Tuesday, March 31
Pink’s Hot Dogs Gets a Taste of Fashion With Petals and Peacocks
FASHION
Pink’s Hot Dogs has been serving scores of different varieties of frankfurters for 81 years. Lately, it's been serving up fashion.
New Hire at IMC
TRADE SHOWS
Amid a shifting trade-show calendar, International Market Centers announced a new addition to its Buyer Services team.
Gap Inc. Furloughs Bricks-and-Mortar Employees
RETAIL
Gap Inc. is the latest large specialty retailer to announce that it would furlough its employees.
Fashion Manufacturers Mobilized by Government to Fight Coronavirus
MANUFACTURING
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, government and apparel manufacturers have started working together to compensate for a shortfall in personal protective equipment such as face masks and hospital gowns.
Monday, March 30
Macy’s to Furlough Most of Its Employees
RETAIL
The legacy department store Macy’s Inc. announced on March 30 that it would furlough most of its 125,000 employees beginning April 1.
Earlier Dates Secured for Rescheduled Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas
TRADE SHOWS
Event producer Messe Frankfurt’s Atlanta-based subsidiary, Messe Frankfurt North America, announced earlier this month that its sibling technical-textile and equipment trade shows Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas would be postponed until December due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.
Retailers React to Coronavirus Epidemic by Shifting More Biz Online
Retailers’ Online Shift
Hundreds of boutique owners are faced with an economy that has screeched to a halt, but many have been improvising and developing new ways to drive sales to their companies.
Thursday, March 26
Actor Ethan Cutkosky's Khaotic Collective Drops New Line
“The term that I like to use is psychedelic," Cutkosky said."‘Psy’ means mind. ‘Del’ means reveal. It’s mind revealing. A lot of the designs are based around those terms,” he said of Khaotic Collective
House Approves $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package
FINANCE
The United States House of Representatives approved a $2 trillion stimulus bill on March 27 as a response to the impact of COVID-19.
Bldwn Brand Shutters Business
MANUFACTURING
With its premium-denim roots in Kansas City, Mo., and Los Angeles, the Bldwn lifestyle brand quickly became a favorite in the fashion industry following its 2009 debut as Baldwin.
Wednesday, March 25
Color Bars x Aaliyah Launches as an Homage to Singer's Legacy
MANUFACTURING
Color Bars founder and skate-industry veteran Andy Netkin pays tribute to late music idol Aaliyah with a new collection that relies on archived imagery that has been archived for nearly 20 years.
Kingpins Launches Kingpins24; PI Apparel Postponements and FMNC Canceled
TRADE SHOWS
Navigating through the effects COVID-19 has had on the apparel industry, trade-show producers have been left with few options—postpone, cancel or start being a bit creative.
Asking for Help and Clear Communication Can Aid Businesses During Coronavirus Crisis
FINANCE
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, business consultants have been fielding questions regarding how companies can navigate the financial slowdowns that will impact their companies during the next quarter and beyond.
Tuesday, March 24
Alexandra Grant Gives Love to Project Angel Food Through Sale of Oscar de la Renta Designs
EVENTS
After her March 12 art exhibition at the Oscar de la Renta on Melrose Place was canceled due to COVID-19 fears, artist Alexandra Grant shifted the event into an online act of goodwill to benefit Project Angel Food.
Trading Fashion For Face Masks, Designers Respond to Coronavirus
The fashion business has ground to a halt because of the Coronavirus epidemic. But fashion designers and apparel manufacturers responded to the pandemic by changing their game.
Volcom Furloughs 75 Percent of Its Workers While Making Plans to Ramp Up
MANUFACTURING
Action-sports brand Volcom furloughed 75 percent of its U.S. employees last week and all of its European employees.
Monday, March 23
Candice Cuoco Talks On Making Styles for Lady Gaga’s "Stupid Love"
FASHION
Lady Gaga made a return to the dance floor last month when she released the song "Stupid Love." Like everything else Gaga, fashion was a big deal and Los Angeles designer Candice Cuoco made some styles for the "Stupid Love" video.
California Apparel Manufacturers Make Face Masks for COVID-19 Pandemic
MANUFACTURING
There has been a shortage of face masks and surgical gear as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses. Some California apparel manufacturers have stepped up to meet the challenge of serving the medical community and the public during this time.
Friday, March 20
Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James and Land’s End Dive Into Swimwear
MANUFACTURING
Reese Witherspoon and Land's End recently partnered to develop Draper James x Land’s End, a limited-edition women’s swimwear collection.
Ética Observes World Water Day With Water.org
MANUFACTURING
World Water Day falls on March 22 and ecologically conscientious denim and elevated-basics brand Ética is putting its money into its mission by supporting Water.org.
Thursday, March 19
Retailers Temporarily Close Stores Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Economy
Retailers and malls joined in the effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic by temporarily shuttering stores this week as the economies of California and the U.S. moved into a recession, said a report from the UCLA Anderson School, which was released on March 16
YJack to Launch in U.S. Offering Affordable T-shirts With a Luxurious Hand
Manufacturing
Following last month’s launch in Korea, the YJack brand is preparing to expand into the United States in April.
Apparel-Industry Trade-Show Organizers Realign Dates Due to COVID-19
Trade Shows
With the cancellation of the April Amsterdam edition of Kingpins earlier this month, it seemed to be only a matter of time until other apparel-industry event producers would begin to consider doing the same in the United States to help thwart the spread of COVID-19.
LA Textile Provides Opportunities for Sourcing Amid Supply-Chain Challenges
LA Textile
While the California Market Center has been undergoing a major renovation, LA Textile show producers still made space for its biannual trade show. During its March 4-6 run, exhibitors noticed attendees were interested in sourcing fabrics and notions to remain ahead of the coronavirus threats to the supply chain.
L.A. Market Gets In Under the Wire Before Multiple Trade-Show Cancellations
L.A. Market Week
The March edition of L.A. Market Week signaled one of the final opportunities for buyers to place orders before COVID-19 threats drove the apparel industry to cancel or postpone events for at least a few months.
Faves Aims To Help Retailers Make Sense of Budgets and Buys
Technology
Retailers can expect to meet scores—even hundreds—of people when they attend big trade shows and other buying trips. The experience can become a blur when a buyer tries to recall the styles he or she saw during shows, said Ulla Hald of the retail-technology company Faves Solutions, Inc., maker of the Faves Pro app for buyers.
Retail Trade Groups Say Dump Chinese Import Tariffs
Import/Export
On March 19, members of the retail industry’s leading trade groups joined in a letter asking President Trump to suspend U.S. tariffs in place on Chinese imports. The tariff suspension would serve as a tool to blunt the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic, they said.
Apparel News Group Responds to Effects of Coronavirus on the Industry
NEWS
At California Apparel News, we hope you are remaining safe and healthy as the coronavirus has reached a state of emergency in our country and around the world.
Wednesday, March 18
Vegan Fashion Week to Stream L.A. Show Following Fashion Week Postponements
Fashion
After the announcements that Art Hearts Fashion’s Los Angeles event and LA Fashion Week’s March edition would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vegan Fashion Week founder Emmanuelle Rienda remained steadfast that the April show would go on.
Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport, Deemed Essential and Will Remain Open
Import/Export
As regions of Northern California, including six Bay Area counties, prepared for shelter-in-place orders in response to COVID-19, the Port of Oakland announced on March 16 that it would remain open for business.
Tuesday, March 17
Trendy Golf Looks for a Los Angeles Hole-In-One
London headquartered e-tailer Trendy Golf opened its first physical store on Los Angeles’ La Brea Avenue. It ran from March 9 to March 15.
Tukatech Offers Complimentary Cloud License to Current CAD Users to Work Remotely
Technology
While the COVID-19 panedemic led some to make early attempts to capitalize on this tragic time, others have recognized an opportunity to become part of the solution.
Retailers Temporarily Close Stores, Adjust Hours, Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Retail
Store closures and reduced hours are some of the ways retailers have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic as leaders of two of the most influential trade groups urged consumers to be mindful of the virus’s issues when they shop.
Fashion District Activity Drops but Showroom Buildings Remain Open
NEWS
Showroom buildings in downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District remained open on March 16, when local and state governments urged businesses to work from home to blunt the spread of coronavirus.
Monday, March 16
Billabong Shines at 16th Annual SIMA Awards
Billabong Wins SIMA
The Billabong brand took trophies for three of the significant categories in the 16th SIMA Awards, the surf industry’s awards show.
Fashion Week Events in Los Angeles Postponed as Coronavirus Fears Grow
Fashion
Recent announcements from within the apparel industry have revealed that major Fashion Week events in Los Angeles will be postponed.
With the Coronavirus Spread, UCLA Economists Change 2020 Forecast
ECONOMY
Economists at the prominent UCLA Anderson School of Business revised their bullish forecast on the California and U.S. economies on March 12.
Friday, March 13
Billabong Goes Brighter with 2nd Billabong x Sincerely Jules Collection
Billabong developed a collaboration line with blogger and influencer Julie Sariñana of the Sincerely Jules line.
Incipio Unveils Plant-Based Mobile Case
MANUFACTURING
Using compostable material Organicore, mobile-accessories brand Incipio created plant-based protective-case designs, bringing an ecologically sound option to this category.
The Brixton Label Tries on Lucas Beaufort’s Art
Count on the Brixton brand to design headwear, chinos and flannels with vintage twist. But the Oceanside, Calif. – headquartered brand released a first on March 12.
Thursday, March 12
Sylvana Lankshear’s Paintings Take Cooper Lobby Gallery
EVENTS
The lobby gallery of the Cooper Design Space often exhibits artists such as Nike Schroeder and Chris Natrop. But for L.A. Market Week, the downtown Los Angeles showroom building gave space to one of its own.
Wednesday, March 11
The Show Goes On for Apart
RETAIL
Coronavirus quarantines made it difficult for Italian designers of the Apart showcase to travel, but showcase founder Paolo Galli said that the show must go on.
Gap Inc. Reopens NYC Office After Coronavirus False Alarm
Retail
Gap Inc. reopened its corporate office in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood after reports of an employee being diagnosed with coronavirus proved inaccurate, according to Bloomberg March 10.
Threats of Rain and Coronavirus Slightly Dampen L.A. Market Week
Trade Shows
During this edition of L.A. Market Week, when many showrooms at the California Market Center, the Cooper Design Space, the Gerry Building and The New Mart were exhibiting Fall, the rainy weather and fears of coronavirus put a bit of a damper on shopping excursions as buyers visited the downtown Los Angeles Fashion District.
Major Apparel and Retail Trade Groups Condemn Forced Labor in Chinese Supply Chains
Manufacturing
Leading American retail and manufacturing trade groups, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association, United States Fashion Industry Association and Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, issued a strong statement condemning forced labor.
Tuesday, March 10
L.A. Sneaker Resale Grows Bigger With The Laboratory
RETAIL
Los Angeles is a hub for the skyrocketing market of high-end sneaker consignment shops, and the market recently got bigger.
Kingpins Cancels Its April 2020 Amsterdam Edition
Trade Shows
Nearly one month following the announcement that its May Hong Kong edition would be canceled due to coronavirus fears, denim trade-show producer Kingpins announced the same fate for its April 2020 Amsterdam edition.
Monday, March 9
Robust Crowds at LA Textile
Trade Shows
Coronavirus did not put a big dent in robust crowds for the LA Textile trade show, which ran March 4–6 at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Friday, March 6
Nicholas Mayfield and LRG Collaborate With Chip Tha Ripper
MANUFACTURING
Bringing Chip Tha Ripper home was the objective of designer Nicholas Mayfield's latest collaboration with the rapper and clothing brand Lifted Research Group.
Thursday, March 5
Onzie Celebrates 10 Years of Outfitting Active Women
Onzie Turns 10
With a passion for yoga, Kimberly Swarth, founder of the Los Angeles–manufactured active-apparel brand Onzie, has created colorful and uniquely patterned clothing that remains authentic to the culture.
Luxury Designs Come Alive at The Novus Forum
Trade Shows
During its seventh edition, hosted Feb. 9–11 at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City, The Novus Forum produced a show that was elegant yet afforded a minimalist setting in which designers for the luxury market such as Gemy Maalouf and Gatti Nolli by Marwan could showcase their most recent creations.
Oublier Collective Stands Up for Big and Tall
Manufacturing
When people saw the 6-foot, 6-inch Jamaal Carroll walk into a room, they generally assumed he was a jock. While Carroll played football in high school in Huntsville, Ala., he felt that he had more to offer by making clothes for the big-and-tall category, which includes men taller than 6’1” and weighing more than 200 pounds.
Richer Poorer Tries On A Full Collection
MANUFACTURING
About a decade ago, Richer Poorer was known as a company that made comfortable socks with interesting designs. Fast forward to its Spring/Summer 2020 season, Richer Poorer, based in the action sports hub of Orange County, Calif., will be rolling out its first full collection.
Priorities in 3-D and Sustainability at PI Apparel Los Angeles
Technology
In the region where the United States film industry reigns, MarketKey hosted its Los Angeles edition of PI Apparel Feb. 19–20 at the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown.
Will James Perse Design a Robertson Revival?
Retail
The James Perse brand is scheduled to open its highly anticipated furniture and home flagship and café this month within an 11,000-square-foot emporium on 141 N. Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood, Calif.
Wednesday, March 4
Koio’s Footwear Collaboration With L.A. Sculptor
MANUFACTURING
A lot of sneaker collaborations match the efforts of a fashion brand with a footwear brand or a pop-culture star with a shoe brand. Italian-made leather brand Koio recently collaborated with Bradley Duncan, a Los Angeles sculptor.
Curve Launches New Show for L.A.’s Intimates Businesses
L.A. Curves
Moving into a new space for 2020, Eurovet’s Curve trade show launched its Los Angeles edition Feb. 23–24 at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach hotel.
Sustainable Progress and Next Steps on the Table at Artisan Cloth’s Innovation Celebration
Manufacturing
Sustainable fashion is on the rise, with brands increasingly describing their products as sustainable and market research stating that consumer interest is developing for sustainability. The Artisan Cloth Inc. showroom recently organized an event, Innovation Celebration 2020, where speakers discussed what was happening in sustainability behind the buzzwords and the hype.
Tuesday, March 3
Black Design Collective Announces Pyer Moss Founder Kerby Jean-Raymond as Honoree
Fashion
Preparing to host its second annual Scholarship Gala on April 18, non-profit organization The Black Design Collective has announced that it will honor Pyer Moss founder and Reebok Studies Creative Director, Kerby Jean-Raymond during the event.
Pantone Keeps Pace With Industry Demand by Introducing New Colors, Digital Updates
Manufacturing
Expanding on its existing portfolio, Carlstadt, N.J.-based color authority Pantone announced today that it introduced 315 new colors to its Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System, along with updated digital offerings to support the fresh products.
Levi’s Unveils Balloon Fit Line
MANUFACTURING
The Levi’s brand released a new collection, called Balloon Fit, on March 2. Levi’s new women’s line features an exaggerated curve leg with a mix of fashion and Levi’s classic looks said Jill Guenza, Levi’s vice president of global women’s design.
Monday, March 2
Melissa Mercedes Debuts Satori
FASHION
Designer Melissa Mercedes produced her first solo fashion presentation at Blnk East art gallery in Los Angeles’ hip Echo Park section on Feb. 29.
Art Hearts Fashion’s N.Y. Edition Showcases California Designers
Designer Details
Artistic details dominated the runway during Art Hearts Fashion in New York as designers unveiled their prowess creating finery to reflect their visions for women’s formalwear, men’s suiting, casual pieces and everything in between.
New Group to Map Where Millions of Tons of Textile Waste Goes
MANUFACTURING
A new sustainability initiative, Accelerating Circularity, announced that it is working with major apparel companies such as Gap Inc., Target Corp. and VF Corp. to chart ways to eliminate textile-industry waste and recycle it into new fibers and materials, according to a Feb. 25 announcement.
Independent Director Appointed to Deckers Board
MANUFACTURING
Effective March 1, Juan R. Figuereo joined the Board of Directors for Goleta, Calif.-based Deckers Brands, parent company of footwear, apparel and accessories brands including UGG, Koolaburra, Hoka One, Teva and Sanuk.
