Industry Focus: Technology—By the End of 2021, What Type of Technology Will Make the Largest Impact on the Fashion Industry and How Can Apparel Professionals Prepare?
Industry Focus: Technology
One of the most important lessons professionals in the fashion industry learned during the past year was the crucial role that technology plays in cultivating an apparel business. From supply chain and sourcing to design, manufacturing and retail, different technologies have helped save businesses in every corner of the industry.
Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas Opens in City’s Downtown
Trade Shows
In time for the return of on-site trade shows in 2021, International Market Centers hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 9 for its new Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas in the city’s downtown area. The $103.5 million project by IMC’s parent company, Blackstone, was completed over three years.
Levi’s Raises Outlook After Releasing First Quarter Results
Finance
Denim giant Levi Strauss & Co. continues to navigate the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. For its first financial quarter of 2021, released April 8, the brand reported net revenues of $1.3 billion, down 13 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year. The decline was attributed to closures of company-operated stores as well as third-party retail locations.
Onitsuka To Rodeo Drive, Other Brands Open New Stores
RETAIL
Japanese footwear-and-apparel brand Onitsuka Tiger opened its first West Coast flagship last month at 474 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Andrew Hanson Unveils Clothing That Speaks
ART MEETS FASHION BASICS
Andrew Hanson hopes to go beyond labels with Clothing That Speaks, his Los Angeles–based emerging fashion line that made its official debut in January.
Skechers to DTLA
RETAIL
Skechers, the Manhattan Beach, Calif.-headquartered footwear-and-apparel company, recently unveiled a sign for its new bricks-and-mortar store in downtown Los Angeles.
FreedomPay and Foot Locker Announce Partnership
CONTACTLESS PAYMENT
Seeking greater payment security and flexibility, the New York–headquartered Foot Locker, Inc., and Philadelphia’s FreedomPay announced that the FreedomPay Next Level Commerce platform would be implemented across the athletic retailer’s more than 2,000 stores in the United States.
Teller, a High-End Multi-brand Women’s Boutique, Opens at Platform
RETAIL
The multi-brand boutique was once the dominant business model for fashion retail. David Fishbein and Joey Miller, the co-founders of The Platform boutique retail center in Culver City, Calif., believe a lot of potential remains in the business model.
Bright L.A. Fashion Star Jiyeon Lee Designs for Shein
FASHION DESIGN
After working with brands such as Cult Gaia, Flynn Skye, Genetic Los Angeles and A.L.C., Los Angeles designer Jiyeon Lee is creating her own designs for Shein X, the fast-fashion e-tailer’s program that supports emerging artists.
Meler Productions Goes Secret Agent With James Bond-Inspired Show
FASHION
About 68 years after the first James Bond novel was published, the world of the fictional secret agent continues to fascinate.
OC Fashion Week Pulls Out the Stops With Help From Pol’ Atteu Beverly Hills
FASHION EVENTS
OC Fashion Week produced its 24th season on March 22 with a group of designers who displayed Spring 2021 styles at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Los Angeles and Other Counties Relax COVID Restrictions, Retail Widens Capacity
EVENTS
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health gave the go ahead Monday for the area’s businesses to advance to the less-strict orange tier of COVID-19 restrictions.
Spring Blossoms for Ige's Paper Design House Brand
FASHION RETAIL
Helene Ige has been selling one-of-a-kind designs, homewares and objets d’art at her self-named Ige lifestyle gallery in Los Angeles. She also has been making fashion for the Paper Design House brand.
Le Brume Jardin Opens
RETAIL
Le Brume Jardin, a new Los Angeles-based sustainable jewelry, clothing and accessories store, recently took a bow.
Luxury Brands Partner With The RealReal for Earth Month Upcycled Collection
LUXURY RESALE
The beginning of April ushers in the start of Earth Month and, to celebrate, The RealReal announced a partnership with eight luxury brands to present the inaugural release of pieces from its new ReCollection upcycling program.
CGS Welcomes Daniella Ambrogi as Global Marketing Director
Technology
New York–headquartered Computer Generated Solutions recently announced the hire of Daniella Ambrogi as the company’s global marketing director. In her role, Ambrogi will be responsible for CGS’ global marketing strategy for fashion, footwear, accessories and consumer-lifestyle goods.
Matthew Mathiasen Promoted to CMC Senior Events Manager
Trade Shows
Downtown Los Angeles’ California Market Center recently announced the promotion of Matthew Mathiasen to the role of senior events manager. A fashion and events veteran, the role is a natural fit for Mathiasen, who has spent much of his career devoted to this space, most recently as the CMC’s manager of buyer and community relations, a position that he fulfilled since joining Brookfield Properties, the site’s property manager, in 2018.
Levi’s Brings Back the Levi’s Red Collection
Retro in Red
As fashion continues to trend toward the 1990s, Levi Strauss & Co. envisioned a new approach to its Levi’s Red collection, which was released late in the decade, as it relied on silhouettes similar to the original with modern sustainable fabrications.
B2B E-Commerce Marketplace Heats Up As NuOrder Announces Major Investment
Technology
The market for business-to-business e-commerce platforms has been heating up in the last year. The Los Angeles–headquartered technology company NuOrder announced last month that it had raised $45 million in a round of funding led by venture capital firms Brighton Park Capital and Imaginary Ventures.
