Frederick's of Hollywood Closes All Stores
Retail
Frederick's of Hollywood ceases to exist in the world of bricks and mortar.
Wet Seal to Go Private
Philadelphia-headquartered Versa Capital Management LLC, announced April 15 that it completed its acquisition of troubled retailer The Wet Seal Inc. The deal for an undisclosed amount was approved by United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on April 1.
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th Expands in Northern California
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th opens a new store near Sacramento.
Fred Segal to Bow in Tokyo
Brand Extension
Fred Segal, a boutique compound best known for infusing a luxe sensibility in Los Angeles’ casual lifestyle, is scheduled to open its first international location on April 17 in Tokyo—and it will be different from anything that the pioneering boutique concept has done, said Paul Blum, Fred Segal’s chief executive officer.
Go Curvy’s Full Figured Trip to City Chic
Sherry Lee Meredith discusses all things in the full figured world for her web show Go Curvy. We liked it for its R&B theme song Go Curvy. Meredith also recently dropped by the City Chic store at the Glendale Galleria to discuss plus size fashion.
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th to Beverly Connection
Retail
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is opening its first store in Los Angeles County.
Globe Int’l’s Violence Ordinaire…At American Rag
Violence Ordinaire took American Rag CIE on April 9. The colloboration collection from Globe International and Desillusion Magazine took a bow at the high profile store with a party and a store window devoted to Violence Ordinaire.
Highlights Trends for Fall 2015 in Runway Show
Directives West
Scores of store buyers filled the Fashion Theater in the California Market Center in Los Angeles for a runway show that outlined some of the emerging Fall 2015 trends presented by the buying office Directives West.
Sean Jean Signs Licensing Agreement With Evy of California for Childrenswear
Manufacturing
Evy of California has signed a design, production and distribution licensing agreement with Sean “Diddy” Combs to produce his Sean John collection for girls and boys.
Kellwood Sells Outdoor Brand American Recreation
Manufacturing
Kellwood Holding LLC has sold its American Recreation Products LLC business to Exxel Outdoors LLC for an undisclosed amount.
Saks Promotes Metrick to President
Retail
Hudson’s Bay Co. named Marc Metrick president of the company’s Saks Fifth Avenue business, replacing Marigay McKee, who has left the company.
L.A. Apparel Maker Invests in New York SoHo Hotel
Manufacturing
It isn’t exactly Hotel California. Instead, it’s the NoMo SoHo hotel in lower Manhattan, which is under new ownership and a new name.
Venice Heights Takes a Stance for Indie Menswear on Abbot Kinney
Retail
The once raffish Abbot Kinney Boulevard has become one of Los Angeles’ most popular addresses for high-end boutique retail in the past few years.
Garment Factory Manager Indicted for Alleged Bribery of Labor Inspector
Manufacturing
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the general manager of a clothing factory for offering to bribe a labor investigator in exchange for closing down a wage-violation investigation.
Expanding in New Open-Booth Venue
LA Men’s Market
For its fourth run, the LA Men’s Market trade show went for a complete makeover.
Big-Name Retailers Turn Out for L.A. Majors Market
Trade Show
The Los Angeles Majors Market at the California Market Center kicked off on April 7 for its three-day run with a flurry of activity drawing buyers from department stores and specialty chains.
Retail Sales Results Mixed in March
Retail
In March, same-store sales for Gap’s Old Navy Global division skyrocketed 14 percent. However, same-store sales for its Gap Global division declined 7 percent, and its Banana Republic Global declined 3 percent.
Boho, Fur, Sports Luxe and Shaping Denim
Barbara Fields Forecast for Fall ’15
Look for the bohemian hippie-chic trend to continue for Fall ’16 with some new items such as the blanket coat, the fit and flare pant, the fur jacket, and ponchos in all lengths to drive the look forward.
Related Garments Gets Matchy Matchy
Some of the standout fashion categories of the past year or so spent much of their history being, well, ignored; yes, we’re talking about men’s underwear and socks. L.A.-based Related Garments offers matching socks and skivvies for guys. Does it go together like peanut butter and chocolate? Does it have the sex appeal of matching bra and panties for the ladies?! You be the judge. As of the posting of this blog, Related Garments was wrapping up a Kickstarter campaign.
