Stories for October 2016

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Monday, October 31

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Schott’s SoCal Season

Schott NYC has crafted some of America’s most iconic leather jackets, but the venerable New York headquartered outerwear brand must have Southern California on the mind.

Orange County Sportswear Company Leasing Former American Apparel Dye and Finishing Plant

Manufacturing

Months after American Apparel emerged from bankruptcy, the company shuttered its dye and finishing plant just outside of Los Angeles, which will be leased to AST Sportswear Inc.

Friday, October 28

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Heidi Merrick Opens First Store in Downtown LA

Heidi Merrick in DTLA

At a time when many people are shuttering stores and heading to e-commerce sites to sell their collections, Los Angeles designer Heidi Merrick is making a splash with her very first retail outpost.

Thursday, October 27

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Cotton Citizen: “Don’t Fear Color”

Cotton Citizen

Los Angeles–headquartered label Cotton Citizen is aiming to go beyond the basic look of a plain top. It plans to accomplish its goal with unique colors and finishes, luxe fabrics, and fashion silhouettes.

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Party at Poet Bovtique

Poet Bovtique and the A One Plus L.A. showroom threw a party at Poet’s Hollywood space on Oct. 26. The honored guests were fashion lines Odaingerous and Queen of Noise.

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J. Hilburn x Hollywood

J.Hilburn debuts its SS17 collection--including beautifully tailored suits and dress shirts to the newest velvet blazers and formalwear--at the Andaz West Hollywood Hotel.

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Androids in L.A.

High end T-shirt brand Hiro Clark made its most recent collaboration for an elusive demographic; androids.

Halloween Spending Boost Forecast to Kick Off Solid Holiday Sales Season Follow Election Slump

Retail

Halloween will be sweet, not spooky, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation, the trade group headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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Arcady: Classic Design Meets Individual Style

Arcady

Men’s fashion line Arcady was introduced with a big splash recently—the label founders produced a party attended by actors, models and musicians at the Los Angeles landmark Chateau Marmont—but the show of glamour was not necessarily the aim of the new line. Founders Billy and Christopher Hines hope that the line will mix in seamlessly with whatever someone is wearing.

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Fred by Fred Segal: Denim Rooted in Los Angeles Culture

Fred by Fred Segal

For the first time since retailer Fred Segal opened its doors in Los Angeles in 1965, the famous Fred Segal name will appear on an apparel line: Fred by Fred Segal.

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SAS Textiles: Offering Quick-Turn and Quality Knits in Southern California

SAS Textiles

For Sean Sassounian, the way to compete with cheap imports is to offer top quality and quick turnarounds.

Boutique Retailers Turn Out to Order Immediates, Spring Merchandise at FMNC

Trade Shows

The weather outside was Northern California cool and gray, but the mood—and the merchandise—inside the San Mateo Event Center was sunny as retailers from across the Western U.S. turned out for Fashion Market Northern California to place orders for Spring goods.

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DSTLD: Building the Wardrobe One Premium Piece at a Time

DSTLD

When DSTLD launched two years ago, the company focused on premium denim and luxury tees. After two years of design development and brand building, the company is preparing to provide consumers with an entire wardrobe of luxury basics.

Wednesday, October 26

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The North Face Opens Flagship on Fifth Avenue

Retail

The North Face opens first big New York City flagship store in a hot spot.

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UGG Gets Into the Lounge Wear Biz

Fashion

The Ugg people introduce a small but high-end cashmere lounge wear collection with more to come on Nov. 15.

Tuesday, October 25

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Garment Workers Group March in Downtown Los Angeles

The Garment Worker Center held a march and rally Oct. 25 in downtown Los Angeles' Fashion District, up to the Ross Dress for Less store on 719 S. Broadway and to City Hall.

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Marco Marco: Runway Goes Trans, Drag and Go Go

At Marco Marco's Oct. 21 show, the nightclub crowd was promised one of the most ribald shows in fashion.

Monday, October 24

Cone Denim Parent Company Acquired by Beverly Hills Private-Equity Firm

Textiles

Platinum Equity acquires International Textile Group, parent of Cone Denim and Burlington Industries.

Sunday, October 23

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FBI’s Fashionable Fund-Raiser

Los Angeles Fashion Week

For its sixth-annual All Aboard Runway Show & Fund-Raiser, Fashion Business Inc. returned to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

Thursday, October 20

LA Blue Jeans Manufacturers Moving to Mexico to Take Advantage of Free Trade

Import/Export

With high-priced blue jeans made in Los Angeles taking a beating in the market, manufacturers facing rising wages in California are amping up their production of premium jeans in Mexico.

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Sav Noir “I’m With The Band”

The days of epic rock tours à la Led Zeppelin seem long over in this age of digital download music, but rocker fashion is still strong, says Edwin Haynes of indie brand Sav Noir.

Crowded Schedule at LA Market

LA Market

The Los Angeles Fashion Week runway shows continued with events hosted by Style Fashion Week, Fashion Week Los Angeles and Fashion Business Inc.

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Revice: Fast Premium Denim Direct to Consumer

Revice

Founded earlier this year, Revice is aiming to be the go-to brand for premium denim for women and men, utilizing a fast-fashion format of manufacturing to offer limited quantities of each vintage-inspired style.

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Daniel Patrick X T Raww 2016: Making Jeans With Hip-Hop Star Tyga

Daniel Patrick

When designer Daniel Patrick expanded his eponymous streetwear label to include jeans, he wanted to steer clear of the traditional five-pocket style.

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Los Angeles Fashion Week: California Collections

LAFW: California Collections

More than 100 designer lines graced the runways of Los Angeles Fashion Week, with six events spread out over a four-week span.

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Tavik: World After Boardshorts

Tavik

Designers at the Tavik brand thought that there was no reason to make yet another boardshort in Orange County, Calif.—the center of the surf industry and a place where scores of companies make boardshorts.

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Neiman Marcus' 90th Christmas Book Unveiled

Holiday retail

Neiman Marcus goes all out for the 90th edition of their Christmas Book filled with over-the-top gifts you can't afford.

Wednesday, October 19

Speedo USA Gets a New President

Manufacturing

John Graham, previously senior vice president of sales for Speedo USA, has been named to take over the job as president of Speedo USA.

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World’s Tallest Xmas Tree at Citadel

It’s 90 degrees in Los Angeles and Christmas seems far away. But not at the Citadel Outlets near downtown Los Angeles.

Tuesday, October 18

MAFI Award Winner Named at FBI’s All Aboard Runway Show

Events

The winner of the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award (MAFI) was announced at the sixth-annual Fashion Business Inc. All Aboard Runway Show at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

Paula Schneider Named Chief Executive of Three Los Angeles Premium Labels

Manufacturing

Former American Apparel Chief Executive Paula Schneider has been named chief executive of DG Premium Brands, whose recently acquired Los Angeles labels include 7 For All Mankind, Ella Moss and Splendid.

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Robin’s Jean’s New Store

There’s business in high end jeans.

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Embroider Like It’s 1330

Textile Exhibition

The Victoria & Albert Museum's “Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery” exhibition features embroideries from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Monday, October 17

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Naven Goes Flirty at Style Fashion Week

Fashion

Kym and Alexis McClay, known as the Naven twins, hit the runway with color.

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Mario De La Torre’s Style Fashion Week Surprise

Those expecting a repeat of Mario De La Torre’s New York Fashion Week show were in for a surprise.

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Project Runway Contestant Shines at Style Fashion Week

Fashion

Designer Richard Hallmarq goes for high fashion on the runway.

Friday, October 14

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Siwy at Art Hearts Fashion

For its Spring/Summer 2017 season, the Siwy brand mixed London streetwear savvy and traditional American denim looks.

Thursday, October 13

Fred Segal Sign Center of Lawsuit

Retail

In the fast-changing world of Los Angeles boutique retail, the red, white and blue logo of Fred Segal has been an icon for decades, but a recently filed lawsuit might decide whether the famous sign can stay or must go at the first Fred Segal store opened on Melrose Avenue.

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Cole Haan Opens South Coast Plaza Store With New Design

Retail

The new Cole Haan flagship store has the look and feel of a traditional home.

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Festival Chic in 21 Trends

Stylist Estevan Ramos checks out the scene--and the fashion--at the Austin City Limits music festival.

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Rodd & Gunn to Fashion Island

New Zealand menswear label Rodd & Gunn recently opened its first U.S. shop.

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Fashion District Street Being Closed Off for Urban Dinner

Fashion District

The annual Urban Dinner Party to be held on Santee Street.

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Willfredo Gerardo at Art Hearts Fashion

There was a double helping of Wilfredo Gerardo at the Art Hearts Fashion event on Oct. 10

The North Face Opens a Concept Store in San Francisco

Retail

In an old brick building, The North Face has opened a new concept store, tapping a spot right near Jackson Square in San Francisco.

Langly Supply: Indie Label Takes On Elements and Fashion

Manufacturing

Evan Lane hated carrying camera bags on his professional photography gigs in locales such as Nicaragua and Canada’s Vancouver Island.

Lacausa: Contemporary Basics Meets California Bohemian Style

Manufacturing

In Spanish, “la causa” means “the cause,” and Rebecca Grenell’s underlying mission with her Lacausa clothing line is to make quality garments locally under ethical conditions.

Lido Marina Village Opens in Newport Beach

Retail

Lido Marina Village observed its soft opening recently by serving free artisanal ice cream while children played with toy boats on one of the decks of the Newport Beach, Calif., retail center.

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Row DTLA Takes A Risk in Gritty Area

Row DTLA

The area looks gritty, located in the industrial district of downtown Los Angeles, but in one year the 700 block of South Alameda Street will be the center of a unique, high-end restaurant and boutique retail district if things go according to the plans of developer Runyon Group.

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Year of Ours: Athleisure as the New American Sportswear

Year of Ours

Los Angeles–based Year of Ours wants to put its mark on women’s sportswear with an in-house production facility and made-in-America craftsmanship.

Spring/Summer ’17 Women’s Commercial Directions by Trendstop

Trends

Saturated shades create statement styles. Global fashion forecasting agency Trendstop gives us the lowdown on the key trends and essential applications affecting the SS17 commercial market.

Surfer Jessie Snyder Branches Out On Own With Fitness Line

Manufacturing

Jessie Snyder is using her experience as a professional surfer to leverage her newest venture, an eponymous line of basics.

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Los Angeles Fashion Week: On With the Shows

On With the Shows

There are more than 100 collections participating in this season’s Los Angeles Fashion Week, which is spread across six events over the course of a four-week span.

Hanjin Bankruptcy Fiasco Still Hurting Apparel Importers

Import/Export

Sitting on the water somewhere between here and Asia are 17 containers of private-label menswear valued at around $1.5 million that Pacific Textiles & Sourcing in Los Angeles is importing from Pakistan.

New Lines: Los Angeles Fashion Market: Spring 2017

New Lines

New Lines

Tuesday, October 11

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Hale Bob at Art Hearts Fashion

Hale Bob’s Cruise 2017 season was inspired by the romance of the Greek island Mykonos, said Daniel Bohbot, the label’s founder and owner.

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Popping Up Inside Opening Ceremony

Retail

Handbag and shoe maker Mansur Gavriel goes fancy with a pop-up inside the Opening Ceremony store.

Monday, October 10

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Nifty Genius Debuts at Ron Robinson

Los Angeles brand Nifty Genius celebrated its debut collection with a trunk show at the Ron Robinson lifestyle concept store in Santa Monica.

Container Imports Inch Up for the Holiday Season

Import/Export

Imports coming through the nation's ports up slightly over last year.

Friday, October 7

Upbra: Building a Better Push-Up

Fashion

Equipped with elastic and a tack stitch, Ron Redenius figures that he can manufacture the world’s best push-up bra.

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La Vie de Rebecca Taylor

Designer Rebecca Taylor came into town Oct. 6 for an exclusive engagement to celebrate the launch of LA VIE Rebecca Taylor, a denim and casual collection from the New York headquartered Taylor.

Thursday, October 6

Retail Sales Mixed for September

Retail

Zumiez Inc. was one of the lucky retailers who beat pessimistic forecasts predicting that the retailer would see a decline in its same-store sales results.

VF Corp. Names a New CEO to Take over for Eric Wiseman

Manufacturing

VF Corp.—the 118-year-old company whose brands include Vans, Wrangler, Lee and, until recently, 7 For All Mankind—has appointed Steve Rendle as its new chief executive, effective Jan. 1.

Troubled California Brands Figuring Out How to Survive in the New Apparel World

Manufacturing

A rash of recent layoffs at big prestigious Los Angeles labels noted for their superb fabric, cutting-edge styles and trendsetting ways is a sign that traditional brands are facing tough competition from e-commerce sites and fast-fashion retailers and faced with the added challenge of a millennial mindset that shuns department-store merchandise in favor of fashion blogger recommendations.

FBI Sets Lineup for All Aboard Runway Fund-raiser and MAFI Award

Fashion

Fashion Business Inc. will return to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 18 for the sixth annual All Aboard Runway Show and presentation of the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award.

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Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring’17 Kick Off

LAFW '17 Kick Off

The Los Angeles Fashion Week event known as LA Fashion Week, now in its third season, hosted its runway shows at the Hollywood Athletic Club

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Three Dots Launches Plus Sizes

Three Dots

Three Dots has been known for its American-made luxe basics in ultra-soft fabrications since the Garden Grove, Calif.–based company was founded in 1995. But Three Dots sizes only ran from XS to XL—until now.

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Karan’s Urban Zen to West Hollywood

Urban Zen

Fashion star Donna Karan will bring her Urban Zen concept to the Los Angeles area for a second engagement.

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Bearpaw Adding Apparel to its Shoe Line-up

Outdoor Wear

Outdoor jackets will be added to the line-up of Bearpaw sheepskin boots and slippers launched in 2001.

Wednesday, October 5

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Ashton Michael’s LAFW Surprise

The generator gave up one-third of the way into Ashton Michael’s The Ritual Collection runway show the night of Oct 1. But the show had to go on.

Tuesday, October 4

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Bristol Los Angeles Pops

The Bristol Los Angeles brand has been making a splash. This Summer, it produced its first runway show at the Gen Art Fresh Faces gala in downtown Los Angeles. On Sept. 30, it produced its first pop-up shop at the Platform retail center in Culver City, Calif.

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Gigi Hadid Joins Reebok Campaign

International supermodel Gigi Hadid is the newest face of Reebok’s #PerfectNever campaign to “celebrate the beauty of imperfection.”

Forecast: Holiday Sales to Increase 3.6 Percent

Retail

The first forecasts for the upcoming 2016 holiday season have been released, and they predict that retailers will enjoy solid sales during the crucial season which can comprise more than 20 percent of a retailer’s annual business, according to the National Retail Federation, a Washington D.C. retail trade organization.

Monday, October 3

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Wrangler on the Runway

It was all about ’70s denim and apparel when Wrangler presented a runway show at its North American headquarters in Greenboro, N.C.