Forever 21 Unveils Giant Solar Project
Retail
The company announced on Jan. 21 that its headquarters in Los Angeles’ Lincoln Heights neighborhood has gone solar. The retailer installed a 5.1-megawatt high-efficiency SunPower solar-power system.
Kellwood Names New CEO
Manufacturing
On Jan. 19, the New York–headquartered Kellwood announced that Joseph Lombardi, the former chief financial officer of Barnes & Noble, a major bookseller, was named the fashion company’s chief executive officer. Lombardi will assume his responsibilities helming Kellwood immediately.
Prana Names New Director of International Sales
Manufacturing
Prana, the lifestyle and yoga line headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., is going more global with the appointment of Pacho Bedoya as its new director of international sales. He begins his new job on Feb. 2.
New American Apparel CEO Outlines New Path
Retail
Fashion veteran Paula Schneider formally took the reins of the downtown Los Angeles–based company on Jan. 5, and she held a conference call with Wall Street analysts on Jan. 20 to talk about where she wanted to guide the brand, which makes its basic clothes for women, men and children in California.
Container Volumes Rise with the Business Tide at Local Ports
Import & Export
The Port of Los Angeles reported that in 2014, cargo-container volumes were up 6 percent over the previous year. Total volumes reached 8.34 million 20-foot containers, which is the third busiest year for the port.
More Business for Giant T-shirt Market
ISS Long Beach
With screen-printing machines whirring and salespeople talking about the next big thing in T-shirts, the Imprinted Sportswear Show Long Beach ran Jan. 16–18 at the Long Beach Convention Center, located by one of America’s busiest ports, in Long Beach, Calif.
SoCal Materials Show Debuts
Bustling Traffic
The debut run of the SoCal Materials Show got off to a brisk start as manufacturers and brands crowded the aisles of the California Market Center’s penthouse on the hunt for sourcing materials for footwear, accessories and apparel.
Morphew's Awards Season Pop-Up
It’s awards season in Los Angeles, the time when the fashion world and the entertainment industry collectively go gaga over the red carpet gown. Enter Morphew, a luxury online retail platform, which aims to say something unique with its red carpet pop-up shop.
Beckham’s New Clothes
Hey L.A., miss David Beckham after he left the Galaxy soccer team? Sure you do. But the essence of Becks will be in L.A. area H&M stores. Around March 5, a new line Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham will be stocked at H&M in addition to David Beckham Bodywear Collection. Here's a peek. C'mon, take a look...
Target's Critical Style
Fashion Collab x Blogger Influence
Prior to the launch of its new plus-size line Ava & Viv, Target brought in the fashion critics.
LA Design Student Shows in Hong Kong
Fashion
Woodbury University graduate shows her student collection at Hong Kong Fashion Week.
The Dashiki Strikes Back…with Royal Kulture
When Kevin Afuwah rapped under the moniker ThatAfricanKev, he always made sure to wear a dashiki, a colorful West African shirt. Later, he put his own stamp on the iconic shirt, specifically the logo Royal 1. Voila, Afuwah started his line Royal Kulture.On Jan. 17, Royal Kulture held a viewing event in downtown Los Angeles.
GGeisha’s Fashion Underbelly
It’s a new year, and for the notorious GGeisha, flipping the calendar means a new party. Welcome to the new monthly, Underbelly.
California Needs Its Own Fabric
And the Official Textile Is...
A Massachusetts lawmaker has introduced a bill to make gingham (the cotton fabric, not the familiar plaid) the “official textile of the Commonwealth.”
Lights! Camera! Fashion!
MBFW Berlin’s Pitch-Perfect Parody
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin has released an ad that perfectly captures the unattainable cool, lush photography and WAY-too-serious absurdity of fashion advertising.
Wet Seal Files Chapter 11
Juniors retailer The Wet Seal Inc. announced Jan. 16 that it has filed a voluntary petition for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Wildfox Swim Shows Off Cruise '15 Collection
Fashion
Wildfox Swim goes from the runway to the retailer with Cruise '15 collection.
Surfin’ Byrd’s Board Comb
The trade show season’s major surf friendly trade shows; Agenda and Surf Expo, have already wrapped up successful events. But we still have surf on the mind. And look what popped up! A comb made out of surfboard fins by grooming company Byrd and boarding company Futures Fins. Cowabunga!
Wells Fargo Opens Commercial Banking Office in New York
Finance
Wells Fargo opened a new commercial banking office in New York to better serve the city’s $98 billion apparel industry.
Small January Market in L.A. Proves to be a Hit with Locals and Upbeat Retailers
LA Fashion Market
The first Los Angeles Fashion Market of 2015 proved to be surprisingly upbeat for many exhibitors, who reported seeing steady traffic from primarily West Coast retailers.
