January Market in L.A. Brings Out Buyers Preparing for Spring/Summer
L.A. Market Week
Despite three days of pouring rain, January’s L.A. Market Week spelled success for many brands, some of whom opened on Jan. 13, ahead of the official Jan. 14–16 run.
Salesforce Unveils Enhanced Commerce Cloud Platform at NRF 2019
Technology
During the National Retail Federation’s NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show,held at the Javits Center in Manhattan Jan. 13–15, San Francisco’s CRM-focused software provider Salesforce took the opportunity to unveil new offerings.
Le Frenchlab’s Emmanuelle Rienda to Launch Vegan Fashion Week in L.A.
Vegan Fashion Week
The reputation of cruelty-free, or vegan, fashion has generally not been synonymous with elevated, chic textiles and designs. Now, Emmanuelle Rienda is launching the inaugural Vegan Fashion Week to show the mainstream fashion industry how offerings in the cruelty-free category have evolved.
Eco-Aware Consumers Value Sustainable Options, CGS Report Reveals
Retail
The mission-driven shopping trend among consumers is growing, according to a new report from Computer Generated Solutions (CGS), a business-applications provider that counts Tommy Bahama, Vix Swimwear, Tea Collection, Velvet by Graham and Spencer, Paige Denim and Livie and Luca among its clients.
Stitch Fix Welcomes Liz Williams to Its Board of Directors
Retail
Online personal styling service Stitch Fix announced that it has added Taco Bell International President Liz Williams to its board of directors.
RAW to Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary in DTLA
EVENTS
Returning to the city where it began, artists' showcase RAW will return to downtown Los Angeles to celebrate its 10-year anniversary on March 20.
Lenzing and Hyosung to Launch Sustainable Collection at ISPO Munich
Textiles
Austrian textile firm Lenzing and South Korea’s Hyosung fabrics are partnering on a new collection that brings greater comfort through more options in activewear and intimate apparel manufactured through a process that reduces the impact on the environment.
Swim Collective and Active Collective Offer an Opportunity for Brands to Plan for 2019
Blending Swim + Active
During the Swim Collective and Active Collective shows held Jan. 7 and 8 at the Anaheim Convention Center, buyers and manufacturers from the swimwear and activewear industries met to plan their 2019 partnerships as the two segments become increasingly intertwined.
Vans Kicks Off Its 10th-Annual Custom Culture Competition
EVENTS
Now in its tenth year, the Vans Custom Culture campaign launched Jan. 2, affording an opportunity for high-school students to create extraordinary shoe designs for cash prizes from the Costa Mesa, Calif., action-sports apparel brand.
The/Studio’s On-Demand Platform Wants to Reduce Turnaround Time for Apparel
On-Demand Efficiency
Now in its fifth year, Los Angeles–based The/Studio is gaining momentum by streamlining apparel production with its product-development and on-demand manufacturing platform.
Power 2 The Flower: Cultivating a Community of Female Artisans
Swim/Surf
After 18 years of working in private-label swimwear, Esther Maya, the owner and creative director of RW Designs, Inc., wanted to start her own line. With a Los Angeles–based team of 12 to 15 employees, Maya set out to create a brand that celebrates women.
Revly: Building Confidence Through Simple Cuts in Swim
Swim/Surf
While swimwear brand Revly launched in June 2018, its mission was established in 2017 when San Diego native and former Division I volleyball player Jordan Robbins started writing a blog confronting the body-image issues she and her friends experienced.
Snapper Rock Grows Its U.S. Presence With Hire of DeAnna Lamphere
Swim/Surf
As safety becomes more stylish, swimwear brand Snapper Rock is carving out a large area of the swimwear industry for its line of apparel, which offers UPF 50+.
Not of This Earth by Tracey Mills Launches Exclusively With PacSun
FASHION
After working with celebrities such as Kanye West and Rihanna, fashion entrepreneur Tracey Mills has launched Not of This Earth—a new brand available exclusively through PacSun.
Oshen Active Debuts Line Made With Bamboo-Based Fabric
MANUFACTURING
With the launch of its "not from plastic" line, Marina Del Rey, Calif.-based Oshen Active brings more eco-friendly options to activewear.
Arming Women With a Strong Sense of Style is the Goal of Gertrud Founder
Bold and Beautiful
Taking inspiration from venerable women of the Golden Era of Hollywood as well as art and music, Sarah LeRoy designed her new collection to bring wearable glamour to modern fashion.
The London Textile Fair to Debut Texfusion—New York in January
Trade Shows
Taking its textile show to New York for the first time, organizers of The London Textile Fair will introduce Texfusion—New York Jan. 16–17 at Manhattan’s Penn Plaza Pavilion.
Agriculture Improvement Act Opens Door to Hemp Cultivation
Legal
Under the recently passed Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, signed by the Trump administration, hemp has been removed from the Controlled Substances Act, which was signed by President Richard Nixon in 1970.
Lefty Production Co. Los Angeles TukaCenter Launched in DTLA
MANUFACTURING
In downtown Los Angeles, Lefty Production Co. founder Marta Miller and Tukatech founder Ram Sareen celebrated their new Lefty Production Co. Los Angeles TukaCenter with a recent ribbon cutting.
Guess? Inc. Fined $45 Million for Violating EU Commerce Regulations
Legal
Following an antitrust investigation opened in June 2017, the European Commission has fined Los Angeles–based apparel brand Guess? Inc. for alleged practices the commission deemed restrictive to retailers.
L Brands Sells La Senza to Beverly Hills Private Equity Firm Regent LP
Manufacturing
The parent company of Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works and Henri Bendel has sold its La Senza lingerie-store chain.
Year in Review: The Year in Trade Shows
Trade Shows
The 2018 trade-show circuit saw a lot of changes that ranged from shifts in leadership at event-production companies to acquisitions and new-product launches. Many shows were reporting successful turnout by attendees due to an uptick in the economy, which brought greater consumer confidence and willingness to spend.
Lectra Launches Fashion on Demand to Streamline Apparel Production
Technology
Bringing greater personalization to the apparel-manufacturing industry, French technology company Lectra is launching its Fashion on Demand digital solution.
Apparel Made for Runners, By Runners, at Rabbit
Run, Rabbit, Run
During the move toward more athleisure-focused collections, many apparel brands have sacrificed technical features in favor of comfortable styling.
The RealReal Partnership with Stella McCartney Extended
The RealReal and Stella McCartney have decided to celebrate their year-long partnership by extending the collaboration to promote a circular economy.
Downtown's Real Holiday Spirit at DTLA // IRL
RETAIL
Housed at the LA Athletic Club on the corner of 7th and Olive Streets, the DTLA // IRL pop-up event brought together artists, fashion designers, food vendors and members of the community during the holiday season.
The RealReal Releases Holiday Resale Report
Luxury Resale Secrets
With the 2018 holiday season in mind, The RealReal has revealed the highest-valued resale items at the top of luxury-brand lovers’ wish lists this year.
‘The Godfather’ Builds a House of Gold to Make Sustainable Denim Affordable
House of Gold
Adriano Goldschmied—known for his luxury denim at brands such as Diesel, Citizens of Humanity and AG Jeans—has been quietly building a new Los Angeles venture over the last five years.
Newsmaker: Los Angeles Moves to Become the Largest U.S. City to Ban Fur Sales
Manufacturing
With major design houses such as Chanel, Versace and Michael Kors abandoning the use of fur in their collections, the legislative movement toward prohibiting the sale of these controversial garments gained a lot of ground in California during 2018.
Newsmaker: Paul Marciano Leaves Guess? Inc. Amid Growth of #MeToo Movement
Manufacturing
As the #MeToo anti–sexual harassment movement gained momentum, women across all industries came forward to share their stories and formally accuse the men they say harassed them.
Newsmaker: The Buzz Surrounding 2018’s Buzzword—Sustainability
Manufacturing
If fashion had one theme in 2018 it was sustainability. While some who are unfamiliar with the concept are confused by the term “sustainability,” a sustainable-fashion industry is able to support itself through conservative manufacturing methods that limit harm to the environment and sourcing based on reuse.
Newsmaker: Brookfield Properties Begins a $170-Million Upgrade of the California Market Center
News
More than one year after Brookfield Properties acquired a controlling interest in the California Market Center, the real estate–development company announced in November it would invest $170 million to transform the showroom and office complex into a mixed-use creative space and fashion-industry campus.
Oliver Peoples and Assouline Reveal Their View of California
EVENTS
With its new book collaboration "California as We See It," luxury-eyewear brand Oliver Peoples collaborated with finely crafted-book publisher Assouline for an intimate, insider view of the Golden State.
Invista Unveils Lycra FreeF!t Technology at Kingpins NYC
Manufacturing
During last week’s Kingpins NYC show, held Nov. 28–29 at Pier 36/Basketball City in New York, integrated-fiber company Invista unveiled the new patented Lycra FreeF!t technology to its North American audience.
Noble Sands Gives Limitless Wardrobe Options With Less
Manufacturing
The idea behind Julie Habelmann’s recently launched Noble Sands line is this: One piece of fabric can do it all.
Touché LA Rebrands as LA Collective to Support Local Fashion Culture
Collective L.A. Style
After a 2016 launch that grew into a vertically integrated manufacturing operation for activewear and athleisure clothing, Touché LA has changed its name to LA Collective.
Levi’s Sues Yves Saint Laurent America for Trademark Infringement
Legal
The famous trademarked red, blue or white tab found on Levi Strauss & Co.’s products has led the San Francisco denim maker to bring legal action against Yves Saint Laurent America, the American segment of the Parisian fashion house founded in the early 1960s.
Textile Science and Technology Shape the Future of Apparel Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Innovations in textile and design are two subjects that go hand in hand with sustainable manufacturing.
Building a Sustainable Business in the Era of Eco-Fashion
Manufacturing
Many sustainable-fashion experts discuss ethics, manufacturing innovations and research, but outlining how to navigate the economic shift toward greener fashion is often left out of the discussion.
Old Navy Brings Goodwill to Black Friday
RETAIL
Starting off the 2018 holiday season by repeating its "One Dolla Holla Sale" on socks, Old Navy will donate $1 to Boys & Girls Clubs for every pair sold in stores on Black Friday.
Torrid Partners With Model Tara Lynn to Create Luxury Lingerie
FASHION
Torrid and model Tara Lynn have joined forces to create a luxury Holiday 2018 lingerie-capsule collection.
Guess Inc. Names J Balvin As the Face of Its Spring 2019 Campaign
FASHION
Building upon its relationship with Latin Grammy Award Winner J Balvin, Guess? Inc. announced the singer as the face of its Spring 2019 Vibras campaign.
Cynthia Vincent Launches Baacal to Expand Her Reach in Apparel Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Los Angeles designer Cynthia Vincent has returned to designing clothing, yet this time she has accepted a mission that blends two buzz-worthy initiatives: sustainability and large-size apparel.
Defining American Cotton’s New Role in the Global Market
The Future of Cotton
During the biennial Sourcing USA Summit, global cotton-industry decision-makers, trade experts and government administrators convened at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess to discuss the current state and future of the industry.
Daniel Patrick X Starter Black Label Launches With Streetwear Staples
FASHION
On Nov. 3, Daniel Patrick celebrated the launch of his new collaboration, Daniel Patrick X Starter Black Label, ahead of the capsule collection's Nov. 9 release.
$170-Million Renovation of CMC in DTLA Begins
Brookfield Renovates CMC
Brookfield Properties, the property-management firm that took a controlling interest in the California Market Center—or CMC—in 2017, has announced that it will begin transforming the site into a mixed-use creative space and fashion-industry campus through a $170-million overhaul project.
The RealReal Releases Its Holiday 2018 Most Obsessed Gift Guide
FASHION
Heralding in the busiest shopping time of the year, San Francisco-based luxury-consignment brand The RealReal offered a glimpse into the hot items for the 2018 holiday season.
Shop & Dine
Trade Shows
Following a day of negotiating, viewing trends and investing in the fashions that will generate customer traffic, celebrating a trade-show victory is always in order.
Costume Designer Alexandra Byrne Honored During FIDM Museum Reception
Events
Ahead of its “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” exhibition next February, the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising honored costume designer Alexandra Byrne for her work on the film “Mary Queen of Scots,” to be released Dec. 7.
J Brand Parent Company Brings New Sustainable Wash Process to Denim
Manufacturing
The Japanese parent company of Los Angeles–based J Brand and Japanese brand Uniqlo has developed a new nanobubbles-and-ozone-based wash process for its denim brands that will reduce water consumption by up to 99 percent.
