Pooltradeshow: Show Floor Becomes Eclectic
Trade Shows
More than a decade ago, Pooltradeshow started as a venue for new brands to gain a toehold in fashion, and during its most recent run at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Aug. 15–17 in Las Vegas it remained as a place for brands making their first run as well as those with eclectic style ideas.
Project: Business Good: Traffic Even, Vendors Say
Trade Shows
For Eric Martin, the most recent run of Project, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, was highly profitable.
Debuts at Capsule
Trade Shows
After more than a decade of exhibiting at Pooltradeshow, Freddie Rojas moved to Capsule and made his debut at the high-end show for independent and progressive designers. The show ran at The Venetian ballroom Aug. 15–17 in Las Vegas.
Reaction To Liberty Traffic Mixed
Trade Shows
This year’s announcements that top retailers such as Nordstrom Inc. and Macy’s Inc. would close stores gave the fashion industry little to cheer about, and Ben De Luca went to Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs feeling nervous for the show’s Aug. 15–17 run at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
Cotton Citizen Opens on Melrose Place
Cotton Citizen
Just off of luxury shopping street Melrose Place in West Hollywood, Calif., high-end T-shirt brand Cotton Citizen is putting down its stake in the retail market.
Agenda: 1990s Inspiration
Trade Shows
Hip-hop star 2 Chainz was being followed by a coterie of camera people and fans when he settled at his booth at the Agenda trade show in Las Vegas, which ran Aug. 15–17 at the Sands Expo.
Vegas is a One-Stop Shop—Spread Out Across Multiple Categories and Venues
Trade Shows
The recent Las Vegas apparel, accessories and sourcing trade shows offered a comprehensive overview of the apparel market for buyers who zipped between the many shows and venues.
Me.n.u Pops In Beverly Hills
Last week kids contemporary brand me.n.u opened a Beverly Hills pop-up shop.
Objects Without Meaning’s 1st Store
Objects Without Meaning. You have to take notice of the name. The L.A. based line opened its first pop-up shop Aug. 18.
Mawjee Joining Sole Technology
Manufacturing
Sole Technology Inc., the Orange County, Calif., manufacturer of action-sports footwear and apparel for brands such as Etnies, Altamont, És, Emerica and ThirtyTwo recently named Esmail Mawjee as the interim president of the 30-year-old company.
Waterman’s Ball Goes Informal
Waterman’s Ball
The venerable Waterman’s Ball has been the backdrop to a wild style of surf looks for much of its 26-year history. But in 2016, it changed venues and took on an informal look.
Apolis Heads to New York
Retail
Los Angeles–headquartered Apolis Holdings LLC helped pioneer the city’s Arts District, where it opened a flagship in 2011.
Kitson’s Fraser Ross Sues Former Business Partner
Legal
In 2011, Fraser Ross hired Chris Lee to turn the Kitson chain of boutiques into a global brand.
Rock Style a la John Varvatos X GNR
Maybe it was you cheering your lungs out when Guns N’ Roses performed their hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle” in 1987. OK, if it wasn’t you, John Varvatos will give you a chance to look like you were at there at the beginning.
The Hundreds’ Boys Get Into Restaurant Biz
Ah, to be young, talented…and to be branching out into new gigs.
Macy's: Welcome Visitor!
Aug.11 was a tough day for Macy's Inc. However, there was some good news too.
American Rag Parties For The Brand & The Book
Sometimes you have to make up a good reason to have a party. In the case of a big gathering Aug. 10 at American Rag Cie in Los Angeles, there were a couple of good reasons.
Robert Talbott Opening Stores
Retail
Suiting and lifestyle brand Robert Talbott recently announced that it would open two new boutiques, one in Manhattan and the other at The Shops in Buckhead in Atlanta.
July Sales Slow
Retail
Searching for Pokémon Go creatures may have lured some potential shoppers into stores last month, but it probably didn’t translate into sales, said Wall Street analysts such as Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics Inc.
Independent Designers Fight for Market Space
Independent Designers
The Great Recession and its slow recovery generally were blamed for wiping out a generation of independent designers.
Gen Art’s Fresh Faces Comeback
Fresh Faces
After a three-year absence from LA’s runways, Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion program raised the standard for mostly men’s styles Aug. 4 at Willow Studios, located in a gentrifying but still tough-looking section of the Los Angeles Arts District.
Italian brand Subdued in Santa Monica
After years of building a fleet of stores in Europe, Subdued, an Italian line of clothes for juniors, opened its first U.S. store. It’s in Santa Monica, Calif. Take a look
Reshaping Retail
Store Of The Future
Everything about stores—from design to strategies for attracting shoppers to organizing inventory—has gone through major changes in the past decade.
The Hundreds Goes Workwear
Inspired by traditional workwear, Los Angeles headquartered streetwear brand The Hundreds released its Fall 2016 collection today.
Making the Most of a Quiet LA Market
LA Market
The recent Los Angeles Fashion Market for Holiday/Resort 2017 appeared to be dead on arrival, but signs of life existed.
FCI’s Fashion Culture Fall ’16 Show
Fashion Culture
A sexy tribute to music star Prince’s often-risqué vision followed a fashion collection inspired by religious modesty.
Food Trucks to CMC
Food trucks have been the Los Angeles culinary craze for a few years, now they’ve parked at the California Market Center.
Supra Pops With Art And Sneakers
He used to skateboard on it. Now he looks at it as prime art material.
Wet Seal Blogs The Bloggers
Wet Seal’s rebound campaign is hoping to make a splash with bloggers, bloggers, bloggers.
The Off-Price Market Is Switched On
Retail
In a tough retail market, off-price stores are churning up some of the best performances in the business.
NYC Beachwear Brand, Faherty, Takes It To Newport Beach
Waters are crowded in the swim/beachwear market, but New York City’s Faherty brand hopes to make a California splash.
At Platform: Curve X Tom Dixon
Curve X Tom Dixon
On July 20, a gala opening was held for their 7,000-square-foot emporium, called The Shop, Curve X Tom Dixon.
Next Stop for Streetwear Brand: Hotel Rooms & Lobbies
Retail
At the W Hotel in Hollywood, guests can order apparel and accessories from LA brand ADBD, which are delivered like room service.
Guerilla Atelier: Ultra Luxe Store Grows in Arts District
Retail
Carl Louisville spent a career on retail on Los Angeles’ affluent Westside, but in 2011 he decided that opportunities lay east. He opened the ultra-luxe boutique Guerilla Atelier in the Skid Row–adjacent Arts District in downtown Los Angeles.
Old Fame Tries Something New
Old Fame
After starting a career in fashion design and leading a surfwear company called Old Fame, Steven Esterley was dying to try something different.
Balenciaga to Rodeo
French fashion house Balenciaga opened its second American flagship at 353 N. Rodeo Dr. recently.
Au Courant: Social Change By Boutique
Kelly Fielding took an extended break from Los Angeles' fashion rat race to go backpacking in South America and work in a women’s shelter in India. At the women’s shelter, clothes were made for export and Kelly had an Eureka moment. She could work on changing the fashion business and help people, if she sold clothes from places like the shelter and artisan co-ops around the developing world. She will produce a grand opening party for boutique Au Courant - which sells these fair trade clothes - on July 19.
Niche Suit Maker Jimmy Au’s Leaves Beverly Hills for Sherman Oaks
Jimmy Au’s
There’s only one store in the United States selling suits and gear for the shorter man; it’s Jimmy Au’s for Men 5’8” and Under, said Alan Au, company vice president.
Obsessee Doesn't Want Your Money
“Your money isn’t good here! We want your social media posts.” This is the mantra of a pop-up shop to produced July 15-17 by the online only media title Obsessee.
June Business Better Than Expected
Retail
For many retailers, there was no June gloom. They did better business than what many Wall Street analysts predicted.
Melrose Ave To Get Wheels – With New Shuttle
Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue has a long history of being the address to innovative boutiques. But the fabled boulevard also has been dogged by the same complaint year after year. The city blocks are too long. Enter the Melrose Shopping Shuttle.
Cult Gaia Pops
Making floral crowns was a hobby for fashion student Jasmin Larian. Fast forward to 2016, she parlayed a craft business into fashion label Cult Gaia. All things Cult Gaia will be on display at its first pop-up shop, at the Platform boutique retail center in Culver City. The shop popped on April 9
L Brands Beats Estimates During Soft March Business
Retail
L Brands—the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath & Body Works—beat Wall Street estimates.
Anne Fontaine’s Gala South Coast Plaza Runway Show
Fashion
Designer Anne Fontaine made a trip to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., for her label’s first comprehensive West Coast runway presentation.
Roach to Head Volcom Women’s
Manufacturing
Lyndsey Roach, an action-sports veteran, was named the global head of women’s business for Volcom, it was recently announced.
Surf’s Heartland No Longer No-Go Zone for Designer Styles: Kin Opening in Huntington Beach
Retail
For decades, Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, Calif., have been known as the Rodeo Drive of Surf.
