Tukatech Takes Collaboration to the Cloud
Technology
Los Angeles–based apparel software and equipment solutions provider Tukatech has introduced a cloud-based Virtual Sample solution to allow apparel makers to accelerate the approval process when developing product.
NYC Textile Week’s Trade Show Partners Make Plans for a July Launch
Textiles | Tradeshow
Twice a year, textile and apparel executives travel to New York to participate in a slate of trade shows that include textile shows Texworld USA, Kingpins, Première Vision, Indigo and DG Expo; menswear shows MRket, Project New York, Liberty and Capsule; and streetwear show Agenda. And in July the schedule also includes yarn show SpinExpo.
Gray Skies Ahead
Uniform Style
American Airlines recently unveiled new crew gray uniforms designed by New York–based KaufmanFranco.
Vans' Custom Kicks for the Arts Contest
Fashion Competition
Vans is kicking off its 6th-annual Vans Custom Culture competition for high school art programs and students.
France’s Famously Fashionable Immigrants
Fashion Exhibition
Issey Miyake, Martin Margiela and Charles Frederick Worth are among the designers featured in the “Fashion Mix” exhibition at the Museum of Immigration History in Paris.
Business Journals Steps Up Partnerships With Co-Location Plans With ENK for April Shows
Business Journals Inc.—the New York–based organizer of the Moda, Accessories The Show and Fame trade shows—announced plans to shift its May show dates and co-locate with ENK’s Intermezzo and Accessorie Circuit at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
Made-in-USA Capsule Collection Blends Heritage With High-End Details
Karl Kani
Streetwear designer Karl Kani is coming home, so to speak. The Brooklyn native, who has been based in Los Angeles since the 1990s, recently launched an American-made capsule collection for men and women.
Anatomy of Fashion Week
Behind the Scenes
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hired Sarasota-based Fawley Bryant Architects Inc. to come up with a more-efficient design for New York Fashion Week.
2014 in Review: Trade Agreements a No-Show for 2014
The big apparel trade show news of 2014 was the September announcement that Advanstar—parent of MAGIC, Project and Coterie—was sold for $972 million to British trade-show producer UBM PLC.
CFF and TALA Celebrate 67th-Annual Holiday Party for Neighborhood Kids
The kids knew all the answers to the “Frozen” quiz. In fact, most raised their hands before deejay Christina Dimakides finished asking the question.
French Quarter Meets Fashion District
The LA Fashion District now has a little New Orleans style since Preux & Proper opened at 840 S. Spring St.
2014 Retrospective: Retail Employment: Key Seasons Provide Lift
Retail
Retail employment in apparel and accessories stores across California remained steady for much of the year, with upticks in employment in the months leading up to retail’s busiest seasons—Back to School and Christmas.
2014 Retrospective: Apparel Employment: Looking Beyond the Numbers
Manufacturing
California continues to be the apparel manufacturing center of the United States, thanks to a steady interest in quick-turn delivery and made-in-America production. But that position is maintained by an increasingly lean employment base.
2014 Newsmakers: Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Minimum Wage Proposal
Manufacturing | Retail
On July 1, the minimum wage in California increased from $8 per hour to $9 per hour, the first increase in California’s minimum wage since 2008. In 2016, the minimum wage will increase to $10 per hour,
2014 Newsmakers: Frances Harder and Fashion Business Inc.
Manufacturing
Since 1999, Fashion Business Inc. has been helping small apparel companies grow their businesses through its series of courses, workshops and webinars.
2014 Newsmakers: Avery Dennison RBIS Opens Innovation Center in Downtown L.A.
Technology | Manufacturing
For its third Customer Design and Innovation Center, or CDIC, Glendale, Calif.–based Avery Dennison’s Retail Branding and Information Solutions unit (RBIS) looked to downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, where the branding, packaging and technology solutions company opened a 15,000-square-foot facility on East Third Street in September.
2014 Newsmakers: Ilse Metchek and the California Fashion Association
Manufacturing
For nearly 20 years, Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Association, has served as the spokesperson for the California apparel community. She is the person to call for business intelligence or a pithy comment for the press or to consult about a new business strategy or the ramifications of a new piece of legislation.
Rose Jannuzzi Names SVP of Operations for SwimSpot
Retail
SwimSpot, the swimwear retailer owned by Raj Manufacturing, named Rose Jannuzzi senior vice president of operations.
Macy’s Remodel, New Retailers Planned for The Bloc
Downtown Development
Plans for The Bloc, the 1.8 million-square-foot, mixed-use shopping center in downtown Los Angeles are taking shape with a remodel planned for the center’s Macy’s store and new tenants signing on to open in 2015.
Delia’s: End of an Era
Delia’s, the teen retailer that pioneered the whole “magalog” category is soon to be no more.
Solstiss Lace Opens an Online Boutique
French lace mill Solstiss has launched an online boutique where lace lovers can find an assortment of textiles, accessories and home décor items—all featuring the company’s couture textiles.
Honoring Signal Brands’ Jack and Jason Rimokh
City of Hope
The roof of the W Hotel in Hollywood was transformed into a Roaring ’20s bash by Signal Brands’ Jack and Jason Rimokh, this year’s Spirit of Life Award recipients for the City of Hope’s Fashion & Retail Industry Group.
CMC to Launch ‘Athleisure’ Lifestyle Show in March
Trade Show
The California Market Center will launch Shape, a new trade show focused on the “athleisure” trend, during the March 16–18 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market.
Doneger Acquires Huepoint
Retail
New York–based Doneger Group, the retail consultancy and partner of Los Angeles–based Directives West, has acquired New York–based color trend-forecasting agency Huepoint.
Domestic Knitter Focuses on Efficiency and Technology
Texollini
Founded in 1989, Texollini is a vertical operation producing circular knits for the activewear, contemporary, ready-to-wear, swimwear, intimates and technical markets.
Torrid’s New Face is Beautiful and Brainy
The new face of plus-size retail chain Torrid is more than just a pretty face.
Belk Competition Spotlights Southern Charm
Design competition
If so,you might be interested in submitting your designs to the Southern Designer Showcase competition, the third-annual design competition hosted by family-owned department store chain
L.A.–Based Britannia Sees Bright Prospects in Black Sheep
Textiles
Terrence Chermak has been spending the better part of the last six months knee-deep in wool—specifically, black wool.
Attention Fashion Shoppers
Fashion Philanthopy
You have three more days to take advantage of the deals at Shop for Success, the pop-up shop fundraiser for Dress For Success going on this weekend in L.A.’s Westwood neighborhood.
QST Introduces Online Waistband Design Tool
Technology
The international marketing director for QST Industries has a waistband wall, which is part of the Chicago-based company’s trade show booth. But, inevitably, designers at trade shows will pull off examples of the custom waistband treatments they want to use in their own collections.
From Runway to Retail
MarcoMarco
Walk into the three-room Hollywood studio that serves as the MarcoMarco headquarters and you’re likely to find the five design assistants frantically stitching the final details to a costume that must be delivered immediately.
Krochet Kids Makes a Point About Price
Starting today,Costa Mesa, Calif.–based non- profit Krochet Kids is letting consumers name their own price.
New Sourcing Trade Show to Bow in L.A. in March
Trade Show
Apparel manufacturers and retailers looking to scout factories will have a new venue when the Factory Direct trade show bows March 2–4 at The New Mart in downtown Los Angeles.
Dress for Success to Host Fundraiser Pop-Up Shop
Events
During the recent Los Angeles Fashion Week, several fashion brands—including Single, Sea of Pearls, FBF by Checka, JHaus and Bri Seeley—participated in a runway show at the W Hollywood hotel to benefit Dress for Success.
California Presence at Massive Intertextile Shanghai
Trade Show
With 15 halls covering nearly 1.8 millionsquare feet of space and more than 3,800 exhibitors showing textiles and trim from 30 countries and regions, the Oct. 20–23 run of the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics trade show could be described as massive.
U.S. Labor Department Finds Southern California Garment Workers Owed Millions in Back Wages and Overtime
Labor Law
A U.S. Department of Labor survey of 221 investigations in the last year found that more than 1,500 Southern California garment workers are owned more than $3 million in unpaid wages.
Rock Chic
Fashion Collab
Hot Topic launched its Joan Jett X TRIPP NYC Fashion Collection for Hot Topic collection, a collaboration between the City of Industry, Calif.–based retailer, rocker Joan Jett and rock ‘n roll clothier Tripp NYC.
1st Round: Boosting Athletic Performance With Textile Technology
Company Profile
When planning the concept behind their sports-apparel line, 1st Round Athletics, Teague Egan and Sterling Brewster wanted to take the idea of wearable technology a step further.
Experts Discuss Financing Options for Businesses Big and Small
Finance
Financing alternatives from traditional methods such as factoring to crowdfunding opportunities were discussed at a recent panel discussion featuring factors, investment bankers and other finance experts.
Sears Holdings to Close Stores, Strikes Lease Deal with Primark
Retail
Sears Holdings is closing stores in the U.S., but the Hoffman Estates, Ill.–based retailer has yet to confirm the actual number of closures planned.
Gap Expanding Old Navy in Middle East
Retail
San Francisco–based Gap Inc. signed deals to open Old Navy stores in six countries in the Middle East next year.
Remembering Oscar de la Renta in LA
Fashion Icon
Designer Oscar de la Renta died on Oct. 20 at the age of 82.
Named MAFI Winner & FBI Receives FGI Grant
Sam & Lavi
The Moss Adams Fashion Innovator (MAFI) award was presented to Sam & Lavi founders Sam Arasteh and Lavi Mirzak on Oct. 14 at Union Station in Los Angeles at the fourth annual All Aboard … LA’s Fashion Platform runway show and fundraiser for Fashion Business Inc.
Showroom Profile: Summer Somewhere
At LA Market
Virginia native, opened her showroom, Summer Somewhere, in the Cooper Design Space in June. With the help of Richard Ruiz, stylist for Mara Hoffman, Spigel transformed the lofty corner space into a beach oasis, complete with a hammock hanging over a sandbox and display tables made from vintage surfboards.
Fueled by Heritage, Contemporary by Design
AS by DF and AStars
The jewelry-like gold zippers are polished by hand in Japan, the motorcycle jackets are lined in silk, and the pattern on a leather shift dress is also done by hand. These are the exacting details Denise Fócil puts into her contemporary collection.
Gores Group Sells Scovill Fasteners
Manufacturing
Los Angeles–based investment firm The Gores Group is selling Scovill Fasteners to Morito, a 106-year-old Osaka, Japan–based supplier of apparel fasteners and components for automobiles.
Intertextile Offerings Include Expanded Denim Hall and Sustainability Zone
Textiles
When the giant Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2014 trade show opens on Oct. 20 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Shanghai, visitors will find a newly expanded Beyond Denim hall, featuring exhibitors from six countries and regions.
