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.
Voit to Join Element
Frank Voit was named as the global general manager for Irvine, Calif.–based skate label Element.
Lynne Koplin Named President of J Brand
Industry veteran Lynne Koplin, who most recently worked for denim maker True Religion, has been named president of J Brand, another Los Angeles denim maker.
Levi’s Laying Off 800 Employees in Restructuring Effort
Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco is going on a diet to reduce $175 million to $200 million a year in expenses.
Capital Tailors Relaunches
Capital Tailors, the premium collection originally started in 2003 by Glenn Williams and Lucky Brand founders Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman, relaunched for Fall 2014 during Los Angeles Fashion Market.
Change Coming With Two Historic Garment Buildings Being Converted Into Loft-Style Apartments
Two years ago, Capital Foresight Development, headed by Naty Saidoff, bought architectural gems—the Garment Capitol Building and the Maxfield Building.
Kellwood and Meister Split
David Meister had operated under the Kellwood umbrella for 15 years under a licensing agreement that will not be renewed.
New Lines
The following new lines and new showrooms will be available during the March 16–20 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market. (Note: Not all showroom buildings are open all days. Please check Apparelnews.net for correct start and end dates for each building.)
Le Frenchlab
Le Frenchlab launched in August and is distributing and marketing the “new generation” of French designers, said founder Emmanuelle Rienda.
Noella Showroom
She had worked for the Cooper-based Simon Showroom since 2010, and, when Vets decided to start her own multi-line showroom in August 2013, she had her heart set on staying at the Cooper.
The Village Showroom
Tina Fleming and her partner Shanon Martin have branched out to their own 1,200-square-foot showroom on the eighth floor of The New Mart.
Amuse Society: Fry and Rapp Announce Name of Their New Surf Brand
Surf-industry luminaries Mandy Fry and Summer Rapp made waves when they joined new fashion label Stokehouse Unlimited in January. They recently released a few more details about their project for the Costa Mesa, Calif.–headquartered Stokehouse.
James Campbell Brands Acquired by Hampshire Group
Los Angeles–area menswear maker James Campbell Brands has been acquired by New York–based Hampshire Group Ltd. from Maverick J LLC, a Rick Solomon Co.
Swimwear Label Bleu/Rod Beattie Sold to Amerex Group
The California swimwear label is only 3 years old, but already Bleu/Rod Beattie has changed hands, being sold by New York swimwear manufacturer A.H. Schreiber Co. to Amerex Group.
Swimwear Label Bleu/Rod Beattie Sold to Amerex Group
Bleu/Rod Beattie has been sold by New York swimwear manufacturer A.H. Schreiber Co. to Amerex Group.
California Economy Predicted to Improve Next Year and Grow Modestly
California’s economy next year should be on a positive path, growing slightly more than the U.S. economy as the housing market and other industries forge ahead and grow, according to a recent economic forecast released by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
