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.
Columbia Inks Licensing Deal With Delta Galil
Portland, Ore.–based Columbia Sportswear Co. struck a licensing deal with Delta Galil Industries Ltd. to develop and produce a line of performance underwear under the Columbia Sportswear label.
Governor Brown Appoints Two New Cal/OSHA Deputy Chiefs
Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Debra Lee and Eric Berg as the newest deputy chiefs for the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, also known as Cal/OSHA.
Indian Garment Company Fined for Stealing Software
California’s attorney general has won a settlement from a clothing factory in India accused of stealing intellectual property from U.S. software companies.
Contenders: Clothing Line Looking for Bigger Forum
Skateboarding and surfing have launched hundreds of brands, but for John Anderson, the inspiration for the new Contenders clothing line came from one of the oldest of sports: boxing.
American Apparel Gets Deadline Extension on Reorganization Plan as IRS Files Objections
American Apparel has been on a fast track to reorganize after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 5.
Iconix Being Investigated by SEC
Iconix Brand Group, which owns a number of labels started in California, announced on Dec. 28 it received a formal order of investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
New California Laws Change Workplace Rules in 2016
California politicians were busy in 2015 passing a bevy of employment laws that will take effect on Jan. 1.
Levi’s Adds New Global Retail Executive
San Francisco–based Levi Strauss & Co. named Carrie Ask executive vice president and president of global retail, overseeing all of Levi’s fleet of 2,700 owned and operated stores, franchise stores and outlet stores.
2015 In Review: Mergers & Acquisitions: Big and Little Companies Join Forces to Grow
Mergers-and-acquisitions activity was alive and well in the apparel industry in 2015.
2015 RETROSPECTIVE: Despite Some Monthly Increases, Apparel Employment Flat in ’15
The state saw some slight increases in apparel manufacturing employment throughout 2015, according to the California Employment Development Department, but over the course of 12 months ending in October (the latest figures tracked by the EDD), apparel and textile employment in the state remained flat.
Varley Activewear: European Sophistication Meets California Style
The husband-and-wife team behind the line Varley, Lara and Ben Mead, split their time between the U.S. and Europe, which gives the London-born, California-inspired luxury lifestyle brand the sophistication of London and the ease of California.
Darner: L.A. Company Seeks to Build a Better Sock From Scratch
Los Angeles is known as a denim and T-shirts town, but when a handful of well-connected manufacturers were asked about producing socks in Los Angeles, most said that they knew little and/or had not heard much about the manufacturing of socks in their hometown, which is one of the bigger manufacturing centers in the United States.
Retailers Fined for Bamboozling Customers by Mislabeling Rayon Products
Four large retailers have been fined $1.3 million for mislabeling apparel and textile products as bamboo when in fact they were made from rayon.
American Apparel Hits Financial Headwinds
The largest clothing factory in the United States had a mountain of debt that pushed it into bankruptcy court in October, filing for Chapter 11 protection.
