Las Vegas Apparel and Footwear Shows Announce Big Location Moves
Trade Shows
MAGIC and WWIN announce big moves.
Verte Luxe Produces a Sustainable Market
Vegan Fashion Week was not the only sustainable fashion event going on in Los Angeles last week.
Dept. of Good Takes A Bow
Venice, Calif. -based Dept. of Good will run an online market where consumers can find sustainable and fair-trade businesses.
The Wolk Morais Designers Get Their Newest Inspiration from California
Fashion
It was five years ago that Brian Wolk and Claude Morais made the move from New York to Los Angeles to find more creative freedom.
Michael Costello Goes from ‘Project Runway’ to His Own Design Studio
Fashion
Fashion designer Michael Costello is known for his elegant evening gowns, which have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry.
What’s Checking: The Arts District Keeps Its Roots in Independent Fashion
Retail
No place in downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District has changed as much as the space that is now the Rogue Collective boutique.
Apolis to Reopen Its Arts District Flagship
Retail
Apolis: Common Gallery, a pioneer of high-end retail in Los Angeles’ Arts District, is scheduled to reopen its flagship store this summer, which might further cement the district’s reputation as a place to shop.
Ashley Mason Rolls Out a New Denim Line
Manufacturing
Michelle Mulleneaux started her Ashley Mason clothing company more than three years ago with her sights set on growing the venture with new lines and innovations.
Ari to Sunset Plaza
More men’s fashion shops are coming to the Sunset Plaza shopping district in West Hollywood, Calif.
Stassie X Oh Polly’s Valentine’s Day Crush
Glasgow, Scotland-headquartered fashion label Oh Polly opened a Los Angeles office in July. On Jan 30, the retailer partied at West Hollywood, Calif. nightclub Poppy for the debut of Valentine’s Day collection Stassie X Oh Polly.
Paul Smith Rumored to Be Moving to DTLA
One of the stars of British fashion, Paul Smith will open a store adjacent to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, according to a reliable real-estate blog.
Vuori Hires First VP of Women’s Product Design
Manufacturing
Four years ago, Joe Kudla, an athlete turned model turned finance person, started Vuori as a brand that made performance wear for men.
Shopify Gets Into the Content Biz
Shopify started business by powering back-office operations. The company recently announced that it is going to be moving some of its focus out of the background and onto screens.
RYU to Fashion Island
Canadian athletic brand Respect Your Universe/RYU recently opened a store at the Fashion Island retail center in Newport Beach, Calif.
Proper, a New Hotel, Scheduled to open in DTLA
More than a few luxe, boutique hotels have opened in downtown Los Angeles over the past few years. Get ready for another.
Denim Branded Goes To Atelier & Repairs
Denim nerds gathered at Atelier & Repairs in Los Angeles for a history talk on jeans.
Faherty Brand To Open Two California Stores
Faherty is a New York-based beach-lifestyle brand opening stores in California.
Big Issues Will Affect Retail in 2019
Retail
The past few years have been a time of upheaval for the fashion and fashion-retail businesses. Expect more in 2019.
Madhappy: It Takes a Party to Start a T-shirt Brand
Manufacturing
Ask Noah Raf how to build demand for a new T-shirt label and he’ll tell you to throw a party.
A Resurgence of the Surf Market Seen at Surf Expo
Selling at Surf Expo
Snowstorms hit a swath of the country last week, but bad weather did not throw a wet towel on the Surf Expo trade show, which ran Jan. 10–12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
January Market in L.A. Brings Out Buyers Preparing for Spring/Summer
L.A. Market Week
Despite three days of pouring rain, January’s L.A. Market Week spelled success for many brands, some of whom opened on Jan. 13, ahead of the official Jan. 14–16 run.
Volcom Starts Program To Boost Its Organic Cotton Supply Chain
Manufacturing
Action-sports brand Volcom recently announced that it is participating in an initiative to increase the supply of organic cotton.
Karl Kani and PrettyLittleThing's Party For Part 2 of Collaboration Line
The collaboration between the U.K.-headquartered retailer and the godfather of streetwear was unveiled Jan. 14 at The Leverage flagship on Los Angeles’ La Brea Avenue.
Carroll & Co. To Shutter on Jan. 26
After a run of almost 70-years, Beverly Hills, Calif.-headquartered menswear store Carroll & Co. is calling it quits.
Two Boots Pizzeria Building To Be Demolished
We said goodbye to the downtown Los Angeles Two Boots pizzeria last year. Get ready to say goodbye to the building that housed it.
Retail Sales in December See Mixed Results
Retail
December’s business is a crucial part of the holiday season’s sales, but for some retailers sales dipped from last year.
Fashion Star Simon Spurr to Lead 7 For All Mankind’s Design
Manufacturing
Simon Spurr, a seasoned fashion designer who has worked at Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Kent and Curwen, has been named global creative director of Los Angeles–headquartered denim brand 7 For All Mankind.
Google Takes Over Former Westside Pavilion
Google developed campuses in Los Angeles' Venice and Playa Vista neighborhoods. Now the tech giant is going to take over a mall.
Construction Beginning On DTLA Vans Flagship
Barricades recently went up for a Vans flagship in downtown Los Angeles. Located on the ground floor of 808 S. Broadway, the upcoming Vans emporium will open on one of the hot corners for downtown Los Angeles retail.
Salt Life Debuts First-Ever Women’s Swimwear Line
Swim/Surf
For years, Salt Life has concentrated on outfitting people active in die-hard water sports such as saltwater fishing, where its technical fishing shirts offer sun protection.
Seea Rides into SIMA Awards With Several Nominations
Seea’s SIMA Noms
Southern California surf brand Seea might be the independent label that makes the biggest splash at the 15th annual Surf Industry Manufacturers Association SIMA Awards.
Furla Opens 1st California Store at South Coast Plaza
Italian accessories house Furla opened its first California shop Jan. 3.
The Mighty Company & Ilaria Urbinati Go For the Breakup
There’s a song that says “Breaking Up is Hard To Do,” but maybe the jackets from the Breakup Collection will help.
A Strong Holiday Shopping Season Rings In Change
Holiday-Shopping Wrap-up
Sales for the 2018 holiday season were the strongest they have been in the past six years, rising 5.1 percent over last year’s holiday sales and totaling $850 billion, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, a research division for Mastercard.
Traditional Wholesaler-Retailer-Manufacturer Fashion Relationships Undergo an Evolution
The Retail Evolution
It’s been a time of shake-ups for the apparel business.
Honey Birdette Opens 1st U.S. Shop
Australian lingerie label Honey Birdette opened its first American bricks-and-mortar boutique in Los Angeles. The label plans to roll out 40 stores in North America.
Year in Review: The Retail News of 2018
Retail
The retail realm this year wasn’t quite as turbulent as in 2017, when more than 6,000 outposts closed their doors. Yes, retail bankruptcies were still occurring, such as the Los Angeles–based National Stores chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but then was given a lifeline. Overall, the pace of stores going out of business this year slowed.
Dept. of Labor Recovers More Than $1.5 Million for Southern California Garment Workers
Manufacturing
More than $1.5 million in back wages and unpaid overtime were recovered for 668 Southern California garment-industry workers, the federal government announced.
Wvs Brgde’s Sock Drive for L.A.'s Homeless
Los Angeles-headquartered brand Wvs Brgde is keeping its holiday charity local this year. It is working with Skid Row non-profit Los Angeles Mission in a clothing drive for homeless in downtown Los Angeles.
Former Brooks Brothers Building on Rodeo Drive Sells for $245 Million
Rodeo Real Estate Sells
Former flagship on Rodeo Drive goes to luxury retailer with a major presence on the shopping street.
Voodoo Boutique Opens in DTLA's Fashion District
A new fashion boutique, Voodoo, opened Dec. 15 near the intersection of 9th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.
Carton Outerwear Pops In Los Angeles
While you’re having fun snowboarding, Trey Humphries wants you to think a little bit about the wider world.
Haute Healing Gives Gift of Glam to Ill and Disadvantaged Kids
Almost every designer will tell you that if you look good, you will feel more confident. It’s one reason the Los Angeles non-profit Haute Healing produced a clothing-and-beauty drive for people who may need a boost.
Olivia Culpo Graces Cult Gaia's Resort '19 Show
About six years ago, Cult Gaia was a go-to label for the festival girl. Things have changed a bit.
WGSN Report Takes a Look at the Future of Retail
The Future of Retail
Los Angeles has become one of the world’s leading centers for retail experimentation.
2018 Retrospective: Retail Vacancy Is Low but Business Is Not Easy
Retail
Even though bricks-and-mortar retail is supposed to be dead, retail-real-estate vacancy rates in Los Angeles County are low.
2018 Retrospective: Problems with Gap Brand, Overseas Growth for Zumiez
Retail
It’s been a solid year financially for Gap Inc., which calls itself the largest specialty retailer in the United States.
2018 Retrospective: Macy’s and Nordstrom Make Big Bets on Tech
Retail
The chief executive of Macy’s Inc., Jeff Gennette, spent 2018 with a mission to reshape the department-store chain with technology and new in-store experiences that would attract shoppers.
Consumer-Focused ComplexCon Expands to Chicago
Trade Shows
Reed Exhibitions gave a vote of confidence to its consumer-focused event ComplexCon, recently saying it would expand the show to Chicago after producing the pop-up retail market and hip-hop concert event in Long Beach, Calif., for a few years.
