Designers and Agents Suspends Paris Show
Trade Show
Designers and Agents, which organizes curated trade shows for contemporary fashions, has decided to suspend its Paris show, which took place for several years in the Marias district of the French capital.
Feds Want to See increased Scrutiny of Cash Transactions in LA Fashion District
Manufacturing
After raids in the LA garment district revealed more than $90 million in cash has been allegedly laundered by apparel importers for Mexican drug cartels, federal officials are calling for a special order to reduce the dollar amount in cash transactions that can be done without having to report them to the government.
A Different Approach to LA Fashion Week?
Fashion
Maybe designers should take to the LA streets to show their new collections.
New Sam Edelman Flagship Store in Southern California
Retail
The West Coast gets its first Sam Edelman flagship store.
Customs Officials Ease Back on Changes for First-Sale Rule
Import & Export
Customs officials have stopped pushing for major adjustments to the so-called “First-Sale Rule,” which would have required handing over a boatload of documents to validate where goods were made and at what price.
How Mounting Congestion at Local Ports Is Affecting Apparel Importers
Import & Export
Bob Wysocki of Sears Holdings complained that sometimes it takes as long as one to two weeks to extract his merchandise out of the port complex in Los Angeles and get Sears’ cargo containers on a train, where it might take another two weeks to reach a warehouse.
Allen Schwartz's Store Celebrates Big Anniversary
Retail
ABS by Allen Schwartz store celebrates big anniversary in Santa Monica, Calif.
What a Proposed $13.25 an Hour Minimum Wage Would Mean for LA’s Apparel Industry
Manufacturing
On Labor Day, Sept. 1, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed raising the city’s minimum wage to $13.25 in the next 2½ years.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Sees California’s Economy Inching Ahead
Economic Forecast
The latest UCLA Anderson Forecast, released on Sept. 11, shows California's economy making slow progress with the operative word here being “slow.”
UPDATE Feds Raid LA Garment Companies in Mexican Drug Money-Laundering Scheme
LA Fashion District
Scores of federal and local law enforcement agents early Wednesday swarmed dozens of residences and apparel businesses in Los Angeles to crack down on a long-running money laundering scheme benefiting two drug cartels in Mexico.
Levi's Gets into the Body-Shaping Jeans Game
Retail
Levi's Launches a Line of Body-shaping jeans at Walmart, Kmart and Meijer stores.
Patagonia Introduces New Nano-Air Products That Are Extremely Light
Manufacturing
Most outdoor athletes know that when the going gets tough, you start to heat up and have to shed layers of clothing.
More Services Jump In to Bring Apparel Production Back to Los Angeles
Made in LA
When Mike Basteguian was growing up in Los Angeles, his family’s garment factory was one of 80 clothing contractors in the early 1990s. Today, there are only a handful of factories.
Run Wild With the Ponies
Isle Poni Lo
In her first luxury swimwear collection ever designed, Ashley Morgan Foster knew she wanted it to be as ecologically viable as possible.
Denim Trends: How Unskinny Can Denim Get?
Manufacturing
Trend forecasters say there is a shake-up occurring in the denim world as we know it.
West Coast Dockworkers and Port Employers Make Progress in Negotiations
Import & Export
The long and drawn-out contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association took a giant step forward.
WWIN Caters to Specialty Stores
Trade Shows
All six ballrooms were packed at the Women’s Wear in Nevada (WWIN) show, which took place Aug. 18–21 at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Capsule Is Compact
Trade Shows
Many exhibiting and wandering through the Capsule show, an edited collection of everything hip in the world of apparel and accessories, enjoyed the airy feeling of the event, held Aug. 18–20 at The Venetian ballroom along with the other five shows that make up the relatively new Modern Assembly group.
New Sources at Sourcing at MAGIC
Trade Shows
Walking into Sourcing at MAGIC at the Las Vegas Convention Center is a little bit like taking a trip to the United Nations. It seems that just about every region or country in the world has sent a group of apparel or shoe manufacturers in search of new business.
The Hello Kitty Convention in L.A.
Fun stuff
The first-official Hello Kitty fan convention will be held in downtown L.A. in late October.
New Direction for Barbara Lesser as Company Revamps
Manufacturing
Designer Barbara Lesser, who for more than 20 years ran the Barbara Lesser and Fibers by Barbara Lesser labels with her husband, Mark Lesser, is restructuring the company to a smaller model.
Africa Could Be the Next Frontier With AGOA
Import & Export
China may be the apparel factory to the world, but one day Africa could be right up there with the powerhouse manufacturer.
Gap Stores Headed for Expansion in India
Retail
Gap Inc. plans to tap into the purchasing power of 1.2 billion people in India with the debut of 40 franchised stores that will open next year.
Exhibitors Report Buyers Writing Orders
Las Vegas Trade Shows
LAS VEGAS—With more than 20 events spread across five venues, the Las Vegas trade shows offered just about something for every buyer—from juniors and streetwear to upscale menswear and lingerie.
Avery Dennison RBIS Joins Forces with Chinese Knitwear Manufacturer
Manufacturing
Avery Dennison RBIS—which specializes in apparel-industry branding, labeling, packaging, embellishments and RFID solutions—and Ningbo Shenzhou Knitting Co., a vertically integrated knitwear manufacturer in China, announced a joint venture to facilitate heat-transfer innovations.
Attorney Deborah Greaves Joins Ezra Brutzkus Gubner
Legal
For years, Deborah Greaves made headlines by busting counterfeiters trying to knock off True Religion jeans. When True Religion was purchased in May by TowerBrook Capital Partners for $835 million, Greaves left the company and started her own practice.
Barneys New York Opens at the Americana at Brand
Retail
Barneys New York is alive and well at The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, Calif.
American Apparel Announces New Board Member and Quarterly Results
Manufacturing
In preliminary results for its second quarter, American Apparel reported it reduced its net loss over last year even though revenues were relatively flat.
Serendipity at the Heart of Necessitees
Necessitees
Necessitees came about 12 years ago when Hallie Shano was sitting in her self-named multi-line showroom at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles when a man in a baseball cap, T-shirt and shorts walked in and asked if she was interested in starting a T-shirt line.
Vietnam’s Apparel Industry is on a Rapid-Expansion Plan
Import & Export
China and Vietnam are still the top two providers of apparel and textiles to the United States, but Vietnam is growing quickly as an apparel powerhouse.
Apparel and Footwear Importers Concerned About Changes in First-Sale Rule
Import & Export
U.S. apparel and textile importers are rallying to push back a new proposal that would require more stringent record-keeping requirements to bring in goods under the so-called “First-Sale Rule,” which went into effect more than 25 years ago.
Cargo container Volumes Rise at U.S. Ports as Contract Talks Continue on the Waterfront
Import & Export
As contract talks between West Coast longshore workers and their employers continued into their 14th week, importers were playing it cautious and bringing in as much merchandise as they could to fill holiday orders.
Deckers' New Headquarters Shines With Energy Efficiency
Footwear
The makers of Uggs, Tevas, Sanuks and other footwear goes all out in constructing its new headquarters in Goleta, Calif.
The Controversy Around the Singer Sewing Machine Patent
The Singer sewing machine was patented on Aug. 12, 1851.
San Francisco Clothing Label Isda Closes After 25 Years
Manufacturing
Isda & Co., an updated misses line founded in 1989 by designer Isda Funari, has suddenly stopped operations and closed its doors after showing its Fall 2014 collection earlier this year in New York and Las Vegas.
LA Maker of Lux Tees Expands to Menswear
Michael Stars Men's
Michael Stars is branching out into menswear by launching a limited 34-piece collection for Fall in September and then a more extensive collection for Spring 2015.
How a Growing Economy Affects Financing for Apparel Manufacturers
Finance
With interest rates still hovering in single-digit territory, the cost of borrowing money should be cheap, cheap, cheap. But it’s more than low interest rates that determine how much apparel manufacturers pay for a loan.
Nordstrom Expanding Online and With Bricks-and-Mortar
Retail
Nordstrom Inc. is busy laying down plans for a new outlet store in Orange County while buying an e-commerce site that caters to men.
Zero Degrees Celsius
Showroom Profile
An abundance of light streams in through the south-facing windows of the new showroom for the Zero Degrees Celsius line.
Highlighting Apparel Production and Fashion in Colombia
Colombiamoda
Colombia is a powerhouse of apparel production in South America, right after Brazil. And the country is fighting to keep its apparel and textile industry vibrant. Every year, Colombiamoda gets bigger with more pavilions and elements to it.
Onda de Mar Hits the Runway at Colombiamoda
Fashion
Colombian swimwear maker Onda de Mar shows its latest collection on the runway at Colombiamoda.
UPDATE: L.A.’s Topson Downs Acquires Majority of Rachel Roy Label
Manufacturing
Topson Downs, a Los Angeles manufacturer established in 1971, announced on July 18 it had acquired a majority interest in the Rachel Roy brand from The Jones Group. No purchase price was listed.
FIDM Students to Design Windows at Saks
Retail
FIDM students to enter content to design the display windows at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.
L.A.’s Topson Downs Acquires Majority of Rachel Roy Label
M&A
Topson Downs, a Los Angeles manufacturer established in 1971, announced on July 18 it had acquired a majority interest in the Rachel Roy brand from The Jones Group.
Fred Segal Heads to Tokyo in Global Expansion
Retail
Fred Segal, the Los Angeles nameplate launched in 1961 by denim guru Fred Segal, is setting up stakes in Tokyo with its first retail complex outside of the United States.
Love Culture Retail Chain for Sale After Filing for Bankruptcy
Retail
Love Culture, the Los Angeles–based retail chain founded by two former Forever 21 executives, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Cargo-Container Volumes Surge at Local Ports
Import & Export
With contract negotiations still going on with West Coast longshore workers, apparel importers and retailers were pushing to land their goods before a potential work stoppage or port strike takes place.
Controversy Over the ‘Made in USA’ Label
Manufacturing
Los Angeles blue-jeans makers may be headed to court over one little thing: the “Made in USA” label sewn inside their garments. Several Los Angeles denim makers have been hit with class-action lawsuits and legal letters challenging the accuracy of their labels because most of their raw materials are imported from Europe or Asia even though the jeans are sewn in California.
