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.
Major L.A. Architect Branches Out to Fashion Line for Men
Mark Rios is a Los Angeles architect who has worked on high-marquee projects that include building downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park, developing the industrial-chic look of the Row DTLA retail and creative-office center and the upcoming remodel of Los Angeles’ Music Center plaza.
San Francisco Creativity Meets Italian Artistry for Flora Dancia's Sleepwear
In June 2017, Elizabeth Spiering launched her luxury sleepwear line with her sister and mother. The San Francisco brand is designed in the Bay Area but relies on Italian fabrics and manufacturing.
Destination: Denim City, Los Angeles
Denim City is an impressive educational institution that has a jean school that incorporates a three-year denim-development program to train people in all aspects of the blue-jeans industry with courses, workshops, access to the showrooms of world-renowned denim designers and a retail space for consumers.
Hybrid Apparel Names a New President
Hybrid Apparel, the Cypress, Calif., company that does all kinds of casual clothing, announced it has a new president.
According to The NPD Group, Athleisure Is Here To Stay—For Now
A recent report by The NPD Group shows that 24 percent of total apparel sales are made in the athleisure segment.
Good Times Might Be Coming Back for Surfwear
The surf industry might be catching a big wave for the rest of 2018, said market-research company ActionWatch.
Differential Brands Reports Second-Quarter Earnings Results
Differential Brands—the Los Angeles company whose labels include Hudson Jeans, Robert Graham and SWIMS—said its second-quarter sales for the period ending June 30 were down 1 percent from the same period last year to $36 million.
Technology Changes Are Driving LA Fashion Industry
Fashion-industry leaders in Los Angeles far prefer to use Instagram as their social media of choice than any other digital outlet, with most gravitating toward making their social-media decisions in-house rather than using outside consultants.
Denim Tops for Martial-Arts Athletes
Mike Dytri’s puffy, cauliflower ears are badges of honor he got after years of gaining expertise in the martial art of jiu-jitsu.
DSTLD: Big Dreams From Small Investors
The forces behind the denim line DSTLD dream in black and white and believe that less is more until it comes to crowdfunding.
Quality Basics Is the Idea Behind November Six
The idea of basic clothes made of quality material was the impetus behind November Six, a new Los Angeles label sold exclusively online by two sisters who felt their clothing could fill a niche.
Surfwear Wades Through Questions on Diversity
During the past decade, the surfwear business has been soul-searching after some high-profile bankruptcies, new fashion trends and a rapidly changing retail landscape that has challenged the category’s prominence.
Wolven Threads: Eastern Art, Sustainable Focus
For Kiran Jade, training as a yoga teacher also served as her market research for a new line.
Levi Strauss Expects Revenues This Year to Be Up Almost 10 Percent
Levi Strauss & Co. has been having a very good year, reflected by the fact that it now has 53 more company-operated stores than last year and plans to add approximately 50 more retail outposts by the end of this year.
Simple Santa Barbara Luxury Inspires Catherine Gee
Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Catherine Gee launched her eponymous brand two years ago with California on her mind.
