Levi’s Unveils Black History Month Campaign and Collection
Making Black History
Fashion brands and retailers are observing Black History Month during February with special capsule collections and support for African-American designers and creatives.
From a Love for Heritage Women’s Denim, AMO Grows Its Community Commitment
Manufacturing
Established in Los Angeles with its founding in 2014 and the release of its Spring 2015 collection, AMO founders Kelly Urban and Misty Zollars—both alumnae of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising—are also true-blue Los Angeles denimheads.
Remaining True to Everyday Luxury, Catherine Gee Fall/Winter 2021 Adds an Edge
Luxury on the Edge
Designing a Fall/Winter 2021 collection while maintaining her elegant approach to luxury, Catherine Gee allowed an edginess to influence her California sensibilities, thereby generating pieces that she has named the “New York Edit.”
What's Checking: Indie Retailers Ramp Up Digital Commerce During Pandemic
What’s Checking: Digital
The COVID-19 pandemic forced retailers across industries to go on a crash course developing and scaling up their e-commerce. For many in the apparel industry, this platform saved their businesses. Applying principles of convenience to allure customers to their shops, including personal styling, shopping-incentive discounts, complimentary delivery and curbside pickup, fashion businesses also relied on selling through digital boutiques.
Project Digital’s Sophomore Run Includes CFDA Partnership, Concierge Service
Trade Shows
Informa Market Fashion’sclassic- and contemporary-menswear trade show Project rolled out its first virtual trade event, Project Digital, during Summer 2020 in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Jan. 19, working with the e-commerce wholesale-platform partner NuOrder, Project Digital started a sophomore run, and show producers will further develop certain programs they started testing during the summer.
NRF Big Show Charts How Retail Survived COVID
Retail
The National Retail Federation’s NRF 2021: Retail’s Big Show—Chapter One, an annual exposition that produces seminars and keynote addresses by industry stars, went virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MySizeID Brings Virtual Measurement Tool to Footwear Category
Technology
Since 2015, MySize Inc. has built a business on developing technology to enhance smartphone-measurement tools. One of its main products, MySizeID, is a smartphone-based body-measurement tool that was developed to help brands and retailers deliver ready-to-wear products that would best fit their customers.
Patel Named Beverly Center GM
Retail
Taubman Properties recently announced that Elvina Patel was named general manager of the high-profile Los Angeles Beverly Center, a mall that focuses on high-end fashion, such as Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada.
Traffic Congestion at Ports of L.A. and Long Beach at High Levels
Import/Export
Cargo-ship congestion at California ports and those located around the United States is at some of the highest levels in years due to supply-chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help break up the congestion, on Feb. 1 the Port of Los Angeles started an incentive program to move trucks more efficiently and at a faster pace through its terminals, said Gene Seroka, the port’s executive director.
Shantelle Brumfield of Yarn Movement Unveils Initiatives for Black—and Making—History Month
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Yarn Movement founder and creative director Shantelle Brumfield—also known as S.LadyBug—has big plans to celebrate and make history during this year's Black History Month.
Vizit Rolls Out Algorithm That Ranks Visual Images’ Consumer Effectiveness
ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE
Jehan Hamedi spent the past few years developing artificial-intelligence software that helps understand public opinion. The result of Hemedi’s efforts was a technology company called Vizit
Strong Start for 2021 Trade-Show Season at Dallas Market
TRADE EVENTS
Buyer attendance was up during the recent Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market, with first-time visitors flocking to the event at the Dallas Market Center following a lackluster 2020.
Vans Foot the Bill Initiative Returns, Will Support Black-Owned Businesses in February
RETAIL
With the return of its "Foot the Bill" campaign, action-sports brand Vans is supporting small businesses. During February, all partners will be Black-owned businesses with additional actions taken during Black History Month to support these retailers.
Kitson to Pacific Palisades
RETAIL
Kitson boutiques are on the move, as founder Fraser Ross opened a new, permanent location at 15248 Sunset Blvd., in Los Angeles’ exclusive Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 28.
Insight into Luxe Resale With The RealReal’s Debut ‘Luxury Consignment Report’
TRENDS IN LUXURY RESALE
As apparel resale continues to gain momentum, San Francisco–headquartered luxury marketplace The RealReal recently issued its 2021 “Luxury Consignment Report.”
AG Celebrates 20 Years With Several New Collections
ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
The Los Angeles–based denim and knitwear label AG is observing its 20th anniversary in 2021 and will celebrate by rolling out a number of collections throughout the year.
Playboy X Steve Aoki's Dim Mak Unveiled
FASHION
The Playboy magazine mascot of a rabbit wearing a bowtie has been one of the most recognizable pop-culture images of the past 65 years. Recently, Playboy Labs, a new division of Playboy Enterprises, has been finding new ventures for the Playboy Bunny,
NuOrder Unveils New B2B Payment System
DIGITAL PAYMENTS
NuOrder, a Los Angeles–headquartered business-to-business e-commerce platform, announced Jan. 25 that it has introduced NuOrder Payments.
California Lifts Stay-at-Home Orders
LEGAL
With most California counties at a purple Tier 1 level of COVID-19 cases, the California Department of Public Health announced today that it was ending the regional Stay-at-Home order for all areas throughout the state.
FashionGo Week to Launch Second Virtual Edition in February
VIRTUAL TRADE EVENTS
Fashion-wholesale marketplace FashionGo will host its second virtual FashionGo Week event Feb. 8-12, following the success of its August debut during the summer trade-show season.
