Staples USA: Los Angeles Label Has Been Focused on Domestic Production for More Than Three Decades
Staples USA
Staples USA is making its clothes in LA even though 97.5 percent of garments sold in the United States come from overseas.
Columbia Sportswear Reveals Uniforms for Olympic Freestyle Skiers
Columbia Sportswear designs uniforms for freestyle skiers from the Olympic teams representing the U.S., Canada and Russia.
Designers Sue Wong and Kevan Hall at LA Jewelry, Antique & Design Show
LA designers to present their fashions at prestigious show at the LA Convention Center.
New CEO at Not Your Daughter’s Jeans
Executive Moves
On Jan. 7, Robert C. Skinner Jr. was appointed the new CEO of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, a blue-jeans company now called NYDJ and based in Vernon, Calif.
FactoryLA Incubator Closes Its Doors
Made in LA
After running an indie operation that championed the cause of locally designed and produced clothing and accessories, FactoryLA has closed the doors to its store and fashion incubator, located in the heart of the LA Fashion District.
Mia Marcelle: Swimwear on the Vine
2014 Waterwear
Amber Wagner’s idea for her new swimwear label, Mia Marcelle, designed in Napa Valley, Calif., had been fermenting for some time.
The United States Is Manufacturing More Apparel Than in Recent Years
Manufacturing
Apparel production in the United States saw an 8.5 percent jump in 2012 over 2011 as American shoppers focused more on buying domestically made clothing.
Bloomingdale's Going All Out for Chinese New Year
Several Bloomingdale's stores will celebrate Chinese New Year with pop-up shops and more.
Tanner Goods Coming Soon to Downtown LA
Craftsman leather goods store Tanner Good taking retail spot on Broadway
Interior Design Tweaks Made at the Gerry Building
New owner making some changes at the historic Gerry Building in the LA Fashion District
2013 Year in Review: U.S. Concentrates on Concluding Two Major Free-Trade Pacts
Import & Export
The United States has free-trade agreements with 20 countries. But if it finishes up negotiating two major free-trade accords with Europe and countries around the Pacific, it will have free trade with another 34.
New California Laws Will Affect the Workplace in 2014
Manufacturing
Ringing in the new year means ringing in a raft of new employment laws that take effect on Jan. 1.
Retailers Who Made Santa's Good List for Online Shopping
The top five retailers who made Santa's nice list for delivering the goods
Carlos Arias Joins Walter Wilhelm Associates
Manufacturing
Most people know Carlos Arias as the blue-jeans guy. For several years, he was president of Guatemala-based American Denimatrix, the largest blue-jeans manufacturer in Central America.
Carlos Alberini Named New CEO at Lucky Brand Jeans
Manufacturing
Just days after Fifth & Pacific Companies announced it was selling Lucky Brand Jeans to a Los Angeles private-investment firm, Carlos Alberini has been tapped to be the new chief executive.
Majority Shareholder Bids to Take Frederick’s of Hollywood Private
Retail
After years of losing money, executives at lingerie retailer Frederick’s of Hollywood Group said they have accepted an offer to take the company private.
2013 RETROSPECTIVE Import/Export: China Still at the Center of U.S. Apparel and Textile Imports
Import & Export
Consumers loosened their purse strings this year and spent nearly 3.5 percent more on apparel and textile imports than last year.
2013 RETROSPECTIVE Real Estate: Retail Space Scarce in Prime LA Shopping Streets
Retail
Vacancies are getting harder to find in Los Angeles as more stores cruise for good locations in some of the more popular retail areas of town.
Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Fetches Top Price
M&A
Los Angeles blue-jeans company Not Your Daughter’s Jeans has been sold to a group of New York investors in a multi-million-dollar deal that closes in early January.
AAFA's Kevin Burke Stepping Down as President and CEO
Manufacturing
The American Apparel & Footwear Association, the giant trade group in Arlington, Va., that represents apparel and footwear companies as well as retailers, announced on Monday that its president and chief executive, Kevin Burke, will be resigning on Jan. 21 to take a new job.
Carlos Alberini Named New CEO at Lucky Brand Jeans
NEW HIRES
Just days after Fifth & Pacific Companies announced it was selling Lucky Brand Jeans to a Los Angeles private-investment firm, Carlos Alberini has been tapped to be the new chief executive.
True Religion’s New Owners Lay Off Scores of Employees
Premium Denim
Seven months after being bought by a private-equity firm, True Religion has laid off at least 70 people—many of them department heads and production people.
Early-Morning Fire in the LA Fashion District
Ninth Street
Some 135 firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an early-morning blaze Friday that started in the second floor of a small commercial building across from the California Market Center in the downtown Los Angeles fashion district.
2013 Newsmaker: Ilse Metchek, President, CFA
Manufacturing
There are thousands of apparel-related companies in California but not many nonprofit groups that serve as a go-to source informing the industry about new state laws and regulations, tariff and trade problems, and other fashion-centric issues.
2013 Newsmaker: Frances Harder, President, FBI
Manufacturing
Former designer Frances Harder created Fashion Business Inc. in 1999 as a Los Angeles nonprofit group to help emerging fashion companies get off the ground. Currently, there are about 250 full-time FBI members, and 90 percent of the organization’s clients are minorities or women.
2013 Newsmaker: European Union Denim Tariff
Import & Export
At a time when the Obama administration has been trying to boost U.S. exports overseas, Europe this spring put a crimp in the president’s initiative.
2013 Newsmaker: Apparel Mergers & Acquisitions
Finance
Some very big apparel deals went down this year with half of them involving some important names in the premium-denim arena.
Acne Studios Opening Doors Soon in Downtown LA
Acne Studios is braving downtown LA for its latest retail venture.
Lucky Brand Jeans Sold to Los Angeles Private-Equity Firm
Manufacturing
Fifth & Pacific Companies, which used to be known as Liz Claiborne Inc., has agreed to sell Lucky Brand Jeans for $225 million to Leonard Green Partners, a Los Angeles private-equity company. The deal should close in early 2014.
Loyola Law School Carves Out a Program for Fashion Law
Legal
Law schools in the West have specialties in entertainment law, sports law and biotech law, but it is rare to find a school that has a concentration of classes devoted to fashion law.
Urban Outfitters Opening Soon in Downtown LA
The Rialto Theatre on Broadway will have a new life as an Urban Outfitters store.
Lucky Brand Jeans Sold to Los Angeles Private-Equity Firm
M&A
Fifth & Pacific Companies, which used to be known as Liz Claiborne Inc., has agreed to sell Lucky Brand Jeans for $225 million to Leonard Green Partners, a Los Angeles private-equity company. The deal should close in early 2014.
Trina Turk Opens Store in Manhattan Beach
Retail
Los Angeles designer Trina Turk is hitting the retail trail again.
Former Forever 21 Executive Named CEO of Uniqlo USA
Retail
Uniqlo’s new chief executive officer for the United States comes directly from Los Angeles.
Apparel Factories Are Bracing for California’s New Minimum-Wage Hike Next Year
Manufacturing
A rise in California’s minimum wage from $8 to $9 an hour next summer will cost Los Angeles clothing manufacturer Tianello at least $208,000 a year.
Law Firm Gets UK to Strike Down Steep Tariff on Hudson Jeans
Denim Tax
Law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg has won a ruling in the United Kingdom that exempts Los Angeles–based Hudson Clothing from paying a steep 38 percent tariff on its women’s premium denim jeans made in the United States.
Trina Turk Opens Store in Manhattan Beach
Trina Turk's ninth store opened its doors in Manhattan Beach
Allen Schwartz Ventures into Young Contemporary and Plus Sizes
Brand Extension
The fashion veteran Allen Schwartz reinvents himself with new collections.
City of Hope Honors Frank Kaufman and Kevin Sullivan at Annual Fundraiser
City of Hope
The City of Hope celebrates its 100th birthday this year.
New Collection From a Second-Generation Goldschmied
Emm Gold: Luxe Streetwear
Luxury streetwear from a second-generation Goldschmied.
Interim Executive Director Takes Over at the Port of Los Angeles
Import & Export
Gary Lee Moore has stepped in as the interim executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, replacing Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, who earlier announced she would be retiring at the end of the year.
Shop & Dine: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Dallas, Las Vegas
Shop & Dine
Restaurant and boutique suggestions for your next trip through the trade-show circuit.
Ström: Model Turned Designer Launches New Denim Line
Ström
Erika Stromqvist set out to create a clean and simple denim line.
USA-ITA Changes Its Name After 24 Years
Import & Export
When the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel was launched in 1989, the United States had only one free-trade agreement and apparel was made mostly in this country.
Gap Inc. Names New Head of Global Supply-Chain Division
Retail
Gap Inc. has promoted Sonia Syngal as head of the company’s global supply-chain division, replacing Colin Funnell, who is retiring.
Cosabella Pairs Up with BeachMint for Exclusive
Next year, Cosabella will be offering a new collection exclusive to BeachMint, based in Santa Monica, Calif.
Creative Recreation Footwear Acquired by Rocky Brands
Manufacturing
The 11-year-old lifestyle footwear company Creative Recreation, based in West Hollywood, Calif., has been acquired by Rocky Brands for $11 million.
Bruce Berton Steps Down as Roochi Traders Executive
Manufacturing
After five years as the executive vice president and chief operating officer at T-shirt and apparel importer Roochi Traders Inc., Bruce Berton has stepped down from that position to work as a consultant.
