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.
South Coast Plaza Unveils Curbside Shopping Program
RETAIL
California retailers got the green light to offer curbside service last week, where shoppers can park in front of a store and pick up goods. South Coast Plaza recently unveiled a curbside-shopping operation for its 2.8 million-square-foot center in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Fashion Superstar Virgil Abloh Helps with A Hip-Hop Merch Project
FASHION
Need to add some oomph to a music-merchandise project? Just add a fashion superstar who is associated with a music-merchandise project.
Venturing Into the Virtual-Trade-Show Space
Trade Shows
Since the onset of the COVID-19 shutdowns, much of the globe’s businesses deemed nonessential have strategized to conduct meetings, engage in commerce and reach consumers in ways executives could never have imagined. While trade shows across industries have increased their digital platforms over the last few years to ease attendee navigation of event layouts and facilitate meetings between exhibitors and visitors, new event strategies have led the apparel segment to go virtual.
Are digital trade-show tools and virtual events here to stay?
Trade Shows
Since late last year, COVID-19 has been causing widespread turmoil around the globe. As many apparel companies attempt to keep their clients and customers safe—while trying to remain in business—they are looking to their trusted partners for new paths to buying and selling.
Ace Rivington Steps Between Big Brands and Indie Denim Styles
A New World
Amid a new apparel landscape, Ace Rivington remains steadfast in its mission to deliver expertly crafted, made–in–Los Angeles denim, as it moves closer to launching new product that is just on the horizon for Fall.
Stevi Goetz Leaves a Legacy of Elegance, Kindness in the Apparel Industry
Trade Shows
Known for her genuine, welcoming personality, apparel-industry veteran Stevi Goetz passed away April 28 at the age of 83. Following the escalation of a long illness, Goetz left the world peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Los Angeles’ Century City neighborhood.
Post-COVID-19 Market Will Have Place For Indie Retail, Experts Say
Indie Retail Reign
The COVID-19 crisis is forecasted to make major changes in the retail business, and, when the dust from the crisis settles, some of the entrepreneurs best positioned to start over and make a connection with consumers will be independent retailers, according to a handful of industry watchers.
California’s Face Mask Biz Becomes More Sophisticated
Safety and Style
A generation of California manufacturers and designers completed a crash course on making nonmedical face masks in the past two months, and they are currently striving to go beyond the basics.
‘Ethical Fashion Talks’ Launches to Maintain Momentum of Vegan Fashion Week
FASHION
After postponing her April edition of Vegan Fashion Week that was planned for Los Angeles, founder and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuelle Rienda brainstormed regarding how she could spread a message of cruelty-free fashion, as stay-at-home orders in the city continued to be extended due to COVID-19.
RCGD Returns to Its Roots With Sustainable-Design Competition
FASHION
While the Suzy Amis Cameron-founded Red Carpet Green Dress has been committed to supporting responsible garment design at the luxury level since its launch in 2009, there has been an important part missing from its mission for the last four years.
Simon G. Jewelry Adopts DTC Offering to Benefit Retailers
RETAIL
As bricks-and-mortar retailers continue to struggle due to social distancing and stay-at-home orders that are keeping consumers out of stores, other fashion-industry players are examining methods to help these retail partners.
