Stories for December 2019

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Friday, December 27

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The North Face and Supreme Collaborate on New Collection

MANUFACTURING

Outdoor-exploration outfitter The North Face has again teamed up with streetwear brand Supreme for a new Winter 2019 collection.

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Bagley Design Goes Velvet

FASHION

For two years, Los Angeles-based designer Brigitte Bagley has been making bespoke leather jackets for her Bagley Design brand. She recently unveiled something new for her brand; velvet bomber jacket.

Thursday, December 26

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New California Laws in 2020: From Employment-Status Changes to Family Leave

New Workplace Laws

A new year means new California workplace laws in which employers must become well versed. For 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a number of bills that protect workers’ rights and, also, redefine the role of employees.

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Washed Ashore Reaches Sustainable Goals

Eco-luxurious Jewels

After four years of working to build the most sustainable jewelry brand possible, Washed Ashore founder Larada Lamsam achieved her most important goal for the luxury-jewelry line. Launched in 2015, the Los Angeles–based company experienced a rebrand in May as Lamsam celebrated her accomplishment.

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Park Hotels & Resorts Completes Sale of Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

News

The Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles has officially been sold to an undisclosed buyer, according to an announcement made by Tysons, Va.–headquartered lodging real-estate investment trust Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.

Good American Adopts Klarna Technology

Technology

Buy-now, pay-later technology company Klarna announced that it has partnered with Los Angeles brand Good American. The trend-driven clothing brand was founded in 2016 by Emma Grede and Khloé Kardashian with a focus on denim and a range of sizes to suit women who wear 00–24.

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Ted Houston, Polygon Solutions, 52

News

Ted Houston, president of Long Beach, Calif.–based Polygon Solutions, which provides management solutions for apparel and fashion brands, died Dec. 23 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The cause of death was a fungal infection that had set in more than four months after a successful double-lung transplant.

Runway Heels Debuts in Pop-up Retail Space

Retail

Convertible-footwear brand Runway Heels recently expanded into retail through a pop-up shop model at Westfield Century City. The Studio City, Calif., brand was founded by Melody Avecilla in 2015.

Week In Review

Retail

The Week in Review

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Holiday 2019 Sales Were Strong

Holiday Retail 2019

After all the forecasts were published, retailers promoted their best deals and consumers spent their hard-earned dollars, experts weighed in regarding the performance of retail during the 2019 holiday season. While a few obstacles arose, overall sales were reportedly robust this year.

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Nusumeria Finds New World In Hemp

Manufacturing

When Jon Flaks launched his Los Angeles–headquartered brand Nusumeria on Instagram in July 2019, he forecasted that he was going to sell styles to people looking to complete their athleisure wardrobes. The response that came next was a pleasant surprise.

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Ruti To Create AI Stylist

Technology

Retail marketing and back-office tasks are increasingly informed by big data and machine learning. Boutique retailers will soon find out if artificial intelligence can make savvy styling recommendations for shoppers.

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L.A. Factory Makes Major Sustainability Goal & Backs It Up With Tech

Technology

Sustainable design is increasingly important in California, and one factory said it has achieved a gold standard in sustainability. UStrive, based in Los Angeles, was certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard last month.

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Levi’s Extends Run for Levi’s Haus Miami

RETAIL

Based in Miami Beach’s Wynwood section, the 43,000-square-foot Levi’s Haus Miami features a concept shop, as well as place where people can make their own Levi's styles with the help of artists at the Levi's Tailor shop.

Tuesday, December 24

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Vans To Open Skatepark in Brooklyn

EVENTS

It’s been a great year for Vans.

Monday, December 23

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Mega Fashion Club Opens 1st Store

RETAIL

“This project started in a garage,“ Mega Fashion Club Founder Megers Frierson said. “But now we got a place where people can come and try on our products.”

Friday, December 20

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Beverly Center Welcomes The Lost Warhols

EVENTS

Celebrating the grand opening of its new pop-up space on Dec. 16, The Lost Warhols Museum welcomed guests to the Beverly Center to experience Karen Bystedt's work inspired by and based upon the life and art of late 20th-century artist Andy Warhol.

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Julie Feingold to Lead In-House Styling Program at The Optimist

Men’s shop The Optimist opened at Platform retail center in Culver City, Calif. Recently, the Optimist announced an in-house styling program led by Julie Feingold. She has styled stars such as Harry Styles, Zac Efron and David Beckham.

Thursday, December 19

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Sustainable Sourcing for Luxurious Accessories Is Key for BaYou with Love

Low-impact Love

After nearly three years following the 2017 launch of BaYou with Love, Nikki Reed has been busy expanding her sustainable-goods marketplace, which relies on a mission to promote ethically sourced, eco-friendly and locally made products.

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Talon International Joins CFDA Supply Chain Collective

Notions

Along with the announcement by the Council of Fashion Designers of America that it would launch a Supply Chain Collective, the New York–headquartered nonprofit trade organization and Los Angeles’ Talon International revealed their partnership within the new initiative.

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Conscious Fashion Campaign Officially Launches

Manufacturing

Marking its official launch this month, the Conscious Fashion Campaign announced its commitment to the United Nations’ Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development.

Week In Review

Retail

The Week in Review

Organized Retail Crime On the Rise

Retail

The National Retail Federation recently released a report on organized retail crime, defined as sophisticated criminal gangs targeting retailers. It found that ORC is increasing and that Los Angeles has the dubious distinction of being the top-ranked city for this category of crime.

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LATTC’s Gold Thimble Show Goes Game of Thrones

Runway

Los Angeles Trade Technical College recently started a Costume Technology Program to prepare students to make costumes for film, television and theater productions.

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Fashion Nova Explains DOL Investigation

Legal

Fashion Nova Inc., a prominent Los Angeles–headquartered digital retailer of stylish yet affordable clothing, has been the subject of a wage-theft investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, according to a widely read New York Times article published this week.

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Super Saturday Forecast To Be Holiday 2019’s Busiest Day

Super Saturday

Super Saturday is Dec. 21, and predictions for one of the final shopping days before Christmas are positive. It’s forecasted to be the busiest shopping day of the holiday season, according to a number of holiday business watchers such as the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group.

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U.S. Close To Making Trade Agreements After Year of Upheaval

Import/Export

After more than a year of headlines on trade wars, the Trump administration, the U.S. Congress and America’s trade partners wrapped up the year with statements and votes promising that trade deals are close.

The Year in Retail

Retail

The Retail News of 2019

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The Year in Trade Shows

Trade Shows

During the 2019 trade-show circuit, some event producers scaled down while others expanded their programs or teamed up through collaborations that would entice attendees to get down to business. From coast to coast, apparel-industry trade-show producers planned changes or were forced to alter their programs due to unforeseen weather patterns or shifts in attendee demand.

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Year in Review 2019

2019 Review

Moving into 2020, the final days of 2019 afford an opportunity to reflect upon a year that was anything but predictable for the apparel industry.

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NSF Brand's 1st Pop-Up Gets An Extension

RETAIL

The NSF brand's first pop-up was originally slated to run until the end of the year. Fortunately for NSF fans, the pop-up got an extension.

Wednesday, December 18

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Star Costume Designer Paul Tazewell Speaks at Black Design Collective’s "Harriet" Screening

EVENTS

It was the last 2019 event for Black Design Collective, a Los Angeles headquartered non-profit that supports African American designers and mentors student creatives.

Monday, December 16

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Cynthia Rowley Surfs Into Malibu Country Mart

Designer Cynthia Rowley makes neoprene wetsuits with an art and fashion inspiration for her self-named brand. They will be among the merchandise mix for her new Malibu Country Mart shop.

Thursday, December 12

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Billionaire Boys Club and NTWRK Team Up for Pop-Up

Prominent streetwear players Billionaire Boys Club and NTWRK will produce the Exoplanet pop-up shop. It will run Dec. 13-22 at 8020 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.

Week In Review

News

The Week in Review

Patricia Welman, 3 Girls Clothing Co-founder, 60

News

Patricia Welman, co-founder and president of the juniors brand 3 Girls Clothing, passed away Dec. 1 after a short illness with cancer. Her funeral is being held Dec. 17 at Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Epson Unveils New POS Printers

Technology

Epson has developed a reputation for making direct-to-garment printers for manufacturers both large and small to print on T-shirts, hoodies and more.

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CFF Hosts 72nd Annual Christmas Party for Kids

Events

More than 250 Los Angeles kids got holiday gifts from the California Fashion Foundation on Dec. 11 at the penthouse of the Cooper Design Space in downtown Los Angeles.

Economic Forecast Improves After Solid Year, UCLA Said

Finance

On Dec. 4, the influential UCLA Anderson School of Management raised its 2020 forecast for the U.S. and California economies from 1 percent real growth to 1.7 percent due to low unemployment and high consumer confidence and spending.

During a Year of Bankruptcies, Retailers Find Risk & Opportunity

Retail

Bankruptcies and store closures spiked in 2019, and some retailers hoped bankruptcy could give them an edge during a year when many thought the chips were down for retail.

Copyright and Labor Fashion Cases Reach Supreme Court

Legal

Issues in copyright and labor kept lawyers busy in 2019; however, the Los Angeles case that made the most headlines was a streetwear brand that brought its case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Tact & Stone Looks for Boundaries to Push in Fashion & Sustainability

Sustainable Tact & Stone

Sustainability commands increasing interest from the business world. A novice in the field, Landon Nash vowed that his new apparel line, Tact & Stone, would serve as an engine to innovate in this burgeoning category.

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Fashion District’s Sparkle Factory Building Finds New Life With Tarina Tarantino

Retail

After a four-year hiatus from running a bricks-and-mortar boutique on Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue, designer Tarina Tarantino has opened a self-named Tarina Tarantino boutique in downtown Los Angeles.

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FaZe Clan Forecast Big Biz With Active Styles for Video Gamers

FaZe Clan Activewear

Professional e-sports competition over video games such as Fortnite is hitting the big time. It attracts investments from owners of major-league sports teams; competitions are viewed by millions of people across the globe; and for the Los Angeles–based e-sports team FaZe Clan, fashion is becoming a big deal.

Looking Back on 2019, As Apparel Industry Prepares for 2020

Finance

Over the course of 2019, financial uncertainty subsided a bit as consumers set new records on spending and economic forecasters revised initial predictions in favor of increased optimism through the end of the year. Despite a continuing conflict with China and potential tariff issues with other trade partners, the United States economy saw bright spots.

Mergers and Acquisitions Strengthen Businesses and Save Brands

Finance

During 2019, a consistent trend within the apparel industry took shape not just on the fashion front but also the business end of garment making.

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An Air of Enchantment Makes Fall 2020 Magical for Monique Lhuillier

Falling for Fantasy

A magical fashion season is on the horizon for next year, according to Monique Lhuillier, who recently introduced her whimsical Fall 2020 collection of ethereal garments.

Wednesday, December 11

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Costume Designers Guild Awards Noms Announced

2019 has been a great year for costuming

Tuesday, December 10

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Pierre Cardin, Zandra Rhodes Honored at 6th Annual CinéFashion Film Awards

The 6th Annual CinéFashion Film Awards were presented at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on Dec. 9.

Monday, December 9

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Rose Queen & Her Court Walk Macy’s Pasadena

The Rose Queen and her Court do not assume their official duties of riding on a float for the 131st Rose Parade until New Year’s Day.

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Ron Robinson Kicks Off Holiday With Happy Ending Party & Bids Farewell to Bricks-and-Mortar

Ron Robinson threw a festive holiday season kickoff on Dec. 5. But this party, had a bittersweet note. It marked the last time the Ron Robinson company would run a bricks-and-mortar store.

Thursday, December 5

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Lenzing Announces First Virgin Lyocell From Post-Consumer Cotton

Closing Lyocell’s Loop

After the September announcement of an upgraded Refibra technology that increased upcycled cotton-scrap pulp composition, Lenzing, Austria–headquartered Lenzing revealed another advancement with the product.

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Black Friday Weekend Sales Breaks Records

Booming Black Friday

Black Friday shopping broke records, according to the National Retail Federation. In a Dec. 3 conference call, the Washington, D.C., retail trade group said that 189.6 million U.S. consumers shopped during the Black Friday Weekend.

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Allbirds Expands Into Slipper Category

Manufacturing

Following a number of holiday product launches spanning the weekend of Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Allbirds is now preparing to release its first slipper, keeping shoppers interested as the holiday gift-purchasing timeline decreases.

Week In Review

News

The Week in Review

LVMH Acquires Tiffany & Co.

Retail

In what is being called the biggest deal in the history of the luxury-goods market, Paris-headquartered LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE acquired Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 billion, it was announced Nov. 25.

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After Sale, Agenda To Be Directed by Shellman

Trade Shows

After six years of running Agenda, Reed Exhibitions has sold the streetwear-focused trade show for an undisclosed amount to AZTQ Corp., a Toronto-headquartered show producer that started business in 2019.

Ilse Metchek Remains an Industry Ally

Manufacturing

With a fashion career that has spanned decades, beginning in New York’s garment district and continuing in Los Angeles’ fashion district, Ilse Metchek’s role within the industry is legendary.

CMC Reinvents Its Space and Image

Real Estate

After its owner, Brookfield Properties, embarked upon a $170-million renovation at the end of 2018, the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles was not only redesigning its interior but also its image.

Tariffs in 2019: As the Trade War Turns

Import/Export

One of the largest newsmakers of 2019 was neither a person nor a company but rather a largely impactful issue faced by the apparel industry. In a rocky 2018, the United States implemented 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in imports from China, and the latter responded with its own reciprocal duties on products from the U.S.

Designer Mossimo Giannulli Charged in ‘Operation Varsity Blues’ Scandal

Legal

One of the most notorious criminal cases of 2019 was the “Operation Varsity Blues” college-admissions scandal in which a number of wealthy parents were accused of crimes ranging from bribery to money laundering in a scheme to guarantee their children’s admission into renowned universities.

Black Design Collective Recognizes Underrepresented Creatives With Year of Firsts

Fashion

Throughout 2019, the Black Design Collective maintained its commitment to highlighting the accomplishments of black fashion creatives by hosting a number of events and building a community within the fashion industry.

BCBGMaxAzria Founder Passes Away but Legacy Lives On

Manufacturing

In May 2019, the apparel segment lost an influential Los Angeles fashion veteran whose designs shaped trends within the industry for decades when Max Azria passed away at the age of 70, reportedly succumbing to lung cancer.

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Ahead of Anniversary, California Apparel News Makes a Move

Events

Nearing the milestone of reaching its 75th year in publication, California Apparel News will begin its anniversary in a new space. At the end of November, the media firm relocated to The New Mart, located at 127 East Ninth Street in Los Angeles’ downtown fashion district.

California Passes Fur Ban

Retail

Faux fur has enjoyed wide popularity during 2019, but it was a tough year for businesses working with real fur. California became the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of fur.

Forever 21 Files for Bankruptcy

Retail

Los Angeles–headquartered Forever 21 was one of the architects of fast fashion, but, after three decades of growth, the family-run business, which enjoyed more than $3.4 billion in revenues in 2017, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Digital Printing Remains on the Rise

Technology

The digital-printing business has been a contender for more than a decade in the T-shirt industry, but in 2019 it started to become more dominant. Digital printers made by companies such as Kornit Digital, Epson and Roland DGA can be used to make increasingly complex images on T-shirts, hoodies and other imprintable clothing.

Barney’s Dramatic Deal For Its Future

Retail

Barneys New York served as an influential American retailer since the 1920s, but in 2019 it went bankrupt and its remaining five stores started a liquidation process.

Volcom Inks Deal With Authentic Brands Group

Manufacturing

Action-sports brand Volcom is back to making deals and producing new styles. The Costa Mesa, Calif.–headquartered brand made headlines in November when it announced that it would outfit the U.S. snowboarding team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but in mid-2019 Volcom started a new chapter in its more than 25-year history.

Big Changes for Gap, Inc.

Retail

Observing its 50th anniversary during 2019, Gap Inc. experienced a year of major change for one of the biggest specialty retailers in the world.

2nd & PCH Unveiled in Long Beach

Retail

One of the most familiar sights in the California landscape is the mall, but Long Beach, Calif., despite being the seventh largest city in the state, has been traditionally “under-malled.”

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Newsmakers 2019

Newsmakers 2019

Over the last year, there has been an atmosphere of certainty that nothing is certain in the apparel industry.

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Brit Artist Chemical X’s Limited Edition Line Raises Funds for L.A.’s Homeless

Chemical X, who does not divulge his birth name, recently made his US debut at a Nov. 8 -10 art show at the former Tower Record building in West Hollywood. He said that he was not prepared by the extent of the poverty in Los Angeles’ Skid Row.

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One of a Kind T-Shirt Line from the Desert

Linda Sibio, an artist and performance artist living in Joshua Tree, Calif., recently introduced a T-shirt collaboration with another desert artist Cody Montgomery.

Tuesday, December 3

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Outerknown Opens 1st Bricks-and-Mortar Flagship

Kelly Slater’s sustainable brand Outerknown opened its first bricks-and-mortar flagship on Nov. 26

Black Friday Weekend Sales Break Records

RETAIL

Black Friday shopping broke records, according to the National Retail Federation. During a Dec. 3 conference call, the Washington, D.C., retail trade group said that 189.6 million U.S. consumers shopped during the Black Friday Weekend.

Monday, December 2

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Isabel Marant, EB Denim, Please Do Not Enter To South Coast Plaza

A group of new boutiques helped start the holiday spirit at the luxe center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Continental Business Credit, Fast A/R Funding Acquired by Republic Business Credit

Finance

As Republic Business Credit continues its California expansion, the financing-and-factoring firm announced its acquisition of factoring and asset-based lender Continental Business Credit as well as Fast A/R Funding.

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American Giant To Los Angeles' Silver Lake Section

American Giant opened its first Los Angeles area shop Nov. 27.