2014 Retrospective: Apparel Employment: Looking Beyond the Numbers
Manufacturing
California continues to be the apparel manufacturing center of the United States, thanks to a steady interest in quick-turn delivery and made-in-America production. But that position is maintained by an increasingly lean employment base.
Parker & Barrow Store Opening on Broadway
Downtown Retail
Parker & Barrow store with custom-made clothes opening in downtown Los Angeles.
Tiniest Flagship
LAEX
Alexander Khater,owner/creative director of the 2-year-old downtown Los Angeles brand LAEX, planned to turn conventional wisdom on its head with the firstLAEX flagship, which opened Dec. 8 at 218 W. Eighth St., on the corner of Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles.
Shawmut Names New CEO
Retail
Shawmut Design & Construction has worked on many high-marquee projects on Rodeo Drive and has also done work on the Saint Laurent flagship on Rodeo and Louis Vuitton, which is scheduled to take a bow in the first quarter of 2015.
L.A. Made, Accessible to All
Mark and Estel
Music has been at the heart of the Mark and Estel brand since it was launched in 2005 by Mark Tango and Estel Day.
Venue Tradeshow Grows with New Dates, New Location
Trade Show
Miles Canares, Venue’s founder, recently announced major changes to the biannual show’s schedule and a new location for the show. However, the event willcontinue to mostly be devoted to men’s streetwear and emerging brands.
Shepard Fairey, Bob Hurley to Speak at Agenda Emerge
Agenda Emerge is something like TED Talks for the streetwear, action sports and fashion crowds. At the upcoming Agenda Emerge, Shepard Fairey of Obey and Bob Hurley of Hurley will take the stage.
American Apparel Managers Write Letter Urging Board to Keep Charney On After Hiring New CEO
After American Apparel’s board announced its decision on Dec. 16 to fire Dov Charney as the clothing company’s president and chief executive, a group of 30 managers and directors wrote a letter saying they wanted the controversial founder to stay on in some capacity
Will.i.am To District La Brea
For months, shop-owners around the District La Brea compound in Los Angeles heard gossip that will.i.am, Grammy award winner and entrepreneur, was going to open a shop in the compound, which is located across the street from pioneering specialty store American Rag. The music star’s shop opened today.
American Apparel Fires Dov Charney, Hires New CEO
Executive Shift
After months of deliberating, a special committee appointed by the American Apparel board of directors decided on Dec. 16 to fire company founder Dov Charney as its chief executive and president. He had been working as a paid consultant during the investigation, an arrangement
Bringing Hip Hop Home: Karl Kani’s 25th at WildStyle
Karl Kani, one of the heavyweights of urban fashion stepped back into the ring on Dec. 13.
Wiggett Named Bebe CEO
Executive Moves
Jim Wiggett was named as the permanent chief executive officer for Bebe Stores Inc.
The Mysterious Los Vladimirovich Pops
Men’s fashion labels don’t come more mysterious than Los Vladimirovich. California Apparel News investigates.
Altamont Continues Its Action-Sports Play
Manufacturing
In November, the Palo Alto, Calif.–headquartered private-equity firm announced that it had made significant investments in action-sports brands Huf Worldwide Inc. of Los Angeles and Brixton, which is headquartered in Oceanside, Calif.
2014 Newsmakers: Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Minimum Wage Proposal
Manufacturing | Retail
On July 1, the minimum wage in California increased from $8 per hour to $9 per hour, the first increase in California’s minimum wage since 2008. In 2016, the minimum wage will increase to $10 per hour,
2014 Newsmakers: Iconic L.A. Retail Tests the Waters in Las Vegas
Retail
High-end shopping has been part of the Las Vegas Strip experience for years, but 2014 was the first time Los Angeles retail came to the strip.
2014 Newsmakers: Staci Riordan and The Fashion Law Project
Legal
Attorney Staci Riordan is known for having a lot of energy and creative ideas swirling around in her head.
2014 Newsmakers: Frances Harder and Fashion Business Inc.
Manufacturing
Since 1999, Fashion Business Inc. has been helping small apparel companies grow their businesses through its series of courses, workshops and webinars.
2014 Newsmakers: Avery Dennison RBIS Opens Innovation Center in Downtown L.A.
Technology | Manufacturing
For its third Customer Design and Innovation Center, or CDIC, Glendale, Calif.–based Avery Dennison’s Retail Branding and Information Solutions unit (RBIS) looked to downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, where the branding, packaging and technology solutions company opened a 15,000-square-foot facility on East Third Street in September.
