Stories for November 2015

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Monday, November 30

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Tis the Sample Sale Season

First there’s Black Friday, then Small Business Saturday, then Cyber Monday. Apparently, what’s next is Sample Sale Weekend.

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Televised Couture

There's a new series about French haute couture in the years following World War II in the works for Amazon.

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Cindy Crawford & Brian Grazer at Giving Tuesday at Ron Robinson

Dec. 1 Is Giving Tuesday at Ron Robinson in Santa Monica. Cindy Crawford and Brian Grazer will be signing the recent books at the shopping event with a charity edge.

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Project Runway Veterans Design Ugly Christmas Sweaters for a Cause

Fashion

Ugly Christmas sweaters really can have a purpose.

Millions Expected to Shop on Cyber Monday

On Cyber Monday, the day American shoppers are expected to formally order Winter Holiday presents online, forecasts predict a dip in sales.

Wednesday, November 25

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What Would Cookie Wear?

Fox is opening the Empire Official Store featuring apparel, accessories and jewelry inspired by the hit TV show.

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From Paris to LA – Vision LA’s Party & Arts on Climate Change

After Thanksgiving, world leaders will convene in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In Los Angeles, artists and activists with Vision LA '15 will produce a series of arts, theater, talks on climate change. On Nov. 30, it will produce a kick-off party in Santa Monica.

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Hale Bob Closing Robertson Boulevard Store

Retail

Hale Bob store closing after four years on Robertson Boulevard.

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Closing the Door on Capitol Couture

The final issue of Capitol Couture, the fashion publication released by Lionsgate and Samsung and inspired by "The Hunger Games" has been released.

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Heads Up for the Rodarte Sample Sale

Retail

Rodarte sample sale coming to Los Angeles.

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Macy's Preserves Its Old Wooden Escalators

Retail

Macy's remodel of its Herald Square flagship keeps some of the store's original wooden escalators.

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Stance Opens Shop in Soho

Just a couple of years ago, socks were something that you just put on your feet. But San Clemente, Calif.-headquartered Stance pushed socks to the forefront of youth fashion. Media reports said that Stance opened its first branded boutique this week in New York City.

Kitson Sued By Westwood, Gets Lifeline from Spencers

Retail

Prominent Los Angeles–headquartered boutique Kitson was sued by Vivienne Westwood on Oct. 2.

Tuesday, November 24

Stitches Technology Begins Training Sewing Technicians

Manufacturing

On Dec. 1, the second group of students is scheduled to begin a six-month training program in technical sewing at Stitches Technology, the nonprofit run by Clotee McAfee.

U.S. Trade Representative Visits Port of Long Beach

Import/Export

With 40 percent of the nation’s cargo-container traffic arriving at Los Angeles–area ports, trade has become a very important economic engine for the area.

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Broken Homme Aims To Crack Tough Made-in-L.A. Niche: Footwear

Broken Homme

Southern California is a center for the design of casual footwear—think slip-ons and flip-flops—but Broken Homme, an emerging label headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is waiting to see if the region is ready for manufacturing for a more complex footwear: work boots with a fashion edge.

RVCA’s New Santa Monica Shop

Retail

For more than five years, the RVCA brand has handled its urban side with a retail store on Fairfax Avenue close to Los Angeles’ Mid-City neighborhood. The Costa Mesa, Calif.–based company recently opened a boutique for its beach culture side in Santa Monica, Calif. On Nov. 24, the company held a grand-opening party for its boutique at 2625 Main St. It is located a few blocks away from the Pacific Ocean, said Brian Cassaro, RVCA’s vice president of marketing.

Vince Taps Founders to Boost Label’s Business

Manufacturing

Sometimes you have to take one step back to move two steps forward. That’s the philosophy the contemporary label Vince is taking. The now New York–based company has hired the label’s two founders—Rea Laccone and Christopher LaPolice—to help develop the brand’s products, merchandising and creative efforts.

Forever 21 Closing Huge Store in Central California

Retail

Forever 21 said it will be closing its 120,000-square-foot store in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in January and laying off scores of employees.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Expands to China

Manufacturing

BCBGmaxazria is looking to the Chinese consumer to boost business. The Los Angeles womenswear maker recently announced it has partnered with VoyageOne to sell its clothing online in China.

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James Cox Knits: Kits for Men’s Knits

Men's Knits

James Cox is looking to put knitting needles—and knit menswear designs—into the hands of home knitters with a collection of knitting kits.

Combatant Gentlemen’s New Suit: The Summit Collection

Manufacturing

Combatant Gentlemen built a more-than- $10-million company on the cheap suit. The Irvine, Calif.–headquartered label’s point of difference was that it owned the entire supply chain for its suits and its collection of men’s clothing.

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Christy Dawn Grows a Business From Vintage Styles

Christy Dawn

Christy Dawn’s “Audrey” dress recently hit the racks at Free People, a division of Urban Outfitters Inc. But the Made–in–Los Angeles label also is looking to build a higher profile for its vintage-inspired styles by opening a boutique in a burgeoning retail neighborhood.

Taking Advantage of the Push for Made in USA

Manufacturing

When Jack Chang invested in an apparel business in 1988, a good number of California labels were still making their clothes in California.

Monday, November 23

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COS Opens in Beverly Center

Retail

The upscale retail store, COS, opened at the Beverly Center.

Friday, November 20

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Norwegian Rain to H Lorenzo

It’s a week or so before Thanksgiving, and it feels like August in Los Angeles. But rains from the El Niño weather pattern are forecast to soak California in the upcoming months. The H. Lorenzo Men’s shop in West Hollywood’s Sunset Plaza retail district is betting that people will be thinking about monsoon-style rains soon.

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Acustom Apparel Takes A Bow in West Hollywood

The bespoke experience is going digital. Acustom Apparel recently opened a West Hollywood boutique based on digital bespoke.

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I’m Dreaming of an Inclement Christmas

It’s not even Black Friday and L.L. Bean has sold out some of its most-popular boot styles.

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LA Fashion Designer Joins Forces With Pottery Barn Kids

Fashion

Bridalwear designer Monique Lhuillier to design children's furniture for Pottery Barn Kids.

Thursday, November 19

Venue' s Canares Announces New Trade Show

Silk Show

Venue Trade Show founder Miles Canares announced Silk Show, a new event that will take a bow at the sprawling Asian American Expo, which is scheduled to run Jan. 16–17 at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

Macy’s Reopens DTLA Location

Retail

In California, Macy’s will be unveiling huge remodels of some of its stores.

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Massimo Dutti Opens First West Coast Store in Southern California

Retail

Zara stores seem to be in every major U.S. city, but its more-upscale sister store, Massimo Dutti, had been a stranger to this country.

Petri Joins …Lost Holdings

Manufacturing

Leading surfwear and fashion company …Lost Holdings announced that Rick Petri, a surf-industry veteran, will join the company as its president on Dec. 1.

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Tags, Labels and FIDM's Vets

Label giant Avery Dennison recent hosted members of FIDM's student veterans group at its RBIS center in downtown Los Angeles

Epson’s SureColor Sublimation Printer Wins SGIA Award

Technology

Epson’s SureColor F9200 sublimation printer landed the product of the year award within the “roll-to-roll dye sublimation on textile” category at the recent Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) expo in Atlanta.

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Holiday & Fantasy Looks with Fashion Speaks Show

Holiday & Fantasy

After months of blazing temperatures, Southern California finally became chilly on Nov. 15. The cold was appropriate weather for Los Angeles–based label Want My Look’s holiday styles, which were part of the debut of the Fashion Speaks event at the Le Meridien Delfina Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Kevan Hall Signature Spring/Summer 2016

Kevan Hall

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her sister, Lee Radziwill, strolling the streets of Capri, the Mediterranean resort island in the Gulf of Naples. That was the inspiration for designer Kevan Hall’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, which he presented on Nov. 17 at his atelier in Los Angeles.

Mode City Shifting to Lyon in 2016

Trade Shows

After eight years in Paris, French lingerie and swimwear trade shows Mode City and Interfilière will temporarily return to Lyon, France, for their July 9–11, 2016, run.

Hyosung launches Creora Fit2 for Denim

Textiles

Creora spandex producer Hyosung will launch its new Creora Fit2 at the Nov. 18–19 run of Denim by PV in Barcelona.

Global Distribution: Giant Care Label

Manufacturing

Apparel makers tell the story of international distribution on a very tiny canvas: the care and content label. As apparel brands increasingly sell their goods around the world, care labels become ever more complex.

LA Private-Equity Firm Buys Specialty Store Chain

Retail

Classic styles with a touch of fashion have been the mainstay of J.McLaughlin, a small specialty-store chain founded in New York by two brothers in 1977.

Men’s Sock Trend Leads to Sale of California Sock Company

Manufacturing

Men’s socks have been one of the bright spots on the retail scene as dudes—hipsters or not—are finding they can dress conservatively for work but maintain a subtle splash of rebellious color by sporting bright socks under dark suits or khaki pants.

Holiday 2015: Decent Economy, Weak Christmas Forecasts

Retail

Solid growth is forecast for the upcoming holiday season, but don’t count on seasonal cheer coming from retail economists and analysts.

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LASC Honors Paris Victims

The pain is still raw from the terror attacks on Paris. Alfredo Izaguirre, a partner and buyer from LASC, a West Hollywood boutique, wanted to honor the victims of the terror attacks with a window which looks out onto Santa Monica Boulevard. Take a look.

Wednesday, November 18

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Swarovski Unveils Spring/Summer 2016 Collection in Los Angeles

Fashion

Swarovski gives a glimpse of what is in store for Spring/Summer 2016.

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Elyse Walker & CFDA's Gala For Mentorship Program

CFDA's Emerging Designers

They all earned their stripes as designers. But Council of Fashion Designers of America and FORWARD by Elyse Walker arranged a master class for a handful of emerging designers in developing a luxury brand business. A swank party was held for the designers on Nov. 17.

Tuesday, November 17

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How to Dress Up While Dressing Down

Fashion

Fruit of the Loom introduces a special holiday collection that should keep many men happy.

Monday, November 16

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Insiders First for Torrid's New Capsule

Torrid, the plus-size chain under the Hot Topic umbrella, is launching a new limited-edition, higher-end capsule collection and offering it first to its very best customers.

Friday, November 13

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The Park's New Look With Creative Offices

Once a traditional showroom space, The Park in the Los Angeles Fashion District’s Lady Liberty building has shifted gears into something new.

Thursday, November 12

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Have Yourself a Blue Holiday

On Dec. 1, the Fashion and Textile History Gallery at the Museum at FIT will open its latest exhibition “Denim: Fashion’s Frontier.”

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Forever 21 to Open All Day Thanksgiving

Retail

Thanksgiving Day shopping gets ridiculous.

Cargo Container Imports Grow Except in Southern California

Import/Export

Import volumes at most of the nation’s ports are on the upswing as retailers bring the last of their goods in for the holiday season.

Macy’s Looks to Future After 3rd Quarter Stumble

Retail

On. Nov. 11, Macy’s Inc. reported a 3.6 percent decline in same-store sales for its third quarter. As a result the giant retailer revised its sales and profit forecast for its Winter Holiday sales in the fourth quarter, which sent retail stocks reeling. Sales for the retail giant’s third quarter were $5.874 billion.

SIMA Image Award Nominees Announced

Manufacturing

Surf Industry Manufacturers Association has presented its SIMA Image Awards for 13 years, and on Nov. 11, it announced its slate of award nominees for work done in the past year. Winners will be announced Feb. 11.

Shop & Dine

Trade Shows

Hitting the trade-show circuit is a bit of an adventure. If you’re a buyer, it’s all about discovering that new clothing line that will sell through the roof. If you’re a vendor, it’s hoping that retailers love your collection and can’t get enough of it.

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New Resource: Mario De La Torre: “For All Women”

“For All Women”

A decade after quitting a lucrative banking job to learn the basics of fashion design, Mario De La Torre plans to introduce his namesake women’s contemporary line under the glamour of spotlights.

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New Resource: Betro Simone

Betro Simone

Stefanie Betro is on the move. In late 2014, she started working on the women’s contemporary clothing collection Betro Simone with Daniel Guez, founder and chief executive officer of BLVD Brands. Before the line was exhibited on the trade-show circuit, the Los Angeles–made line was picked up by select Nordstrom doors and Nordstrom’s e-commerce site, where it continues to be sold.

American Apparel Reports Shrinking Sales in Third Quarter

Manufacturing

American Apparel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early October, but it still must report its revenues and earnings for the third quarter, ending Sept. 30. In a preliminary filing, the troubled Los Angeles clothing company said its third-quarter sales plummeted 19 percent to $126 million, compared with nearly $156 million in the same period last year.

MAGIC Marketplace Owner Reshuffles Top Executives in Fashion Group

Trade Shows

Nearly one year after UBM PLC acquired California-based Advanstar Communications, the organizer of MAGIC and several other apparel trade shows, UBM is making some significant adjustments to its executive lineup within the fashion group division.

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At 10, Tokidoki Finds Business in Collaboration

Cartoon Collaboration

There’s Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Hello Kitty and a world of superheroes competing for spaces in our imaginations and on our T-shirts. Los Angeles–based brand Tokidoki recently celebrated its 10th anniversary of carving its own niche in this animated crowd, and the small, private company is looking to grow through a wide arena of collaboration and retail.

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Sustainability in Fashion on the Agenda at TEDxLA Event

LA Beyond the Label

Members of the apparel industry and consumers with a passion for eco issues and sustainability met recently at The New Mart in Los Angeles for a TEDxLA event organized by LA Beyond the Label.

Shifting More Showrooms Onto One CMC Floor Boosts Business

Manufacturing

When Guddi Bedi and her husband, Baljit, moved into their third-floor California Market Center showroom some 15 years ago, they had to pay $50,000 key money just to garner a coveted spot. Now the Bedis’ small Krishma Overseas showroom is surrounded by a vast desert of empty spaces as everyone around them is picking up and moving from the B side of the CMC’s third floor to open spots on the A side.

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Wolk Morais Shows Collection 2

Wolk Morais

Evening gowns with denim, floral jacquard bra tops, mesh neoprene. These were a few looks from the Wolk Morais label’s Collection 2. A runway show for the brand took place on Nov. 9 in West Hollywood, Calif.

Wednesday, November 11

Advice for busy trade show attendees

Fashion-Focused in a Time-Crunch

Trade shows offer attendees a wealth of opportunities, from business-to-business seminars and networking functions to the main event—walking trade shows looking for new products and trends. With so much for trade show visitors to do and see, we asked several show organizers how they recommend attendees budget their time at their trade shows.

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Jeremy Scott Party for Longchamp

It was anniversary time for designer Jeremy Scott and the French luxury house Longchamp.

AAFA Chief Stepping Down After More Than One Year on the Job

Manufacturing

The American Apparel & Footwear Association is looking for a new president and chief executive to take over for Juanita Duggan, who is leaving.

Tuesday, November 10

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Dyer & Jenkins Pops at Hemingway & Sons

After raising seed money on Kickstarter in Fall 2013, the Dyer & Jenkins brand has blossomed into a working label in downtown Los Angeles. On Nov. 5, it produced a pop-up shop at Silver Lake men's shop Hemingway & Sons.

Monday, November 9

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COS Opens Pop-Up Store in Downtown LA

Retail

COS, a division of H&M, is testing the waters for its stores.

Friday, November 6

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Education in Denim

DENIM NOTES

Denim City, the home of Amsterdam’s Jean School, a vocational program offering training in denim design and development, recently hosted an educational symposium called “Denim on Stage: University Meets Industry at Denim City in Amsterdam.”

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Tokidoki Celebrates 10

A grim reaper character – but cute! That’s what Simone Legno was drawing more than a decade ago. It later turned into a serious business. The Tokidoki brand celebrated its 10th anniversary with Nov. 5 party at The Well in downtown Los Angeles. Take a look!

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Baddie Winkle X Brian Lichtenberg at Kitson

What first began as a goof is now an Internet sensation and …a capsule collection by pop-culture provocateur Brian Lichtenberg. Witness the Baddie Winkle X Brian Lichtenberg collection. A party was held for it at Kitson in West Hollywood on Nov. 5.

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Nü Denmark Opens at Sunset Plaza

Danish brand Nü Denmark opened its first U.S. store recently at West Hollywood's exclusive Sunset Plaza shopping district. We went to a debut party for the boutique. Take a look!

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PSC Pops at Liberty

Pocket Square Clothing has focused on the details in men's clothing - think pocket squares and ties. But for a holiday pop-up shop, the Los Angeles label is going big picture. It produced a holiday pop-up shop with a bunch of emerging men's brands at Concept 8366 1/2 in Los Angeles. A debut party was held for it on Nov. 5.

Thursday, November 5

The Only Thing Foreign About the TPP Is the American Perception of Export Trade

INDUSTRY VOICES

Industry Voices

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Party Like It's 1915

100-Year-Old Denim Deal

Amsterdam's Tenue de Nimes boutique hosted a party to celebrate the “Golden Handshake,” the 1915 agreement between Levi Strauss & Co. and Cone Denim when Levi’s agreed to give Cone Denim exclusive right to produce denim for Levi’s 501 shrink-to-fit jeans.

Final Text Released for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

Import/Export

After years of negotiating a trade agreement between the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries, the U.S. government released the final text outlining the deal.

American Apparel May Shutter Its Oak Stores in LA and NY

Shuttered Stores

Two years ago, American Apparel founder Dov Charney snapped up a small high-end specialty-store chain called Oak. With Charney ousted last year as the company’s chief executive and American Apparel now in bankruptcy, the struggling Los Angeles clothing company has decided to shutter its Oak stores to save money.

October Sales Tough

Retail

Business for most retailers fell short of Wall Street forecasts, according to analysts such as Ken Perkins of Retail Metrics, a Boston-area market-research firm.

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L.A. Fashion Week: Sidewalk Catwalk

Sidewalk Catwalk

LA Fashion Week: Street Scene

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Curvy Couture: In the Adaption Biz

Curvy Couture

Los Angeles’ Curvy Couture label is on a mission to open lingerie fashion to plus-sized women.

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Westside Doyenne To Gritty Los Angeles St.

Elyse Walker in DTLA

Elyse Walker is best known for running an influential, self-named boutique in Los Angeles’ exclusive Pacific Palisades neighborhood, but she is making news in downtown Los Angeles, which is a long freeway trip away from the Palisades. Walker recently opened a new design office and showroom for the fashion lines she designs in the rapidly changing district of downtown.

Italian Denim House Candiani Opening R&D Center in Los Angeles

Manufacturing

Early next year, downtown Los Angeles will have a new center for denim research and development when Italian denim mill Candiani Denim opens a new showroom and office space.

Denim Maven Adriano Goldschmied Turns His Focus to Knits With Acynetic

Manufacturing

Adriano Goldschmied’s career developing brands including Diesel, Replay, AG Adriano Goldschmied, Citizens of Humanity men’s and Goldsign has earned him the nickname “the Godfather of Denim.”

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Kingpins Amsterdam Encompasses the Denim Industry From Fiber and Fabric to Design Development and Finishing

Denim in Amsterdam

Now in its second year in Amsterdam, Kingpins organizers have determined a few keys to success in running the boutique denim-sourcing trade show.

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Global Denim Awards

Denim on the Runway

Innovation in fabric and design was on the runway at the second annual Global Denim Awards, a fashion competition organized by HTNK Fashion recruitment and consultancy, the House of Denim, and Kingpins and sponsored by e3.

Port Clerks Get Early Start on Contract Negotiations

Import/Export

It seems like only yesterday that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were clogged with container ships after contract negotiations with the workers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union dragged on for nine months.

Wednesday, November 4

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Xmas Tree Lighting at Citadel – Nov. 7

The Back-to-School season seems just to have ended, but it might as well be time to start wrapping Christmas presents. The Citadel Outlets, just outside of downtown Los Angeles, will be the site of the lighting of a 115-foot-tall tree on Nov. 7. Performing at the event will be Disney Channel singing stars Sabrina Carpenter and Laura Marano.

Tuesday, November 3

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Burlington Opens in Downtown LA

Retail

More retailers are arriving in downtown Los Angeles.

Oaktree Capital Working on Buying Quiksilver

Retail

Oaktree Capital Management, the Los Angeles–based investment firm, is ramping up its effort to buy Quiksilver Inc. out of bankruptcy.

Monday, November 2

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BNKR Flagship Now Opening in Early 2016

Retail

Opening date for BNKR flagship in downtown LA gets pushed back again.