2014 Retrospective: Real Estate: Retail Rents Climb in Beverly Hills
Retail
During the past year, rents on several prime Los Angeles shopping streets have stayed the course and not risen over last year.
Parker & Barrow Store Opening on Broadway
Downtown Retail
Parker & Barrow store with custom-made clothes opening in downtown Los Angeles.
American Apparel Managers Write Letter Urging Board to Keep Charney On After Hiring New CEO
After American Apparel’s board announced its decision on Dec. 16 to fire Dov Charney as the clothing company’s president and chief executive, a group of 30 managers and directors wrote a letter saying they wanted the controversial founder to stay on in some capacity
American Apparel Fires Dov Charney, Hires New CEO
Executive Shift
After months of deliberating, a special committee appointed by the American Apparel board of directors decided on Dec. 16 to fire company founder Dov Charney as its chief executive and president. He had been working as a paid consultant during the investigation, an arrangement
2014 Newsmakers: Staci Riordan and The Fashion Law Project
Legal
Attorney Staci Riordan is known for having a lot of energy and creative ideas swirling around in her head.
2014 Newsmakers: The Controversy Over ‘Made in USA’ Labeling
Manufacturing
A class-action lawsuit filed earlier this year has led to a lot of confusion lately about how California apparel companies cutting and sewing their garments locally should label their products.
2014 Newsmakers: Federal Raid in Los Angeles Fashion District Uncovers Drug-Money Laundering Scheme
Manufacturing
Federal agents in September raided some 70 LA garment companies and residences in an investigation undercovering a Mexican drug money-laundering scheme that had been going on for years right in the heart of the Los Angeles Fashion District.
2014 Newsmakers: West Coast Ports’ ‘Perfect Storm’
Import/Export
For many retailers and apparel importers, this holiday season didn’t turn out to be very merry and bright.
2014 Newsmakers: Dov Charney’s Fight With American Apparel
Manufacturing
For American Apparel founder Dov Charney, it’s been a harrowing year.
Apparel Importers Push to Bring Cargo In Before Chinese New Year
New Year's Deadline
Wary apparel and textile importers who have lost millions of dollars due to late-arriving merchandise are setting their shipping plans on fast forward even though the holiday season normally signals a shipping slowdown.
Kelly Slater Appoints More Execs to His New Brand Outerknown
Manufacturing
Surf legend Kelly Slater is hoping to rip it with his new clothing label, Outerknown, which will see the men’s collection in stores for Fall 2015 and women’s debuting for Resort 2015.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Takes a Look at California’s Future
2015 Report
California is on a steady course to see job growth outpace the U.S. economy through the end of 2016, eventually driving down the state unemployment to 5.6 percent during that period. That is considerably lower than the 7.3 percent recorded in October.
Diane von Furstenberg Comes to The Grove
Retail
At The Grove, Diane von Furstenberg opens her newest shop.
Hong Kong Fashion Week Takes a Look at the Fall/Winter 2015 Season
Trade Show
The 46th semiannual Hong Kong Fashion Week will be held Jan. 19–22 at the Hong Kong Convention Centre with a number of fashion shows, seminars, exhibitors and trend forecasts tailor-made for buyers and other attendees.
California and U.S. Economic Growth Looks Brighter for 2015
Finance
California has been slowly adding jobs to its payrolls, and next year should be no different.
Poshmark Fashion App Adds a Layer to Detect Fake Designer Labels
Poshmark, a 3-year-old mobile app launched by Manish Chandra out of Menlo Park, Calif., has unveiled a free new service that will help buyers on the fashion and accessories destination make sure the brands they are buying are the real McCoy.
Bright Holiday Lights Come to The Bloc
Holiday Retail
Downtown L.A. lights adorn The Bloc, the ongoing restoration of the former Macy's Plaza on Seventh Street.
Novelty Textile Wins Major Case Over Fabric Design Copyright
Textiles
More than one year after filing a copyright-infringement lawsuit over three different fabric designs, Novelty Textile has been awarded $650,000 in a jury verdict.
No Change on the Waterfront as Cargo Slowly Clears the Ports
Import & Export
The protracted contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which employs the longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports, have stalled until Dec. 2. Charges of work slowdowns at the ports have continued.
Forever 21 Opens Thanksgiving Morning
Retail
Forever 21 Gets the Jump on Other Clothing Stores on Thanksgiving.
Port Congestion Fees Suspended for Shippers But More Problems at the Docks
Import & Export
The silver lining in the West Coast port-congestion problem is this: There will be tons of discounted winter merchandise for sale after the holiday shopping season.
Byer California Launching Retail and Fast-Fashion Items
Manufacturing
In December, the San Francisco–based company said it plans to open its first outlet store, which will be at the Outlets at Tejon in Tejon, Calif. The discount mall is a convenient stopping-off point for long-distance travelers driving north from Los Angeles through the San Joaquin Valley on Interstate 5.
Stockholder Demands Resignation of Two American Apparel Board Members
A Canadian shareholder who owns a minority stake in American Apparel stock is calling for the last two senior members on the clothing company’s board to resign.
Turkish Mill Reveals Denim Trends
Isko
Isko, the Turkish denim maker, scouts the globe year-round for denim and fabric trends to help it invent and improve on 300 different new fabric offerings per year.
Levi’s to Lay Off 500 Employees as More Outsourcing Takes Place
Manufacturing
As part of its overall five-year plan to outsource global services, Levi Strauss & Co. recently announced it would lay off 500 people from its offices around the world.
American Apparel Sees Big Rise in Third Quarter Net Loss
Retail
Los Angeles–based American Apparel, the largest apparel factory in the United States, continued to battle financial woes with its third-quarter net sales dipping 5 percent.
Port Congestion Worsens With Mounting Fees for Importers
Import & Export
Apparel importer Ashok Kumar is patiently waiting in Los Angeles for six to eight containers of sweaters and jackets to arrive by boat from Asia to stock his various clothing stores in downtown Los Angeles.
Lingerie Companies Fined for False Claims on Caffeine-Infused Shapewear
Textiles
The Federal Trade Commission has fined two lingerie makers $1.5 million for their statements that their caffeine-infused shapewear would solve a multitude of weight and fat problems.
The Celebs at the Toms for Target Launch Celebration
Retail
Lots of entertainment people showed up in Culver City for the debut of the Toms for Target collection.
Shop & Dine
Trade Show
Trade shows can be fun, but they can zap your energy with endless hours on your feet or days bogged down at a booth. Here are a few suggestions on new restaurants and boutiques that might make life a little easier when traveling to those trade shows.
Trina Turk Sample Sale This Weekend
Retail
Three-day sample sale coming up at Trina Turk store in Los Angeles.
Positive Signs for California Job Growth
Finance
More people should be employed in California during the fourth quarter of this year as companies around the state continue to add staff.
Work Stoppage Spreads to Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
Import & Export
Adding to the cargo congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, longshore workers allegedly started imposing a work slowdown at the largest port complex in the United States.
California Apparel Makers Concerned About ‘Made in USA’ Label
Manufacturing
A recent federal judge’s ruling is making California apparel makers think twice about how they label their garments in the future.
Basic Line Corp. Selling Its Embroidery and Embellishment Company
For nearly 23 years, the Shalom brothers have operated Basic Line Corp., a popular embroidery and embellishment company, out of a huge industrial building they own in Vernon, Calif.
New Yoga Store Opens First California Store in Los Angeles
Retail
Yogasmoga finds a retail home on the Westside.
Macerich Says Shopping Mall Sales Are Up
Retail
The Macerich Co., which owns Santa Monica Place and a host of other shopping centers across the country, said its tenants saw their annual sales per square foot inch up 4 percent from one year ago.
Jerry Leigh Named New Dickies Girl Licensee
Manufacturing
Veteran Los Angeles apparel maker Jerry Leigh of California has been given the license to make Dickies Girl juniors’ apparel. The license was awarded by Texas work wear company Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Co., which has been making hard core work wear as well as more fashionable pieces since 1922.
Toms and Target Unveil Their Holiday Collaboration
Retail
Southern California's Blake Mycoskie of Toms Shoes partners with Target on a casual but cool Holiday collection.
St. John CEO Leaving in Early November
Executive Moves
After a little more than one year on the job, Geoffroy van Raemdonck is stepping down as the chief executive of St. John, the high-end knitwear company based in Irvine, Calif.
Demi Moore and Daughter at Torrid Event
Retail
Rumer Willis hosts fashion guests at Torrid cocktail event at Chateau Marmont.
AAFA Joins Forces with Chinese Textile and Apparel Group
Import & Export
The American Apparel & Footwear Association and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles and Apparel have signed a memorandum of understanding to better understand what is happening in the apparel and textile industries in China.
Burberry to Receive the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award
Fashion
Just in time for its new flagship store opening on Rodeo Drive, the iconic British luxury brand Burberry will receive this year’s Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award.
Apparel Importers Hope to See Solutions to Local Port Congestion Problems
Import & Export
For nearly two weeks now, Ram Kundani has been waiting to receive seven cargo containers filled with tops, sweaters and dresses shipped from Bangladesh, China and Indonesia to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Ann Taylor's Spring/Summer Collection for 2015
Retail
Ann Taylor's creative director goes light and breezy for spring and summer.
The New Mart Has a New Restaurant
Fashion District
Amante Pizza and Pasta moves over to The New Mart.
Showroom Profile: Shu Shu Showroom
New Lines
Darlier this year, Hsu decided to make her life more manageable by shutting down her New York showroom and transferring it to Los Angeles.
Miss Me Jeans Collaborates With Jewelry Designer
Manufacturing
Miss Me jeans collaborates with jewelry designer Dominique Cohen.
Adding to Cargo Congestion Problem
Port of Los Angeles Fire
A fire that engulfed an old wooden wharf nearly the length of three football fields at the Port of Los Angeles was completely contained by early morning on Sept. 24, port officials said.
