Simparel Taps IT Operations Veterant as L.A.–based Senior Project Manager
Technology
New York–based Simparel Inc. has hired Lawrence Mora as senior project manager.
ICIX Releases Product Safety Compliance Application
Technology
ICIX has introduced Direct Test, a cloud-based application to help retailers and manufacturers collect and manage third-party product test results to meet safety and regulatory requirements.
WFX Launches Business Intel Platform
Technology
WFXOnDemand, a software solutions provider for the apparel and consumer-goods industries, has launched WFX BI, a business intelligence platform to help customers manage and share data across internal teams and departments.
Selfies Go Pro
I, photographer
Park City–based iStabilizer has introduced “the perfect selfie creator,” a monopod and a shutter remote system that lets you take your own photo without the fisheye look that comes with an extreme closeup.
Survey Finds M-Commerce Revenue Doubled in Last Year
Technology
Shopping using a mobile phone, or m-commerce, nearly doubled in the last year as smartphone revenue rose 97.6 percent to $18,237,133, according to Pittsburgh-based mobile commerce platform Branding Brand, which recently released its Mobile Commerce Index.
Intertextile Shanghai Offerings to Include Premium Fabrics from Europe and Asia, and Swim/Lingerie
Trade Show
During its Oct. 20–23 run at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will host more than 3,500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. Offerings include a lingerie and swimwear area with more than 80 lace, embroidery and swimwear and lingerie fabrics suppliers.
Etsy Sellers Go From Retail to Wholesale
B2C Goes B2B
Etsy is helping its B2C sellers take the plunge into B2B with Etsy Wholesale, a new program that connects Esty sellers with retailers.
Business Tools for Capitalizing on Trend Information
Redesigned WGSN/Stylesight Website
Global trend and style intelligence firm WGSN relaunched its website to combine its strengths with Stylesight, the New York–based trend forecasting firm it acquired last November.
The Edgier Side of Boho
White Crow
White Crow, the contemporary collection by Irvine, Calif.–based Z Supply Inc., has always had a few graphic tees in the collection. But for Spring ’15 and beyond, the company is giving the category a featured spot in the line.
Leggings and Beyond
Poprageous
When Cher Park launched her Poprageous collection in 2013, she had to persuade Los Angeles factories to take her small orders. So Park purchased her own sublimation printer and press, which is housed in her new two-room studio in downtown Los Angeles.
Graphics-Driven Since the Start
Kersh and Press
Ever since sister brands Kersh and Press launched, the two collections have included graphic tees.
Customization Program Lets Customers Build Their Brand
Alstyle
Alstyle Apparel & Activewear, the Anaheim, Calif.–based blanks provider, is putting the focus on its custom apparel program with plans to launch a Web application to help Alstyle clientele customize their orders by fabrics, color and style.
Opening at LA Market
Skylton Paris
After testing the U.S. waters over the last year, French denim brand Skylton is putting down roots with the opening of a new showroom at the California Market Center.
Scouting the Denim Market
Kingpins LA
The July 30–31 run of boutique denim trade show Kingpins at the Cooper Design Space in Los Angeles drew designers and representatives of brands and retailers from Levi Strauss & Co., Nordstrom, Nasty Gal, Uniqlo, Lee, Lucky Brand, Volcom, Alexander Wang, Paige and Current/Elliot
Agent Icon
Showroom Profile
After many years on the 12th floor of The New Mart, the Agent Icon showroom moved in in June to a new space on the second floor of the Cooper Design Space, where light filters into the bright space through the trees lining Los Angeles Street.
Fashion History with a South American Accent
Fashion Museums
At the Museo Nacional de la Historia del Traje in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fashion history is on display.
Macy’s Boosts Sustainability Efforts
Retail
Department-store giant Macy’s Inc. is introducing several new sustainability programs that will be rolled out this year and the next.
Visionet Systems’ EdgeAX Releases Updated Apparel and Retail Solution
Technology
EdgeAX has introduced a new update, which is compatible with the latest release of Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise resource planning solution AX 2012 R3.
Gerber Lands Innovation Award for Design and Cutting-Room Integration
Technology
Tolland, Conn.–based equipment and software solutions provider Gerber Technology received the gold-level award for product innovation from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership Inc. (CQIA)
Gap to Launch Brand in Slovenia and Austria
Retail
San Francisco–based Gap Inc. has struck an agreement with new and existing franchise partners to extend the Gap brand to Slovenia and Austria.
American Apparel Names Four New Board Members
Manufacturing
There are four new members to American Apparel’s board of directors following an agreement reached with New York–based hedge fund Standard General, which recently agreed to infuse American Apparel with $25 million to help pay off a $10 million loan that was being called in.
Kellwood Names Marc Babins President of Western Region
Manufacturing
New York–based Kellwood Co. named Marc Babins president of Kellwood Western region, based in City of Industry, California
Silver Jeans Stores Files Chapter 11, Plans Retail Liquidation
Denim Report
SJC Inc., the company that has been operating the Silver Jeans retail stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 21 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., with plans to close five Silver Jeans stores and liquidate inventory.
Fashioning TV’s Looks
Costume Design
The FIDM Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles recently opened its eighth annual “Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design” exhibition.
Knit Hack
Fashion/Tech/Art
"Glitch," an exhibition of glitch-inspired fashion and accessories recently opened at the Tokyo Kaihouku shop in Japan.
Flirty and Cool
HeartSoul
Fans of the HeartSoul juniors line will soon find a collection of swimwear and coverups following a licensing agreement between Gardena, Calif.–based Big Strike, owners of the HeartSoul brand, and Miami-based swim maker In Gear Fashions Inc.
Pacific Coast Knitting: High-End Knitting in LA’s Huntington Park
Textiles
Pacific Coast Knitting’s showroom has racks of sweater knits, double-faced fabrics, sheer knits and styles with multi-color slubs, as well as basic fabrics.
Première Vision Preview Summit to Cover Sustainability From Fast-Fashion to Luxe
Textiles
Model and actress Amber Valetta and representatives of Gucci, Eileen Fisher and the Council of Fashion Designers of America will be on hand to discuss sustainability issues across the supply chain at the upcoming July 22–23 run of Première Vision Preview New York in its new location at Pier 92 in New York.
Get Kitty With It
Pop Culture
Hello Kitty turns 40 this year and to celebrate, parent company Sanrio is hosting its first Hello Kitty Convention—called, of course, Hello Kitty Con 2014.
Wrangler Puts a Price on Premium: About $20
Denim Report
Greensboro, N.C.–based denim maker Wrangler has introduced a new line of jeans, twill and shirt for millennial men who want fashionable clothing as an affordable price
Fashion Meets Function in New Men’s Collection Designed by Henry Duarte and Pepper Foster
Monkey Sports
Set to debut in September, the Monkey Sports menswear collection will include more than 200 styles, including denim, T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, woven shirts, sweats, shorts, track pants and underwear.
Cherokee Strikes Alliances in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, China
Manufacturing
Sherman Oaks, Calif.–based Cherokee Inc. struck several new alliances that will take the company’s lifestyle brands further across the globe.
Project Ethos Heads East
Emerging Artists
Project Ethos is hitting the road later this year with stops at New York Fashion Week, Chicago and Miami.
20 Years in Business? That’s Cause for a Sale!
Shop Local
Owl Talk, one of my favorite neighborhood shops in northeast LA is about to turn 20. And owners, Kathleen and Sharon Kroner, are hosting a sale this weekend to celebrate.
Mini Couture
Fashion Exhibition
Dior recently unveiled a new travelling exhibition of 60 couture pieces made in miniature, in homage to a 1945 exhibition of French haute couture.
Immediates and Final Fall Orders at LA Fashion Market
Trade Shows
Los Angeles Fashion Market was busier than expected for many showing at the California Market Center, The New Mart, the Cooper Design Space, the Gerry Building and the Lady Liberty Building, as well as exhibitors showing at Designers and Agents, Brand Assembly and Select.
With PLM, Evy of California Gets a Jumpstart on the Design Process
Technology
For many apparel companies, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software is seen as a tool to aid in production. But when Evy of California added NGC’s NGC PLM about two years ago, the company found the software changed the way the design department operates.
Honorees Steinberg, Zaffaroni Help Raise more than $500K
National Jewish Health Fundraiser Ball
The apparel community turned out to honor CIT Trade Finance’s Debbie Steinberg and Roth Capital Partners’ Paul Zaffaroni and raise funds for National Jewish Health at the Black and White Ball, held at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Showroom Profile: Frank & Eileen
Showroom Profiles
Step into the Frank & Eileen showroom on the top floor of the Lady Liberty Building and you may think you’ve stumbled on a quaint country house in 1940s-era Ireland.
Showroom Profile: The Vonderheide Showroom
Showroom Profiles
The Vonderheide Showroom has relocated to a new space on the top floor of The New Mart with a wrap-around view of the changing landscape of downtown Los Angeles.
Showroom Profile: Moss/Jang
Showroom Profiles
Model, financial adviser, engineer and now apparel maker, Dustin Moss recently opened a new showroom at the California Market Center to showcase his newly launched young contemporary women’s line, Moss/Jang
Calling All (LA) Designers
Open Runway
The second edition of Los Angeles Fashion Council’s Open Runway competition will begin on June 28.
Adrianna Papell Taps TukaTech for Product Development
Apparel Tech
After 30 years making patterns manually, New York–based eveningwear and dress maker Adrianna Papell is computerizing the product-development process with Los Angeles–based technology-solutions provider Tukatech.
FIDM Exhibition Showcases Fashion Sketches From Hollywood’s Golden Age
Costume Design
The art of fashion illustration and Hollywood's Golden Age will meet at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's Museum & Galleries in an exhibition titled "Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection.
Soccer Style in Anticipation of the World Cup
Futbol + Fashion
With the games in Brazil just two weeks away, where are the World Cup fashions?
Downton Designs Up Close
Costume Exhibition
The costumes from “Downton Abbey” are on display at the Winterthur Museum & Country Estate in Wilmington, Delaware
Honoring Missoni Family at Graduation Fashion Event
Academy of Art
Members of the Missoni family—including Rosita Missoni, Angela Missoni and Margherita Maccapani Missoni—were the guests of honor at the Academy of Art University Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony, held May 8 in San Francisco.
Roar Wants You to Have a Lamborghini. Or a Ferrari.
Fashion Giveaway
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Los Angeles clothing line Roar is giving away Lamborghini Aventador or a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. But first, you must vote.
Fashion With Function
Art With Style
Hong Kong–based artist Kathleen McDermott uses robotics to create problem-solving fashions like The Personal Space Dress, the Auto Filter scarf and the Miss-My-Face hat.
Loudmouth Golf Gets Spongey
Licensing
Loudmouth Golf struck a deal with Nickelodeon for a line of men’s and women’s styles inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants.
