon, Moods of Norway and VBN

Designer Yotam Solomon unveiled the first men’s looks of his career at a March 8 event at the Conga Room nightclub in downtown Los Angeles. Moods of Norway and VBN brands also produced their first runw...

Friday, March 9

Social Media, Mobile, Tablets Key at eTail West Conference

PALM DESERT, CALIF.—Many of the nation’s major retailers—including Banana Republic, Guess, Wet Seal...

New Lines: The New Mart

The New Mart

New Lines: California Market Center

California Market Center

Première Vision’s Forecast for Spring/Summer ’13

PARIS—Première Vision is to textile professionals what Paris is to fashion: a trends capital where the colors and materials of a whole season are de...

Robert Rodriguez Collection

Robert Rodriguez Collection

Fashion Finds Guide

Five seasons a year, buyers from around the globe flock to the California Market Center (CMC) for Los Angeles Fashion Market, the West Coast’s premier destination for thousands of apparel, gift & lifestyle collections d...

M.Fredric to Open in Newport Beach and Ventura, Calif.

M.Fredric is on the move. The contemporary-fashion boutique chain will open a 4,400-square-foot boutique at the Fashion Island retail center in Newport Beach, ...

Coeur Accessories Trade Show Returns to Cooper

Coeur Los Angeles, the upscale accessories show that bowed last October, is returning to the Cooper Design Space in Los Angeles for a March 12–14 run.

Broads Apparel

Broads Apparel

New Lines: Lady Liberty Building

Lady Liberty Building

New Lines: 824 Building

824 Building

Shipping Industry Predicts Increased Rates to Offset Costs

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Ocean freight rates were in a downward spiral last year but will veer slightly upward this year as shipping lines take delivery of a number of large vessels ordered in 2007 and 2008.

Ava/Evolution

Ava/Evolution

Doneger Names New L.A. Execs at Directives West

New York–based retail consultancy The Doneger Group and its West Coast partner, Directives West, named Sunnie Myung manager of market research and business development, special...

Marna Ro: Fashion With Function

Marna Ro is a new, sophisticated yet wearable, contemporary line created for the modern man and woman. The collection, made from premium fabrics, incorporates intricate design details to offer a high-end ...

New Lines: Gerry Building

Gerry Building

New Lines: Academy Awards Building

Academy Awards

Looking for Project Runway Designers

So you want to be a famous fashion designer? You want millions of Americans to see your imaginative creations?Fear not. There is hope. The people at "Project Runway," the TV show that has designers going...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Bags of style: the Louis Vuitton – Marc Jacobs exhibition (The Guardian)Fashion Star a reality TV show with a twist: Viewers can buy designs online the...

West Hollywood Menswear Store Alpha to Close

Prominent Southern California menswear boutique Alpha is calling it quits.

Mimi Chica Showroom Profile

Mimi Chica

Thursday, March 8

After 30 Pop-Up Shops, Graffiti Beach Opens a Permanent Store

Back in 2009, Melanie Michaud thought the best way to introduce new fashion brands was to display them in pop-up shops, so she ran the

Australian Fitness Retailer Lorna Jane Makes U.S. Debut

Australian activewear brand

Lit Studio Showroom Profile

Lit Studio

Apparel News Daily Reader

The Fashion Week Streaker Speaks (The Cut) Chanel and McQueen entice fantasy in Paris shows (New Straits Times)Kanye West hurt by bad fashion reviews (SF...

Think Pink!

Somebody get Pantone on the phone. There is no pink. I repeat, there is no pink.That alarming (and technically false) information was rattling around the Internet recently after two science reporters Michael Moyer (one of the hosts of NPR’s Radiolab show) and Robert Krulwich (writing for Scientific American)...

Bloggers Party For L.A. Fashion Week

From left 2 Point Oh! LA founder Kelsi Smith wearing designer Milly, Elle Shapiro of SurviveWeddingSeason.com in Laundry by Shelly Segal and Wendy Bendoni of FashionAsIdentity.com in vest by Norma Kamali. Photo by Felix...

Get Your Game On

Just when retailers thought they had their hands full with the abundance of social media tools already on the market, along comes gamification. No longer just the realm of 20-something males, gaming has...

Wednesday, March 7

Apparel News Daily Reader

Natalie Portman’s vintage Christian Dior Oscar gown sells for $50,000 (New York Post) A Kid-Themed Chanel Show (Elle) Louis Vuitton train pulls in at Paris fashion...

Discover the Inspiration Behind the Designers

Just in time for Los Angeles Fashion Week and everything that goes with it. Fashion Group International is having its annual celebration called "Meet the Designer and the Muse."It recognizes some of L.A.'s best designers and...

Tuesday, March 6

Apparel News Daily Reader

The World of Fashion According to Isabel Toledo (Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog)Lady Gaga Surpasses 20 Million Followers On Twitter (MTV)In Fashion, A Pattern...

Handle With Care

Retro ad found at Planet Oddity This is why it’s always important to read the care instructions. Emma Barnett happened upon a particularly egregious one while “attempting to tidy up” at home. The care label in her boyfriend’s pants included the usual “machine wash warm,” blah, blah blah instructions...

Monday, March 5

Apparel News Daily Reader

Stylish Uncle Bob: Mugabe the fashion icon (Times Live)Lady in white: Alicia Keys joins P Diddy and Kanye West at Givenchy show (Daily Mail)Paris Fashion...

Friday, March 2

Eco Resource

Back in 1928, the Emsig family started a new business, Emsig Manufacturing. The initial market strategy, as it remains today, was to produce the highest-quality button products for ...

Gap Opens in Panama, More South American Stores Planned

San Francisco–based Gap Inc. opened its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Panama and announced plans to open stores in Colombia, Uruguay ...

Retail Sales Up for Many Retailers in February

Despite rising gasoline prices and unusually warm weather in many parts of the United States, consumers kept shopping at many apparel retailers in February.

Robert Gray, St. John Co-Founder

Robert Gray, one of the legendary icons of the Southern California fashion industry, died Feb. 28 at his home in Orange County, Calif., after a long illness. He was 86....

Joe’s Jeans Teams Up With Macy’s for Exclusive Label, Else

Joe’s Jeans is known for its premium blue jeans with an average retail price of $170.

Eli Hakimi, Founder of Mezmerize, 71

Apparel maker and philanthropist Baruch Eliahou Hakimi, known in the industry as Eli, died following a long illness. He was 71.

Topshop Kicks Off The Grove’s 10th Anniversary

British retailer Topshop is set to open its first West Coast flagship at The Grove in Los Angeles, kicking off a slew of new additions and changes at the lifestyle center, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

South Africa Style Comes to California

Despite South Africa’s burgeoning fashion scene, the country’s production delays, sizing differences and opposite seasons have kept many South African designers from breaking into the U.S. market. ...

Apparel News Daily Reader

In Paris, Celebrating Karl Lagerfeld (The New York Times)Pharrell Williams Brings His Fashion Expertise To 'Project Runway: All Stars' (Huffington...

And The Store Of The Year Is....

The award winning Louis Vuitton Island Maison store. Photo courtesy Louis Vuitton and A.R.E.Traveling to Singapore? You'll want to visit the Louis Vuitton Island Maison store. It was honored with the Store of the Year by the Association of...

Billabong Rejects TPG’s Second Buyout Offer

Australian surf brand Billabong rejected a second, higher buyout offer from TPG Capital upon the advice of the company’s non-executive directors and a major shareholder.

Affliction Lands New Investor Funding, Acquires Stake in Throwdown

Seal Beach, Calif.–based Affliction Holdings LLC has been recapitalized by an investor group led by New Evolution Ventures LLC (NeV)—a Lafayette, Calif.–...

Guess Adds New Execs

Los Angeles–based Guess? Inc. named Chet Kuchinad chief people officer and Amber Tarshis as senior vice president of marketing.

Thursday, March 1

Apparel News Daily Reader

Outrageous fashion out of Paris Fashion Week (Boston.com)The Prime of Jean Paul Gaulthier (The New York Times)The Duchess of Cambridge Wears M Missoni (The...

The International House of Breakfast and Fashion

"""Kevin Jones discussing the Oscar-winning costumes from "The Artist"I was fortunate enough to snag an invitation to a breakfast and private museum tour hosted by the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising for members of the international diplomatic corps. The group was visiting Los Angeles on the Obama Administration’s...

Models Wanted for L.A. Fashion Week

Here's a chance for up-and-coming models to break into the fashion world.Los Angeles designer Anh Volcek is working with Nyx Models to find women between the ages of 16 to 25 who can model her sophisticated...