Tuning In to the Fashionable Fringe
Refinery29 is slated to roll out the second season of its “Style Out There” video series, which profiles independent designers, subcultures and trends.
Lawsuit By Former Finance Director Cites American Apparel for Financial Misdeeds and Discrimination
David Nisenbaum, the fired director of manufacturing accounting analysis and audit at American Apparel, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 20 against his former employer. He maintains he was wrongfully fired because questioned the financial actions of John Luttrell, the chief financial officer of the company at the time Dov Charney was still the president and chief executive.
H&M: Drop off old clothes and Clean Up California
The State of California set a goal of recycling and composting 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020. Looks like H&M is helping out with that goal. People can drop off old/unwanted clothing and textiles at any H&M store. In return, participants will receive 20 percent off of their next H&M purchase.
Frederick’s of Hollywood Has Buyer in Mind With Bankruptcy Filing
With a mountain of debt piling up, Frederick’s of Hollywood filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after closing all its stores.
Michael Stars Launches 'Artisan Collection' From Haiti
Retail
Michael Stars stores will carry jackets made by Haitian artisans.
Theodore Beverly Hills Posts Store Closing Signs
It might be time to say farewell to pioneering boutique Theodore in Beverly Hills, which has sold contemporary and designer fashion in the wealthy city of Beverly Hills since the late 1960s. Big signs bearing the messages “Store Closing Sale!” and “Lost Our Lease” were posted in the windows of the Theodore boutique located at 336 N. Camden Dr., a few blocks from Rodeo Drive where the store started business in 1969. It moved to Camden Drive in 2008.
Rosario Dawson’s Fashion Rising, Seal & Others at Opening Ceremony
Actress Rosario Dawson produced a reception for her company Studio One Eighty Nine, which showcases and celebrates fashion, arts and content from Africa. The reception was held April 17 at Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. Jessica Alba, Seal and Shaun Ross joined in the fun.
Workers File Lawsuit Against American Apparel as Unionization Efforts Heat Up
Three workers fired from American Apparel have filed a federal class-action lawsuit maintaining they were not given enough legal notice or severance pay before they were dismissed.
California Dreaming Debut
Wolk Morais
The California dream of tearing down convention and crafting an independent ethos is a serious goal and inspiration for designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais.
Good Advice for Young Designers
Brand Building
Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez sat down on April 15 at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York with Vogue’s Sally Singer and dished out some solid advice for budding designers.
Fashion Week San Diego
Fall Flaunt
For this collection, Rich used dye-sublimation printing to incorporate original art and photography in his made-in-America designs.
Industry Voices: All Star Offensive: Converse Turns to the ITC to Protect Its Chucks Brand
Legal
Late last year, Nike’s Converse Inc. went on the offensive against 31 companies claiming that the companies are infringing upon a configuration of elements Converse claims are protected by trademark law
PLM’s Next Step: Can Maturing Tech Foster Fashion Innovation?
Technology
High-profile fashion brands and apparel companies such as VF Corp., Billabong International Limited, Jerry Leigh and Stony Apparel Corp. all use product lifecycle management software to design clothes and bring them to market, but PLM vendors hope to make their software do even more.
Open Style Lab: Making Apparel Accessible to All
Technology
With a mission “to make style accessible to people of all abilities,” the interdisciplinary research and development project seeks to find ways of “creating innovative wearable solutions for people with disabilities.”
More Uncertainty over the ‘Made in USA’ Label
Manufacturing
A second federal judge’s ruling is making California apparel makers think twice about how they use their “Made in USA” labels.
Quarterly Report: Finding the Secret Formula to Luring in Cautious Consumers
Finance
In the last year, gas prices in California have fallen 26 percent and the state’s unemployment rate has shrunk 1.3 percent, but skittish shoppers are still acting like there is a recession.
Two True Religion Apparel Sub-Contractors Arrested for Fraud Scheme
Manufacturing
Two sisters who ran separate garment factories working for True Religion were arrested with their accountant on April 15 for allegedly trying to defraud the state workers’ compensation insurance funds.
Burberry's London in Los Angeles
The venerable Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles was the backdrop for science field trips for thousands of students, the knife fight in the much ballyhooed 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause--- and on the night of April 16, there’s the London in Los Angeles fashion show produced by Brit brand Burberry.
