Unemployment Rises and Sales Fall as COVID-19 Takes Hold
Finance
Continued debilitating business obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic have grown as the economy enters the second quarter of 2020 with employment and sales figures in the apparel industry decreasing.
Vans and Tony Hawk Announce Global Partnership
Manufacturing
With a shared skateboarding legacy, Costa Mesa, Calif., action-sports brand Vans and skateboard legend Tony Hawk announced a new brand partnership.
March Volumes Decrease at Major California Ports, but Optimism Abounds
IMPORT/EXPORT
Due to a weak global-trade market resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, loaded container volume declined from 2019 totals during March at the Port of Oakland.
Levi’s x Super Mario Launches for Spring/Summer 2020
MANUFACTURING
Levi’s x Super Mario launched as a streetwear-inspired collection based on the denim brand's style and video-game hero's exciting adventures.
Tacori Reminds Customers That Love is Essential
RETAIL
As consumers stay at home, jewelry-design company Tacori shares a hopeful message of that "love is essential," as it hosts a weekly contest to promote this message.
Trinidad3 Answers Call to Serve With New Collection, COVID-19 Contributions
Manufacturing
As a United States Marine Corps veteran, Trinidad Garcia III still begins his day contributing to the armed services, as a contractor who provides marksmanship training for the United States Navy, but his calling to serve his country doesn’t end there.
CCILU Launches XpreSole Spring 2020 Collection; Donates Footwear to Healthcare Professionals
MANUFACTURING
In the search for greater sustainability, Ccilu announced the launch of its XpreSole Spring 2020 collection, which is manufactured primarily using coffee grounds.
Major Retailers Furlough Employees
Retail
Some of America’s most prominent publicly traded retailers announced that they would furlough bricks-and-mortar employees as the economy has frozen due to stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Apparel-Technology Companies Make Connections to Support PPE Production
Technology
As clothing manufacturers, brands and designers create personal protective equipment for medical workers during the continued global efforts to combat COVID-19, apparel-technology firms are facilitating production of masks, gloves, gowns and footwear covers.
Unpublished Unveils Spring/Summer 2020, Adding a Bright Outlook to the Season
Day-dreamy Denim
Taking a brighter approach to the Spring/Summer 2020 collection of Unpublished denim, founding designer Ya-el Torbati created pieces that help generate a luminous glow.
Industry Focus: Finance: Conquering COVID-19 by Weathering the Impact of the Storm
Finance
Industry Focus: Finance
Garment-Industry Veteran Ilse Metchek Provides a Real Take on COVID-19
Fashion
For California Fashion Association President Ilse Metchek, the business of apparel is more than an industry that produces clothing. With a career that has spanned decades, Metchek has served as a resource for many in the field.
Found Los Angeles Uses Cleaner Resources to Grow Local Sustainable-Apparel Mission
Found Los Angeles
With extensive fashion-industry careers, Cinzia Simone and Irene Kim have created a brand that they are building at a slower pace than the fast-fashion norms that were formerly dominating the industry.
New Hire at IMC
TRADE SHOWS
Amid a shifting trade-show calendar, International Market Centers announced a new addition to its Buyer Services team.
Macy’s to Furlough Most of Its Employees
RETAIL
The legacy department store Macy’s Inc. announced on March 30 that it would furlough most of its 125,000 employees beginning April 1.
Earlier Dates Secured for Rescheduled Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas
TRADE SHOWS
Event producer Messe Frankfurt’s Atlanta-based subsidiary, Messe Frankfurt North America, announced earlier this month that its sibling technical-textile and equipment trade shows Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas would be postponed until December due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.
Bldwn Brand Shutters Business
MANUFACTURING
With its premium-denim roots in Kansas City, Mo., and Los Angeles, the Bldwn lifestyle brand quickly became a favorite in the fashion industry following its 2009 debut as Baldwin.
Color Bars x Aaliyah Launches as an Homage to Singer's Legacy
MANUFACTURING
Color Bars founder and skate-industry veteran Andy Netkin pays tribute to late music idol Aaliyah with a new collection that relies on archived imagery that has been archived for nearly 20 years.
Kingpins Launches Kingpins24; PI Apparel Postponements and FMNC Canceled
TRADE SHOWS
Navigating through the effects COVID-19 has had on the apparel industry, trade-show producers have been left with few options—postpone, cancel or start being a bit creative.
Alexandra Grant Gives Love to Project Angel Food Through Sale of Oscar de la Renta Designs
EVENTS
After her March 12 art exhibition at the Oscar de la Renta on Melrose Place was canceled due to COVID-19 fears, artist Alexandra Grant shifted the event into an online act of goodwill to benefit Project Angel Food.
Ética Observes World Water Day With Water.org
MANUFACTURING
World Water Day falls on March 22 and ecologically conscientious denim and elevated-basics brand Ética is putting its money into its mission by supporting Water.org.
YJack to Launch in U.S. Offering Affordable T-shirts With a Luxurious Hand
Manufacturing
Following last month’s launch in Korea, the YJack brand is preparing to expand into the United States in April.
Apparel-Industry Trade-Show Organizers Realign Dates Due to COVID-19
Trade Shows
With the cancellation of the April Amsterdam edition of Kingpins earlier this month, it seemed to be only a matter of time until other apparel-industry event producers would begin to consider doing the same in the United States to help thwart the spread of COVID-19.
LA Textile Provides Opportunities for Sourcing Amid Supply-Chain Challenges
LA Textile
While the California Market Center has been undergoing a major renovation, LA Textile show producers still made space for its biannual trade show. During its March 4-6 run, exhibitors noticed attendees were interested in sourcing fabrics and notions to remain ahead of the coronavirus threats to the supply chain.
L.A. Market Gets In Under the Wire Before Multiple Trade-Show Cancellations
L.A. Market Week
The March edition of L.A. Market Week signaled one of the final opportunities for buyers to place orders before COVID-19 threats drove the apparel industry to cancel or postpone events for at least a few months.
Vegan Fashion Week to Stream L.A. Show Following Fashion Week Postponements
Fashion
After the announcements that Art Hearts Fashion’s Los Angeles event and LA Fashion Week’s March edition would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vegan Fashion Week founder Emmanuelle Rienda remained steadfast that the April show would go on.
Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport, Deemed Essential and Will Remain Open
Import/Export
As regions of Northern California, including six Bay Area counties, prepared for shelter-in-place orders in response to COVID-19, the Port of Oakland announced on March 16 that it would remain open for business.
Tukatech Offers Complimentary Cloud License to Current CAD Users to Work Remotely
Technology
While the COVID-19 panedemic led some to make early attempts to capitalize on this tragic time, others have recognized an opportunity to become part of the solution.
Fashion Week Events in Los Angeles Postponed as Coronavirus Fears Grow
Fashion
Recent announcements from within the apparel industry have revealed that major Fashion Week events in Los Angeles will be postponed.
Incipio Unveils Plant-Based Mobile Case
MANUFACTURING
Using compostable material Organicore, mobile-accessories brand Incipio created plant-based protective-case designs, bringing an ecologically sound option to this category.
Threats of Rain and Coronavirus Slightly Dampen L.A. Market Week
Trade Shows
During this edition of L.A. Market Week, when many showrooms at the California Market Center, the Cooper Design Space, the Gerry Building and The New Mart were exhibiting Fall, the rainy weather and fears of coronavirus put a bit of a damper on shopping excursions as buyers visited the downtown Los Angeles Fashion District.
Kingpins Cancels Its April 2020 Amsterdam Edition
Trade Shows
Nearly one month following the announcement that its May Hong Kong edition would be canceled due to coronavirus fears, denim trade-show producer Kingpins announced the same fate for its April 2020 Amsterdam edition.
Nicholas Mayfield and LRG Collaborate With Chip Tha Ripper
MANUFACTURING
Bringing Chip Tha Ripper home was the objective of designer Nicholas Mayfield's latest collaboration with the rapper and clothing brand Lifted Research Group.
Onzie Celebrates 10 Years of Outfitting Active Women
Onzie Turns 10
With a passion for yoga, Kimberly Swarth, founder of the Los Angeles–manufactured active-apparel brand Onzie, has created colorful and uniquely patterned clothing that remains authentic to the culture.
Luxury Designs Come Alive at The Novus Forum
Trade Shows
During its seventh edition, hosted Feb. 9–11 at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City, The Novus Forum produced a show that was elegant yet afforded a minimalist setting in which designers for the luxury market such as Gemy Maalouf and Gatti Nolli by Marwan could showcase their most recent creations.
Priorities in 3-D and Sustainability at PI Apparel Los Angeles
Technology
In the region where the United States film industry reigns, MarketKey hosted its Los Angeles edition of PI Apparel Feb. 19–20 at the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown.
Curve Launches New Show for L.A.’s Intimates Businesses
L.A. Curves
Moving into a new space for 2020, Eurovet’s Curve trade show launched its Los Angeles edition Feb. 23–24 at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach hotel.
Pantone Keeps Pace With Industry Demand by Introducing New Colors, Digital Updates
Manufacturing
Expanding on its existing portfolio, Carlstadt, N.J.-based color authority Pantone announced today that it introduced 315 new colors to its Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System, along with updated digital offerings to support the fresh products.
Black Design Collective Announces Pyer Moss Founder Kerby Jean-Raymond as Honoree
Fashion
Preparing to host its second annual Scholarship Gala on April 18, non-profit organization The Black Design Collective has announced that it will honor Pyer Moss founder and Reebok Studies Creative Director, Kerby Jean-Raymond during the event.
Art Hearts Fashion’s N.Y. Edition Showcases California Designers
Designer Details
Artistic details dominated the runway during Art Hearts Fashion in New York as designers unveiled their prowess creating finery to reflect their visions for women’s formalwear, men’s suiting, casual pieces and everything in between.
Independent Director Appointed to Deckers Board
MANUFACTURING
Effective March 1, Juan R. Figuereo joined the Board of Directors for Goleta, Calif.-based Deckers Brands, parent company of footwear, apparel and accessories brands including UGG, Koolaburra, Hoka One, Teva and Sanuk.
Applied DNA Sciences Receives Patents From Canada, China
Manufacturing
As consumers place greater value on quality goods available through a transparent supply chain, Stony Brook, N.Y., Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., announced its receipt of a Chinese patent and notice of allowability for its Canadian patent application for its Encrypted Optical Markers for Security Applications.
Otis College of Art and Design Unveils Creative-Economy Report for California
Finance
Findings in the “2020 Otis Report on the Creative Economy,” commissioned by the Otis College of Art and Design and generated through the work of Beacon Economics, revealed that of California’s 2.68 million creative-industry jobs, 797,075 are located in Los Angeles County. Now in its 13th edition, the report provides insight regarding the growth of California’s creative economy.
Vegan Fashion Week and Red Carpet Green Dress Collaborate for Awards-Season Eco Garments
FASHION
From Oscar speeches promoting environmental and social responsibility to sustainable garments worn on the red carpet, green glamour was trending during awards season, setting the stage for a collaboration between Vegan Fashion Week and Red Carpet Green Dress.
Keeping Fashion in the Family at Kenneth Nicholson’s NYFW Presentation
Home-style NYFW
Named “From Grandma’s Couch,” the New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2020-21 show by Kenneth Nicholson blended cultural references and featured elements that could be found in a living room from a bygone era.
New Magnet Zipper Unveiled by YKK
Notions
Aiming to bring greater ease to consumers, the Tokyo-headquartered YKK Corporation announced a new magnetic zipper product launch Feb. 20.
Las Vegas Buyers Find Variety
Trade Shows
The first week of February saw the apparel industry come together for the biannual Las Vegas trade shows. Informa-produced trade shows—led by the MAGIC brand—were hosted at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Outdoor + Snow Show Unites Two Sports Segments for an Alluring Show Model
Trade Shows
During its Jan. 29–31 run at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Outdoor Retailer’s Outdoor + Snow Show saw attendees from the outdoor and snow-sports industries who were searching for the latest products in apparel for these closely related segments.
Bargains Attract Buyers to Offprice
Trade Shows
Providing options for discount buyers, the Feb. 3–6 edition of the Offprice show saw attendees from around the world at the Sands Expo Convention Center.
Consumer Demand Is Queen at Project Womens
Trade Shows
At the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Feb. 5–7, Project Womens saw buyers searching for unique goods that would draw in their customers.
