U.S. Retail Sales on Strong Footing for 2019 With Job Growth Continuing
Retail
Despite rumblings of a trade war with China and an up-and-down stock market, the National Retail Federation said it expects retail sales for 2019 to be up from 3.8 percent to 4.4 percent, totaling more than $3.8 trillion.
Levi Strauss Sees Substantial Growth in 2018
Manufacturing
Levi Strauss & Co., the San Francisco clothing company known for its Levi’s jeans, had a solid year of growth with net revenues increasing a healthy 14 percent in its fiscal year ending Nov. 25, 2018.
Las Vegas Apparel and Footwear Shows Announce Big Location Moves
Trade Shows
MAGIC and WWIN announce big moves.
Sourcing at MAGIC Kicks Off in South Hall of Convention Center
Sourcing at MAGIC returns to its old location in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Monique Lhuillier Unveils Her Pre-Fall Collection for Ready-to-Wear
Fall Colors by Monique Lhuillier
In 1996, Los Angeles designer Monique Lhuillier launched her self-named company with a line of wedding dresses that had a more modern feel to them.
Fashion Market Northern California Runs Into Some Competition
Trade Shows
A confluence of trade shows and an early date for the apparel and textile trade shows in Las Vegas put a damper on the latest edition of Fashion Market Northern California.
How to Tackle the China Trade-War Challenges
Finance
In the past year, it has become increasingly more challenging to be an apparel manufacturer, importer or retailer in the United States as uncertainty surrounds trade with China.
American Eagle Outfitters Leaves Hollywood & Highland
Retail
American Eagle Outfitters joins a number of retailers leaving Hollywood & Highland.
Guess CEO Unexpectedly Steps Down
New CEO at Guess has been there before.
Hong Kong Fashion Week Downsizes Amid U.S. Tariff Tiff
Trade Shows
Hong Kong Fashion Week had a subdued air this year as U.S. buyers have become more cautious about placing orders with Chinese factories, which make up the bulk of the exhibitors.
Hong Kong Designers Take an Artsy Approach to Showing Their Styles
Hong Kong Fashion Week
Traditionally, Hong Kong Fashion Week shows have been down a long catwalk surrounded by spectators interested in the latest trends.
Chinese Tariffs on Cotton Have Major Effect on Growers
Textiles
A tariff war between the United States and China is playing a big part in the health and well-being of the U.S. cotton market.
Despite a Few Ripples, the U.S. Economy Is Poised for Growth
Finance
If you had to describe what the economic outlook was for 2019, you might be inclined to liken it to the Charles Dickens novel “A Tale of Two Cities.”
Hong Kong Fashion Week Celebrates Chinese New Year
Trade shows
Hong Kong Fashion Week coincides with upcoming Chinese New Year.
Coats Thread Company Acquires ThreadSol and Opens Innovation Hub
Manufacturing
Coats, the British industrial-thread manufacturer who has been on an acquisition binge, recently acquired for $12 million ThreadSol, a cloud-based digital-applications provider, which becomes a part of Coats Global Services.
Hybrid Apparel Names New CEO
Manufacturing
Hybrid Apparel, the Cypress, Calif., company that does all kinds of casual clothing, announced it has a new chief executive.
Could Charlotte Russe Be Up for Sale or Headed for Bankruptcy?
Retail
After restructuring its debt by more than 50 percent last year, Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. could be up for sale or headed for bankruptcy restructuring.
The North Face Unveils New Breathable Waterproof Fabric
Textiles
The North Face unveils FutureLight, a new breathable waterproof material.
Hybrid Apparel Names New CEO
Hybrid Apparel names veteran retailer as new chief executive.
Could Charlotte Russe Be Up for Sale or Headed for Bankruptcy?
After restructuring its debt by more than 50 percent last year, Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. could be up for sale or headed for bankruptcy restructuring.
Retail Seasonal Hiring Down From Last Year
Retail
A tight labor market made it hard to find seasonal retail workers this holiday season.
Johnny Was: Carrying the Boho Look Over to Swimwear
Swimwear at Johnny Was
The world of Johnny Was is all about embroidered clothing with a certain boho look that has been a strong selling point for the Los Angeles label since it was founded in 1987.
Apparel Makers Feel the Rush to Bring in Goods From China Early
Import/Export
With additional tariffs on Chinese imports being threatened, Los Angeles clothing makers are feeling the pinch to bring in goods earlier to save money.
Juicy Couture Going to South Korea
Retail
Juicy Couture will see shops-in-shops in South Korea by 2020.
The Most-Popular California Apparel News Stories of 2018
Manufacturing
This year was filled with a raft of news about how U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods were affecting the U.S. apparel and textile industry, and that news occupied a lot of our readers’ attention.
Cherokee Announces Deal With the Batra Group for Tony Hawk License
Manufacturing
Cherokee Global Brands, a Southern California brand-management company, announced it has signed a deal with the Batra Group for a licensing agreement to sell the Tony Hawk brand for apparel and accessories in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
New California Laws to Alter Workplace Rules
Legal
Ringing in the new year means ringing in a whole set of new laws that are important for employers to know. Most of these laws go into effect Jan. 1, but the minimum-wage increase in Los Angeles doesn’t take effect until July 1.
Report Shows That Dollar Stores Are Popular for Holiday Shopping
Retail
People of all income levels and age brackets are shopping dollar stores this holiday season, according to a recent survey conducted by The NPD Group, a market-research and consumer-trends company in Port Washington, N.Y.
A Festive Spirit Takes off at the 71st Annual Holiday Party by the California Fashion Foundation
CFF Gives Back
The activity meter on the top floor of the Cooper Design Space went into overdrive as 200 children danced to holiday music, fought with sword balloons, tossed fake snow everywhere and received bulging bags filled with a boatload of gifts.
Year in Review: Trade: The Year Where Nobody Knows What is Actually Going On
2018’s Trade Climate
If you had to explain why the stock market is going up and down like a yo-yo, one of the reasons is the uncertainty in trade.
Hong Kong Fashion Week Celebrating Its 50th Edition
Trade Shows
The upcoming Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, to be held Jan. 14–17, will see the vast halls of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre filled with 1,400 exhibitors showcasing everything from buttons and accessories to evening gowns and activewear.
L.A. Textiles Executives Sentenced to Prison for Laundering Mexican Cartel Drug Money
Legal
The owners of Pacific Eurotex Corp., a textile company in Los Angeles, were sentenced to federal prison after they pleaded guilty last year to federal money-laundering and tax-evasion charges.
Badgley Mischka Opens Flagship in West Hollywood
Retail
The new Badgley Mischka outpost is located in a historic building in West Hollywood.
An Economic Snapshot of 2018 and the Apparel Industry
News
This year started out with a bang with a vibrant stock market and low interest rates.
Los Angeles Trade-Technical Fashion Students Take inspiration from Mexico City for Their Designs
Latin Style Influence
The fashion students at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College held their biannual student fashion show where designs covered everything from childrenswear to evening wear.
2018 Retrospective: China Still Dominates U.S. Apparel Imports Despite Trade War With United States
Import/Export
If you thought U.S. clothing companies were shying away from China to make their wide array of imported garments, think again.
2018 Retrospective: Rising Minimum Wage Contributes to Decline in California’s Apparel-Factory Employment
Manufacturing
As the minimum wage continues to rise in Los Angeles County and the rest of the state, more apparel manufacturers are opting to move production elsewhere.
Old Navy Will Pay for Your Lyft Trip
Holiday Shopping
Old Navy will pay for you to come to the store to pick up your online order.
Newsmaker: National Stores Files for Bankruptcy Protection After Half a Century in Business
Retail
For years, the Fallas and Factory 2-U stores owned by National Stores have been the favorite shopping spots for consumers in search of a bargain.
Newsmaker: Ilse Metchek, California Fashion Association
Manufacturing
For decades now, Ilse Metchek has been the go-to person if you want inside information on anything going on in the California apparel world.
Newsmaker: As the Trade War Turns, So Goes the Economy
Import/Export
This has been a year of uncertainty for the trade world.
Newsmaker: AST Sportswear Inherits Title of Large T-shirt Maker in the United States
Manufacturing
For years, AST Sportswear operated under the radar in Orange County, Calif.
The Pantone Color of the Year Is Selected for 2019
Color Trend
Pantone does its research for the Color of the Year.
Madewell Pop-Up Mobile Truck Making the Rounds in L.A. This Week
Rolling retail
Madewell's mobile pop-up holiday store will be making the rounds in Los Angeles.
UCLA Anderson Forecast Sees a Slowing Economy With Trade Causing Potential Problems
Trade and the Economy
The UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts the economy will slow down in 2019 and then nearly even out in 2020.
AAFA Announces Honorees for American Image Awards
Manufacturing
The American Apparel & Footwear Association, a trade organization in Washington, D.C., representing hundreds of the country’s largest manufacturers, named the recipients of its annual American Image Awards, which will be presented April 15 at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
New Company to Take Over Some National Stores Outposts
National Stores Saved
After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August, National Stores has found a way to keep some of its stores open after announcing it was closing all of them.
Informa Names New President of Menswear Shows
Trade Shows
Informa, the British company that acquired UBM Fashion this year for $5 billion, has chosen a new president of menswear.
