HBO Max Launch Includes Underground Ballroom Competition ‘Legendary’
FASHION
Along with the launch of its HBO Max streaming bundle, Warner Media Group also unveiled television program “Legendary,” a reality competition based on the fantastic world of underground ballroom culture.
Cult Gaia Boosts Art By Telling Fans To Create
The Cult Gaia fashion house recently wrapped up social media campaign #CultGaiaLetsCreate.
L.A. Mayor Gives Green Light To Reopen Retail
RETAIL
After more than six weeks of being required to shut down operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, boutiques and independent shops were given the green light to reopen on May 27, announced Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
GabiFresh Launches New Collection with Swimsuits for All
SWIM/SURF
For Summer 2020, designer and fashion blogger Gabi Gregg—also known as GabiFresh—teamed up with Swimsuits For All on a new collection that celebrates Gregg's style evolution.
Dallas Market Center Announces New Dates for Men’s Market
TRADE SHOWS
Following the announcement earlier this month that its June Apparel & Accessories Market would be hosted June 23–26, the Dallas Market Center revealed today that its Men’s Market would be held Aug. 14–17.
Target Corp. Joins Instagram’s Checkout Shopping App
TECHNOLOGY
Facebook Inc. introduced a shopping feature for Instagram last week.
Pol’ Atteu Shifts from Glamorous Gown Design to Mask Donations Benefiting Homeless
FASHION
After non-essential businesses closed in Los Angeles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Beverly Hills couture designer Pol’ Atteu and his partner, Patrik Simpson, have shifted from selling out of the designer's boutique to make masks from their home, but also contribute to the community by protecting the homeless population.
Rodeo Drive Podcast Will Spotlight Glam Past and What is Next for Luxe District
RETAIL
A new digital site for Rodeo Drive is going to go audio.
Informa Markets Fashion Postpones August Trade Shows, Announces Provisional Fall Dates
TRADE SHOWS
Apparel-industry trade-show organizer Informa Markets Fashion announced that it would postpone the August edition of its biannual Las Vegas events.
Mossimo Giannulli Pleads Guilty in College Bribery Scam
LEGAL
Designer Mossimo Giannulli and his actor wife, Lori Loughlin, best known for playing Aunt Becky on the sitcom “Full House,” which ran from 1987 to 1992, agreed to plead guilty for their involvement in the Operation Varsity Blues college-admissions bribery scandal that dominated national news in 2019.
Cotton Heritage Distributes Masks and Groceries To Hundreds
Cotton Heritage, a manufacturer of blank T-shirts and fleece located in Commerce, Calif., produced an event May 17 where it donated its masks, as well as groceries, to hundreds of people at its headquarters.
LAFD Fights Fire at Fabric Building
MANUFACTURING
The Los Angeles Fire Department fought a fire at a downtown Los Angeles building owned by textile wholesale Lavitex earlier this week.
BDC Launches COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund to Aid Underrepresented Designers
FASHION
Founded to cultivate design talent in the industry by elevating black designers and apparel makers, the Black Design Collective announced last week the launch of its COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund.
Reynaldo Aquino Strives for Simplicity With Hoodie Scarves
FASHION
Reynaldo Aquino started his Fortis Orbis Atelier menswear brand by making outerwear; mostly jackets and vests, with the inspiration of dystopian worlds from science fiction.
JustFab’s Recipe To Serve Shelter-in-Place Styles
Los Angeles-headquartered direct-to-consumer brand JustFab has made a business out of reading consumers’ moods and serving styles that hopefully will reflect the season.
Centric Brands Files For Bankruptcy, Marquee Retakes BCBG License
MANUFACTURING
The latest company to be forced into bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 crisis is Centric Brands Inc., which owns labels such as Robert Graham, Hudson and Zac Posen. It also makes and sells products for more than 100 licensed brands such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica and Under Armour.
Levi’s Celebrates 501 Day With a Virtual Concert and Exclusive Collabs
MANUFACTURING
May 20 is 501 Day, or the 147th anniversary of a patent that started the denim world as we know it.
State Senate Committee Approves New Garment-Worker Wage-Theft Bill
LEGAL
Labor leaders received a boost on May 14 when SB 1399, the Garment Worker Protection Act, was approved by four out of five members of the California State Senate’s Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. Now, SB 1399 moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee, no hearing on the bill has been scheduled.
July Edition of Miami’s SwimShow Canceled
TRADE SHOWS
Amid the planning of cities and states reopening for business across the United States, only plans for interaction on a small scale, such as curbside pickup at retailers, crowd-size control and socially distanced dining, have been considered during this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
April Retail Sales Drop 16.4 Percent Due to COVID-19 Shutdowns
RETAIL
Retail sales in the United States for April dropped 16.4 percent compared to March. April sales declined 21.6 percent in a year-over-year comparison, according to numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
