INDUSTRY ISSUES
The Desktop Revolution: How xTool is Democratizing Industrial-Grade Apparel Printing
| May 1, 2026
In the traditional apparel manufacturing landscape, the bridge between a creative concept and a finished garment has long been guarded by high entry barriers, complex industrial workflows, and prohibitive costs. However, a seismic shift is occurring. xTool, which has rapidly ascended to become the world’s second-largest DTF (Direct-to-Film) brand by GMV, is dismantling these barriers.
Sideffects Returns to CMC
Los Angeles–based Sideffects, a 30-year-old manufacturer known for its extensive line of misses knitwear, has returned to the California Market Center after a five-year absen...
Guatemalan Denim Maker Sets Sights on the Premium Market
Setting Up Business for Premium Denim in Central America...
Blue Cult Realigns Brands, Distribution Strategy
After several months of speculation in the industry, Blue Cult executives said that, contrary to whispered reports, they are not closing shop....
Creating Online Showrooms for Start-Ups
Bringing the wholesale marketplace to the Web has been a daunting task for Internet solution providers, but New York–based PinkGray (
Made in America Does Have Its Advantages
SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Apparel manufacturers that still make clothing in the Western Hemisphere have one thing in common....
Fashion or Faux: Copyright Law Heads Back to Congress
The American fashion industry is gearing up for a fight as lawmakers in Washington, D.C., prepare to reintroduce a piece of legislation that seeks to extend copyright protection to fashion design....
Will Shipping Rates Float Importers' Boats?
LONG BEACH, Calif.—Negotiations begin soon on new shipping-rate contracts that start on May 1. But at this point, it is anybody’s guess where rates will go....
The Cool Kids Are at Kingpins
New York–based garment and fabric agent Olah Inc. helps link denim brands with sources all over the world. “Essentially, we’re the middleman,” said Andrew Olah, the company’s co-founder. But, with services that range fro...
Insurance Against Copyright Claims-and Copied Designs
Imagine the following scenario: You have established a newly capitalized apparel design and distribution company with a “unique,” cutting-edge product that has generated retail interest ...
Sandy Potter Joins Jerry Leigh
Sandy Potter, the former co-owner of Los Angeles–based buying office Directives West, has joined Jerry Leigh as brand manger of the company’s Tokidoki and Harajuku Lo...
Kymberly Lubell Leaves True Religion
Los Angeles–based denim giant True Religion Apparel Inc., which trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange, announced that Kymberly Gold Lubell, wife of founder Jeff Lubell and the company...
Local Brand Helping Fight World Poverty
Meredith Garrett, designer of the year-old Los Angeles–based contemporary brand Signorelli, has signed on with OmniPeace and Millennium Promise to help end extreme p...
YMI Proceeds With Miss USA Sponsorship
Executives at Los Angeles–based YMI Jeans Inc. are not afraid of a little negative publicity. In fact, they sometimes welcome it as they did following the fiasco involving company end...
Bay Area Menswear Companies Agree to Merge
San Francisco–based Revel Industries has acquired rising menswear company Gytha Mander for an undisclosed sum....
Iconix Buys Rocawear
New York–based urban brand Rocawear will join the 63 lineup of labels at Iconix Brand Group Inc., whi...
