Staying Up All Night at Kanye West DTLA Pop-Up
Music star, Adidas collaborator and provocateur Kanye West produced a pop-up shop for album merchandise for his Jesus Is King album. It ran Oct. 25 – 27 at the edge of downtown Los Angeles arts district.
ABG Says It Acquired Barneys NYC, Ben-Avraham Says Not So Fast
RETAIL
The future of Barneys NYC Inc. was upended Oct. 24 when the stalking-horse bidder, Authentic Brands Group, claimed that it had acquired the influential, but bankrupt retailer, and a competitor, Sam Ben-Avraham, objected and said that the bidding process was not over.
FMNC Wraps Up Last Show of 2019
FMNC’s Fashion Finds
At the final Fashion Market Northern California trade show for 2019, retailers looked for Immediates, Spring 2020 fashions and, for Claire Samaras of the Angelique Boutique in Sonoma, Calif., styles with an edge for a certain demographic.
Lawren Michele Charmed Iris Apfel from Air Force Base Roots
Manufacturing
Lawren Cappelletti was happily living at Vandenberg Air Force Base, near Lompoc, Calif., with her husband, Michael Cappelletti, who serves in the Air Force, but in 2016 she thought that she’d make a few changes. She would return to school, pursue an arts degree and start a fashion line. It was no pipe dream.
Directives West Sets New Rules
Fashion
Some of the buzzwords to describe the new styles for Spring/Summer 2020 are utility and haute hippie, but Directives West, the West Coast merchandising and consulting division of The Doneger Group, also wanted to try something new for the trend forecast it presents at every LA Majors Market.
Garment Worker Center Organizes Nationwide Ross Protests
Manufacturing
The Garment Worker Center, a downtown Los Angeles organization that represents garment workers, is planning a protest Oct. 31 outside of Ross Stores Inc.’s Ross Buying Office at the California Market Center.
Casualwear Continues To Grow, NPD Group Says
Retail
There have been a lot of headlines proclaiming the prominence of activewear in American wardrobes, but, according to a recent report from The NPD Group, the action is in casualwear.
Fry Named President of Z Supply, LLC
Manufacturing
On Oct. 23, it was announced that Mandy Fry, co-founder of the Amuse Society brand, was named president of Z Supply, LLC, an Irvine, Calif.–headquartered manufacturer of contemporary women’s styles. Z Supply brands include its namesake Z Supply as well as Rag Poets, White Crow and Others Follow.
Maui and Sons at 40: Special Tees Planned As Brand Charts Future
Maui and Sons at 40
Maui and Sons’ Sharkman character and pastel-flecked cookie logo seemed to be on the back of every surfer and beach-culture enthusiast in the 1980s and early 1990s. Decades later, Maui and Sons is observing a rare milestone for a youth-oriented clothing brand as it prepares to observe its 40th anniversary in 2020.
Valentino's New South Coast Plaza Store
October brings in the World Series, Halloween, and in South Coast Plaza, a new Valentino store.
Erin Lewis Brings Fashion For Protest
FASHION
British born, Mexico City-based Designer Erin Lewis will run workshops on protest fashion along with producing a pop-up shop at Lisa Derrick Fine Arts in Los Angeles' Chinatown section.
Kenzo Opened Boutique at Beverly Center
French Luxe Brand Kenzo opened its first Los Angeles boutique recently.
Fred Segal X Stadium Goods
With superstar sneaker and streetwear shop Kith as a neighbor, Fred Segal is revving up streetwear styles at its flagship on 8500 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, Calif.
Popkiller at Sweet 16
RETAIL
Little Tokyo's Popkiller boutique has not only served as the anchor for the neighborhood's cute culture scene. The shop has been around for a long time.
Inkover Streetwear and Luooif Studio at LAFW
LA Fashion Week started Oct. 9 with a showcase of Thai designers. On following nights it put a spotlight on some European designers during the fashion week that rolled out at the Petersen Automative Museum in Los Angeles.
Buyers Look to Spring, Along With Immediates, During L.A. Market Week
L.A. Market Week
At the final L.A. Market Week of 2019, buyers visited Los Angeles from different regions along the West and East Coasts—and areas in between. As the Holiday season approaches, exhibitors unveiled new styles for Spring 2020 and helped clients catch up through Immediates orders.
September Retail Sales Dip
Retail
Retail sales dipped 0.3 percent in September compared to the previous month, according to a statement from the U.S. Commerce Department that was released on Oct. 16. September sales marked the first time that U.S. retail sales have declined since February, when retail sales dipped 0.2 percent.
LA Men’s Market Shows Old and New Styles at Sold Out Event
LA Men’s Market
Streetwear styles have forged their own sartorial paths for years, and retailers shopping the streetwear- and fashion-focused LA Men’s Market looked for new and classic styles at the Oct. 15–16 edition at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Mercy & Loyal Marks New Season With More Casual Looks
Manufacturing
Los Angeles–headquartered contemporary men’s brand Mercy & Loyal started business in 2018 supplying casual yet sophisticated looks for men, but founder Patrick McCook found that the high-end casual looks were too formal for most men. So, the line’s high-end casual looks such as cashmere polo shirts are being phased out and sweatshirts and flannel shirts will take a more prominent role in the line, McCook said.
Elyse Walker’s 20th Anniversary Shindig
In a world peppered by news of store closings, the Elyse Walker boutiques celebrated an important milestone.
Stylist Sir Joe Exclusive Unveils First Fashion Line at Society Fashion Week
FASHION
Sir Joe Exclusive designed unisex loungewear. “It’s from street to sleep,” Sir Joe Exclusive said. “It’s for the well-traveled person.
The Hundreds x Obsidian Unveiled at LA City Hall on Indigenous Peoples’ Day
FASHION
The Hundreds streetwear brand produced the first fashion show in its 16-year history on Oct. 13.
Thai Fashion For LA Fashion Week
FASHION
In past seasons, LA Fashion Week has devoted nights to Thai designers. The Spring/Summer 2020 Fashion week is no different.
What’s Checking: Melrose Street Remains Capital For Independent Styles
Retail
Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue has been a hub for alternative-lifestyle clothing for decades. Approximately 40 years ago, Melrose east of Fairfax Avenue was the go-to place for punk-rock clothing and curated vintage rock ’n’ roll looks that gave Los Angeles a unique style. Decades later, it’s the address for designers who create looks appropriate for adventurous attendees traveling to the Burning Man festival, as well as streetwear styles and other idiosyncratic style tribes.
Leisure Lab: Made In LA Brand To Debut at LAMM
Manufacturing
Daniel Henson wanted to make leisure clothes that were not only simple and elegant but could hold up through any exercise regimen and any kind of weather. He and business partner Darren Chandlee put together what they believed was the best example of simple, elegant and sturdy clothes for hanging out.
Fashion Scholarship Fund Produces First L.A. Events
Events
After decades of producing talent-acquisition events and annual galas in New York City, the Fashion Scholarship Fund produced its first events in Los Angeles.
Ron Robinson To Phase Out Bricks-And-Mortar
Ron Robinson Era Ends
Pioneering boutique retailer Ron Robinson will be closing his bricks-and-mortar stores by early 2020. His digital shops, www.ronrobinson.com and www.apothia.com, will continue to do business. In a recent email to his vendors, he said that he is not retiring, the shops were thriving financially and relations with landlords were good.
Ziggie, a Sustainable Lifestyle Platform, Produces Pop-Up in Arts District
RETAIL
Sustainable lifestyle platform Ziggie.com will produce a pop-up shop for its Los Angeles-headquartered sustainable brands KINdom, Arzé, and Clarke & Barba Feller, another sustainable brand that is designed in Seattle.
Roark Opens Los Angeles Flagship and Plans Retail Rollout
RETAIL
The travel-inspired Roark surf brand is planning to spread the word on its styles with new bricks-and-mortar shops.
Thousands Compete in Vans Global Custom Culture Contest
Legions of kids have doodled and made sketches on their Vans during their school days and teen years. This year, apparel and footwear brand Vans plans to make this pastime an activity that could be lucrative.
J Brand Opens 1st Outlet Store
RETAIL
The J Brand marked the grand opening of a J Brand outlet store Oct. 5 at Camarillo Premium Outlets in Camarillo, Calif.
Skechers Announces Eco Standards
Manufacturing
Skechers USA is one of the largest sneaker brands in America, and recently the Manhattan Beach, Calif.–headquartered company announced a serious commitment to reducing footwear packaging, according to Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.
Renovazio Show To Produce More L.A. Events
Trade Shows
High-end fabric agency Renovazio produced its second Los Angeles trade event, the Renovazio Show, Oct. 2–3, in downtown Los Angeles.
Soho Warehouse Forecast To Bring Change To Arts District
Real Estate
A number of high-end retailers, restaurants and prominent companies have moved into downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District in the past few years, and one major tenant is opening in the area this week. Luxe club Soho Warehouse opened for a select group of its members on Sept. 30.
Stahvo Hopes To Sew Up Activewear With Tailored Looks
Manufacturing
Gustavo Garibay had enough of brash colors and big logos in activewear. He wanted to use the words “refined” and “tailored” to describe it. When he didn’t see this option in men’s activewear on the market, Garibay, a former director of denim product development at Guess?, Inc., resolved to design it himself.
Majors Market Sees New Trends & Changes
L.A. Majors
Retailers searched for juniors and young contemporary styles that featured tie-dye looks and utility-workwear silhouettes during the L.A. Majors Market, which ran Oct. 2–4 in Los Angeles’ Fashion District.
John Wilson Named Stance CEO
Retail
John Wilson, a co-founder of the prominent brand Stance, was recently named chief executive officer for the brand that made socks into a fashionable item at surf and skate shops. Wilson replaced brand co-founder Jeff Kearl, who continues to serve Stance as its chairman.
NRF: Holiday 2019 Sales To Grow More than 3.8%
Retail
Despite some economic uncertainty, the trade group National Retail Federation is forecasting a strong 2019 holiday season.
AIMS360's Afternoon for Elevate
TECHNOLOGY
The Los Angeles-based AIMS360 produced Elevate, an event detailing the finer points of its Intelligent Allocation program and other features of its platform.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Skinnytees Will Help Pay 1 Woman’s Medical Bills
MANUFACTURING
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Skinnytees wanted to focus on a single person dealing with the illness.
With Earth Images, Global Transfiguration Label Seeks to Inspire
MANUFACTURING
Stephon Stewart created a series of paintings of what the Earth would look like in a climate catastrophe—and rallying from the brink of disaster.
Real Housewives’ Sutton Stracke Opens West Hollywood Shop Sutton
RETAIL
The Kardashians ran a boutique chain called Dash. Now, another reality-TV star will put her love of fashion, shopping and retail on the line.
Richer Poorer’s Pop-Up at Univ Will Go For The Long Run
RETAIL
Pop-ups are supposed to be ephemeral. Let 48 hours pass, and the pop-up shop has come and gone.
California Economy Juggles Slowness and Strengths, According to Forecast
Finance
The U.S. and California economies are slowing down, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast titled “The Year of Living Dangerously,” which was released Sept. 26, but the slowdown has bright points that other economies would envy.
Laughton to Lead Athleta
Laughton to Lead Athleta
It was announced Sept. 24 that Mary Beth Laughton was named president and chief executive officer of the Athleta division of Gap Inc.
PacSun Pays $85,000 Settlement in Discrimination Suit
Legal
Anaheim, Calif.–headquartered Pacific Sunwear of California, LLC, will pay $85,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it was announced on Sept. 20.
Mulch Plans on Growing and Expanding Sustainable Fashion Business
Grown with Mulch
The Zarif brothers grew up surfing in San Clemente, Calif., one of the hubs of the California surf scene, but when they developed a ready-to-wear line for their sustainable brand, Mulch, they wanted to keep surf styles at a distance.
eBay CEO Wenig Steps Down
Retail
There was a quick reshuffling of the executive pack at eBay, the sprawling San Jose, Calif.–headquartered e-marketplace.
Lulus Gets Physical
RETAIL
Digital-commerce emporium Lulus will produce its first physical pop-up shop on Sept. 28.
