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NEWSPAPER 2ND CLASS<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong><strong>News</strong><br />

CALIFORNIA<br />

THE VOICE<br />

OF THE<br />

INDUSTRY FOR<br />

63 years<br />

$2.95 ($3.50 OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA) VOLUME 63, NUMBER 46 OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Overseas Buyers Find<br />

U.S. <strong>Apparel</strong> a Bargain<br />

By Deborah Belgum<br />

SENIOR EDITOR<br />

When Los Angeles fashion designer Sheri Bodell finished<br />

tabulating her Spring ’08 orders at the recent Fashion<br />

Coterie trade show in New York, she noticed a major<br />

geographic shift in buyers.<br />

About 50 percent of the stores interested in her rock ’n’<br />

roll–inspired collection were in Europe.<br />

That was a major bump up from past shows, when European<br />

stores traditionally accounted for only 20 percent<br />

of sales of her edgy, high-end dresses, pants and tops.<br />

Bodell’s popularity in Europe is being fanned by the<br />

weak U.S. dollar, whose value vis á vis other major foreign<br />

currencies has been skidding downhill for several years.<br />

A weak dollar is making apparel created and manufactured<br />

in the United States a top-notch bargain for overseas<br />

buyers, who now can buy piles of clothing on the same<br />

budget.<br />

“They can afford it,” Bodell says of the Europeans, who<br />

aren’t taken aback by her wholesale prices, which range<br />

from $148 for a camisole to $898 for a long, beaded gown.<br />

Dollar page 26<br />

Trade Show Report<br />

Happy Birthday, Kingpins<br />

By Erin Barajas<br />

MANUFACTURING EDITOR<br />

The invite-only biannual textile and sourcing show<br />

Kingpins is finding a happy home in Los Angeles. Created<br />

by New York–based garment and fabric agent Olah<br />

Inc., Kingpins enjoyed its one-year anniversary in Los Angeles<br />

Oct. 17–<strong>18</strong>. “It was our best L.A. show yet,” said Andrew<br />

Olah, Olah’s co-founder. Kingpins, which has been<br />

showing in New York for three years, is held biannually in<br />

<strong>California</strong> in March and October.<br />

The show—which packed the Marvimon House in<br />

Los Angeles’ Chinatown neighborhood with 13 vendors<br />

of denim, garments, trim, hardware, and representatives<br />

from specialty cotton and chemical companies—welcomed<br />

Kingpins page 6<br />

Inside:<br />

Technology … p. 7<br />

New Resources … p. 8, 23<br />

New Lines … p. 9<br />

Galanos honored on Walk of Style … p. 15<br />

Eco Notes … p. 24<br />

www.apparelnews.net<br />

Where fashion gets down to business SM<br />

L.A.<br />

Fashion<br />

Week<br />

L.A. Perspective<br />

Buyers, press, stylists and other<br />

fashion-industry insiders got a<br />

glimpse of the diverse scope of Los<br />

Angeles design during the many<br />

events of Los Angeles Fashion<br />

Week. Grey Ant designer Grant<br />

Krajecki took a sophisticated<br />

conceptual approach with his<br />

collection, shown at Mercedes-Benz<br />

Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios<br />

in Culver City, Calif. <strong>California</strong><br />

<strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> has been covering<br />

the events over several issues. This<br />

week’s coverage begins on page 16.<br />

JOHN ECKMIER


U.S. to Get Tough on Counterfeiting and Piracy<br />

The United States hopes to pass a trade<br />

agreement with major trading partners to<br />

combat counterfeiting and piracy of branded<br />

goods and other items.<br />

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab<br />

announced the plan Oct. 23 at a Capitol Hill<br />

press conference before members of Congress<br />

and several ambassadors from countries<br />

that will be part of the new initiative.<br />

“The United States looks forward to<br />

partnering with many of our key trading<br />

partners to combat this global problem,”<br />

Schwab told the group. “Today launches<br />

our joint efforts to confront counterfeiters<br />

and pirates across the global marketplace.”<br />

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement<br />

(ACTA) would complement the provisions<br />

of the Agreement on Trade-Related<br />

Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights<br />

(TRIPS) under the World Trade Organi-<br />

zation and other intellectual-property-rights<br />

agreements.<br />

Trading partners discussing the agreement<br />

include Canada, the European Union<br />

and its 27 countries, Japan, Korea, Mexico,<br />

New Zealand, and Switzerland.<br />

Schwab said the United States and its<br />

trading partners would like to complete<br />

the new agreement as soon as possible. It<br />

would focus on three major areas: cooperation<br />

among countries, best practices for<br />

fighting copyright piracy and developing a<br />

strong legal framework to prosecute violations<br />

of intellectual-property rights.<br />

The trade agreement was lauded by<br />

the American <strong>Apparel</strong> & Footwear Association,<br />

an Arlington, Va.–based trade<br />

group of manufacturers and their suppliers,<br />

for consolidating the enforcement activities<br />

of international intellectual-property<br />

rights.<br />

Cone Denim Lays Off 150 Employees<br />

Cone Denim is paring down its workforce again at its only remaining denim plant in<br />

the United States.<br />

The layoffs at the White Oak plant in Greensboro, N.C., should take place by Dec. 3,<br />

officials said in a statement.<br />

Two years ago, the 102-year-old plant had 1,100 people working there. But foreign competition<br />

has made it tougher for Cone Denim, a division of International Textile Group,<br />

to compete in the United States. After the layoffs, there will be 550 workers at the mill.<br />

Company executives said the downsizing of the workforce is due to U.S. manufacturers<br />

increasingly opting to use fabrics made in China and other foreign countries.<br />

To compete globally, Cone Denim operates a joint-venture denim plant in Mexico and<br />

is constructing a denim mill in Nicaragua. It has operations in Turkey and India. Jointventure<br />

plants are also being constructed in Vietnam and China.<br />

White Oak will continue to focus on high-end denim used in premium blue jeans.<br />

In September, John Bakane, Cone Denim’s president who has been with the company<br />

and its predecessor since 1975, announced he would retire at the end of the year.<br />

Cone Denim was created in 2004 after New York businessman and billionaire Wilbur Ross<br />

bought Cone Mills and Burlington Industries out of bankruptcy to form ITG.—D.B.<br />

Worried About Counterfeits?<br />

Stein Shostak Shostak Pollack & O’Hara, LLP<br />

The Chinese Government will work with brand owners<br />

to intercept counterfeits before they are shipped.<br />

Call us, SSSPO. We are the only customs law firm in<br />

downtown Los Angeles with a Representative Office in<br />

Shanghai, China<br />

Since 1933, our lawyers have specialized in customs and international trade law,<br />

including classification, value, admissibility, seizures and forfeiture litigation, penalties,<br />

protection of intellectual property rights, all custom audits, export regulation,<br />

and other trade related issues.<br />

LOS ANGELES<br />

Suite 1388<br />

865 South Figueroa Street<br />

Los Angeles, CA 90017<br />

Tel: (213) 630-8888<br />

Fax: (213) 630-8890<br />

SHANGHAI<br />

China Merchants Tower<br />

9th Floor<br />

No. 161, Lu Jia Zui Road,<br />

Pudong, Shanghai, China 200120<br />

Xinyu “Jason” Li<br />

Resident Partner<br />

Ph: 011-86-13-66-<strong>18</strong>7-9769<br />

jxli@steinshostak.com<br />

SAN DIEGO<br />

Suite C<br />

1605 Pacific Rim Court<br />

San Diego, CA 92154<br />

Tel: (619) 661-6317<br />

Fax: (619) 661-1448<br />

www.ssspo.com<br />

2 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

WASHINGTON, D.C.<br />

Suite 615<br />

1620 1 Street, N.W.<br />

Washington, D.C. 20006<br />

Tel: (202) 331-<strong>18</strong>76<br />

Fax: (202) 331-<strong>18</strong>77<br />

“The prevalence of knockoffs is a serious<br />

threat to the apparel and footwear industry’s<br />

companies, workers and consumers,”<br />

said Kevin Burke, the AAFA’s president<br />

and chief executive. “Footwear and apparel<br />

products represented 36 percent and 14<br />

percent, respectively, of all seized counterfeit<br />

goods by the U.S. Customs Service in<br />

the first half of 2007.”—Deborah Belgum<br />

PacSun Closes Steps,<br />

Looks for New<br />

Solutions for Demo<br />

Pacific Sunwear announced on Oct. 24<br />

that it will shutter its nine-store footwear<br />

retailer, One Thousand Steps, and that<br />

it will search for an investment banker to<br />

help it find “strategic alternatives” for its<br />

154 urban-themed demo stores.<br />

The Anaheim, Calif.–based retailer’s core<br />

business is its 837 Pacific Sunwear surf and<br />

skate stores, and the company will shift its<br />

focus to its core business, said Sally Frame<br />

Kasaks, the retailer’s chief executive.<br />

In a prepared statement, Kasaks said<br />

that demo merchants had tried to change<br />

the urban retailer’s long-suffering business<br />

for the past two years to no avail. In the<br />

past year, Pacific Sunwear had made moves<br />

to scale back demo’s business. In February,<br />

Kasaks announced that the company would<br />

close 74 demo stores.<br />

One Thousand Steps debuted April 2006<br />

at the Galleria at Tyler shopping center in<br />

Riverside, Calif. Kasaks said one reason for<br />

the footwear retailer’s closure was that her<br />

company’s shareholders would not benefit<br />

from the continued operation of the chain.<br />

One Thousand Steps and demo both had<br />

generated a total pre-tax operating loss of<br />

$21 million during the first three quarters of<br />

the 2007 fiscal year. Despite the tough news,<br />

retail analyst Liz Pierce thought the future<br />

was bright for Pacific Sunwear. “We believe<br />

the core Pacific Sunwear brand still has a lot<br />

of growth opportunities,” she wrote in a research<br />

note dated Oct. 25. Pierce works for<br />

Roth Capital Partners, based in Newport<br />

Beach, Calif.—Andrew Asch<br />

Retail Conference<br />

in the Desert<br />

“Redefining the Retailer/Supplier Relationship”<br />

will be the theme for this year’s<br />

Vendor Compliance Federation’s fall<br />

conference, set for Nov. 4–7 at the Renaissance<br />

Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells,<br />

Calif.<br />

Parsippany, N.J.–based VCF is a 20year-old<br />

organization formed to improve<br />

relationships and transactional processes<br />

between retailers and suppliers.<br />

This year’s conference will feature case<br />

studies with Kohl’s as well as discussions<br />

and panel events on customer-relationship<br />

management, supply-chain management,<br />

EDI (electronic data interchange), logistics<br />

and other areas.<br />

More than 400 attendees are expected.<br />

For more information, visit www.vcfww.com<br />

or e-mail amiano@vcfww.com.<br />

—Robert McAllister<br />

Corrections and Clarifications<br />

In the Oct. 19 coverage of the Los<br />

Angeles International Textile Show,<br />

Ned Pilchman and Ann Davis were incorrectly<br />

identified. Pilchman’s company,<br />

Marteva Textiles, and Davis’<br />

Davis Textile Group both represent<br />

American Fabrics International.<br />

Week In Review<br />

<strong>California</strong><br />

Off to India. Cherokee Inc., based in<br />

Van Nuys, has licensed its brand name<br />

to Arvind Mills Ltd. in India. The multiyear<br />

license is for men’s, women’s and<br />

children’s clothing, footwear, accessories,<br />

home and other categories.<br />

Cherokee did not disclose the price of<br />

the licensing deal. Cherokee has been<br />

on a worldwide licensing program. The<br />

company has licensing agreements<br />

with companies in 28 countries, including<br />

a licensing agreement with Target<br />

Inc. in the United States. Arvind Mills<br />

is one of India’s largest integrated textile<br />

companies in India, with a retail<br />

division called Megamart. Arvind also<br />

plans a rollout of Cherokee products in<br />

free-standing Cherokee stores.<br />

Battle over. Sears Holdings and Computer<br />

Sciences Corp. have put down<br />

the gloves in a dispute over a 10-year<br />

outsourcing agreement for information<br />

technology. The two announced they<br />

settled their differences after Sears<br />

paid an undisclosed sum of money to<br />

Computer Sciences. Sears does not expect<br />

to take a charge against revenues<br />

because it put aside a reserve for the<br />

expense. Sears Holdings, based in<br />

Chicago, is a $53 billion retailer that<br />

operates 3,800 Sears Roebuck & Co.<br />

and Kmart stores. Computer Sciences<br />

is a $15 billion information-technology<br />

company in El Segundo.<br />

National<br />

Flying high. Retailer American Eagle<br />

Outfitters Inc. is launching a new line<br />

of workout and fitness wear called aerie<br />

f.i.t. (“fun, inspirational, technical”)<br />

for the 15- to 25-year-old girl. The line<br />

includes exercise clothes and accessories<br />

such as pants, leggings, shorts,<br />

tees, hoodies, tanks, vests and headbands.<br />

The fitness line is just one of the<br />

latest developments for aerie, a brand<br />

launched by Pittsburgh-based American<br />

Eagle in late 2006 with underwear<br />

and sleepwear. This holiday season, aerie<br />

plans to launch personal-care items<br />

such as body lotions, washes, lip care<br />

and home fragrances.<br />

Getting the goods. Family Dollar,<br />

with more than 6,000 stores in 44<br />

states, and The NPD Group Inc., a<br />

Port, Washington, N.Y., company that<br />

tracks consumer and retail trends, have<br />

formed a three-year alliance to share<br />

information. Family Dollar will provide<br />

its sales information in return for access<br />

to NPD’s information services for<br />

apparel, housewares and small domestic<br />

appliances. Family Dollar executive<br />

Robert George said the agreement will<br />

help the retailer anticipate customers’<br />

wants and needs.<br />

International<br />

Male appeal. The French design<br />

house Cacharel, best known for its<br />

ready-to-wear womenswear, has<br />

opened a pilot store in Paris filled<br />

with the company’s first men’s collection.<br />

The store is called La Chemiserie<br />

Cacharel, or the Cacharel Shirt Store.<br />

The store opening comes after the recent<br />

appointment of Phillippe Cardon<br />

as the new chief executive. In 2006,<br />

Cacharel was in the red, but it expects<br />

to break even this year.<br />

Quote of the week<br />

My feet were soaking wet, so if I hadn’t<br />

caught myself with my hands, I would<br />

have had to swim out.—Fashion model<br />

Sarah Welch, talking with Inside Edition<br />

about her fall through a hole in the<br />

runway at the Shadang fashion show<br />

in Los Angeles. The makeshift runway<br />

was placed over a swimming pool.


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4 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Retail Notes<br />

Aero & Co. Boutique Gambles on Moss Mills<br />

Can a retail odd couple make sales skyrocket?<br />

Aero & Co. owner Alisa Loftin thinks strange retail<br />

bedfellows will add a lot of value to her store, which specializes<br />

in avant-garde fashions. The boutique recently<br />

celebrated the opening of a mini-shop for Los Angeles–based<br />

designer Moss Mills. The label crafts soft,<br />

woodland-themed jewelry and fashions that often depict<br />

pictures of forest animals.<br />

The mini-boutique, which opened Oct. 6, represents a<br />

change for Aero & Co. For the past eight years, the store<br />

has been offering new designers who create thoughtprovoking<br />

pieces. Since it first bowed in its new location<br />

on Los Angeles’ West Third Street five years ago, the<br />

boutique has found good customers because the retail<br />

area is known for its support of intellectual fashions.<br />

But it needed more.<br />

As West Third Street’s notoriety has increased, the<br />

thoroughfare has attracted more tourists. Loftin said<br />

that they often do not know what to make of the store’s<br />

avant-garde fashions and Los Angeles–based labels,<br />

such as Figment and Blood Is the New Black.<br />

Enter Moss Mills and the in-store mini-shop.<br />

Calendar<br />

*Denotes local events<br />

Oct. 26<br />

*Los Angeles Fashion Market<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

The New Mart<br />

Cooper Design Space<br />

Gerry Building<br />

Los Angeles<br />

Through Oct. 30<br />

Cost: free to the trade<br />

For information: www.<br />

californiamarketcenter.com<br />

www.newmart.net<br />

www.cooperdesignspace.com<br />

www.gerrybuilding.com<br />

*Boutique Lingerie<br />

Gerry Building<br />

Los Angeles<br />

Through Oct. 29<br />

Cost: free to the trade<br />

For information: www.<br />

boutiquelingerieshow.com<br />

*Brighte Cos.<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

Through Oct. 29<br />

Cost: free to the trade<br />

For information: www.enkshows.com<br />

*Designers and Agents<br />

The New Mart<br />

Cooper Design Space<br />

Through Oct. 28<br />

Cost: free to the trade<br />

For information: www.<br />

designersandagents.com<br />

*Directives West Spring ’08 Trend<br />

Show<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

9 a.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information:<br />

www.directiveswest.com<br />

*A private preview of “Single After<br />

Eight,” presented by Single and<br />

Directives West<br />

Theresa Matthew Studio<br />

The New Mart, suite 602<br />

Los Angeles<br />

5 p.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information: (213) 486-0045 or<br />

www.buysingle.com<br />

*Bianca Nero runway show<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

6 p.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information:<br />

www.biancanero.com<br />

*2007 L.A. Fashion Awards<br />

Orpheum Theatre<br />

Los Angeles<br />

7–9 p.m.<br />

Cost: $50–$95<br />

For information:<br />

www.ticketmaster.com or<br />

www.lafashionawards.com<br />

Oct. 27<br />

*Gerber Career Training (Gerber<br />

Accumark 8.2), presented by Rosa<br />

Hildebrandt<br />

FBI Resource Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.<br />

Saturdays through Dec. 1<br />

Cost: $40 for FBI members; $55 for<br />

nonmembers (plus a $35 materials<br />

fee)<br />

For information:<br />

info@fashionbizinc.org<br />

APPROACHABLE: The woodsy<br />

themes of the Moss Mills miniboutique<br />

have been embraced by<br />

customers, said Aero & Co. owner<br />

Alisa Loftin.<br />

Loftin said that Aero & Co. regulars and casual shoppers have embraced the store within<br />

a store. “It’s so approachable,” Loftin said.<br />

The Mills mini-boutique takes up 800 square<br />

feet—about half of the space of Aero & Co. Retail<br />

price points range from $28 for a T-shirt to $175 for<br />

a dress. Mills’ red metal jewelry cases are decorated<br />

with real birds’ nests and fake grass to produce a<br />

woodsy look.<br />

Loftin said she believes the look works well<br />

with Aero’s spare gallery ambience. The boutique<br />

owner also said she will be getting used to it. The<br />

Mills shop within a shop is set to be a permanent<br />

fixture at Aero & Co.—Andrew Asch<br />

*TRANSIT<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

Through Oct. 29<br />

Cost: free to the trade<br />

For information: www.<br />

californiamarketcenter.com<br />

*Yana K. runway show<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

8 p.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information: www.yanak.com<br />

Oct. 28<br />

*Mike Vensel’s Spring/Summer<br />

2008 fashion show<br />

Private location<br />

6 p.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information: www.mikevensel.<br />

com<br />

Oct. 29<br />

*Plastic Island runway show<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

Los Angeles<br />

6 p.m.<br />

Cost: N/A; event is invitation-only<br />

For information:<br />

www.plasticisland.com<br />

Oct. 31<br />

Organic Exchange’s<br />

Fifth-Anniversary Annual<br />

Conference and Marketplace<br />

Asilomar Conference Center<br />

Monterey County, Calif.<br />

Through Nov. 2<br />

Cost: see Web site<br />

For information: www.<br />

organicexchange.org<br />

Submissions to the calendar should be faxed to the Calendar Editor at (213) 623-5707. Please include the event’s name, date, time,<br />

location, admission price and contact information. The deadline for calendar submissions is the Tuesday prior to Friday publication.<br />

Inclusion in the calendar is subject to available space and the judgment of the editorial staff.<br />

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS, Customer Service, 100 E. Pine St., Suite 606,<br />

Orlando, FL 32801. CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS ® : (ISSN 0008-0896) Published by MnM PUBLISHING CORP. APPAR-<br />

EL NEWS GROUP Publishers of: <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® , Market Week Magazine ® , New Resources ® , Water wear ® ,<br />

New York <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® , Dallas <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® , <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> South ® , Chicago <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® , The <strong>Apparel</strong><br />

<strong>News</strong> (National), Bridal <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® , Southwest Images ® , Stylist ® and MAN (Men’s <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> ® ). Properties of<br />

MnM PUBLISHING CORP., <strong>California</strong> Market Center, 110 E. Ninth St., Suite A777, Los Angeles, CA 90079, (213) 627-3737.<br />

©Copyright 2007 MnM Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. Pub lished weekly except semi-weekly first week of January,<br />

second week of July and first week of September. Periodicals Postage Paid at Los Angeles, CA, and addition additional<br />

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Rug-Store Owner Killed in Fashion District<br />

A 71-year-old Iranian immigrant who owned a rug store<br />

in the Fashion District was shot and killed during an armed<br />

robbery on Oct. 23.<br />

It was the first murder in the Fashion District since<br />

2002, said Lt. Paul Vernon of the Los Angeles Police Department.<br />

Ebrahim Torbati was sitting at his desk at the front of<br />

Rug City at 840 S. Santee St. when an African-American<br />

man came in to look at rugs, Vernon said.<br />

“He came back with a gun and robbed the owner, demanding<br />

money,” Vernon said.<br />

There was a scuffle, and the robber, aged 20 to 25 years<br />

old, shot Torbati in the neck at 4:15 p.m., Vernon said. The<br />

store owner was rushed to County-USC Hospital, where<br />

he later died, police said.<br />

The robber fled, getting into a white Toyota Camry that<br />

was waiting with two women inside about a block away,<br />

Vernon said.<br />

Police are looking for the below-five-foot-five-inch suspect,<br />

who was wearing a gray T-shirt and gray baseball<br />

hat when the robbery occurred. It was unclear how much<br />

money was taken.<br />

“We will put a composite<br />

[sketch] together, and we’re running<br />

down other leads,” Vernon<br />

said, noting there was one eyewitness<br />

in the store when the<br />

robbery occurred.<br />

Police noted that Torbati’s<br />

desk, where he kept his cash in<br />

a cardboard box, was near the<br />

store’s front door and visible to<br />

passersby. “It might be the reason<br />

for a robber to pick one business<br />

over another,” Vernon said,<br />

cautioning store owners to keep<br />

their money out of sight and farther<br />

from the front windows.<br />

Torbati, who lived in Tarzana,<br />

Calif., came to the United States<br />

about 20 years ago. He imported<br />

Persian-style rugs from Belgium,<br />

China and Egypt. He never married<br />

and had no immediate family<br />

in the area, police said.<br />

Friends said he had a sister in<br />

New York, who was flying to Los<br />

Angeles after she learned of her<br />

brother’s death, and another sister<br />

in Israel.<br />

Rug City was closed the day after<br />

the murder, but someone had<br />

left a white glass candle burning<br />

on Torbati’s desk, where a bloodsplattered<br />

newspaper lay. A narrow,<br />

empty cardboard box where<br />

Torbati kept his cash sat nearby.<br />

Merchants in the mostly Iranian<br />

enclave of Santee Street were<br />

shocked by their friend’s death.<br />

Next door at J. & R. Textile,<br />

which sells sheets and bedspreads,<br />

owner Jacob Molaei said<br />

he was busy with a customer and<br />

didn’t hear anything until an ambulance<br />

pulled up. “I walked out,<br />

and suddenly I see my friend has<br />

been shot,” Molaei said.<br />

Molaei had known his neighbor<br />

for about six or seven years.<br />

“He was a happy man, talking to<br />

everyone and laughing,” he said.<br />

Ebrahim Rafy, who had known<br />

Torbati for 10 years, had a desk<br />

inside Rug City, where he conducted<br />

his business as a middleman<br />

for fabric and other goods.<br />

Every day, he and Torbati each<br />

bought a different Persian newspaper<br />

and worked on the crossword<br />

puzzles together. Rafy left<br />

the store at 2 p.m., before the<br />

armed robbery occurred, but got<br />

a call at 5 p.m. that his friend had<br />

been shot.<br />

“I can’t believe he’s dead,” Rafy<br />

said. “I couldn’t sleep all night. I<br />

felt he was talking to me, working<br />

on a crossword puzzle.”<br />

Anyone with information about<br />

the robbery and murder can call<br />

LAPD Det. Al Marengo at (213)<br />

972-1249.—Deborah Belgum<br />

High-End Contractor to Grow Production<br />

The Evans Group, the high-end contractor that specializes<br />

in contemporary and young-designer production, will<br />

be moving its production facilities to a larger space. The<br />

new space, at 7,500 square feet, is twice as big as the Evans<br />

Group’s current facility, which also houses patternmakers,<br />

samplemakers and other personnel. Currently, the Evans<br />

Group reserves 2,000 square feet for production at its facility<br />

in Los Angeles’ Toy District.<br />

The move, which is set for Dec. 1, will allow the company<br />

to increase its cutting capabilities by four times, and<br />

add upwards of 70 additional sewers, said Jennifer Evans,<br />

the company’s founder. “We’re beginning to hire sewers<br />

now,” Evans said, adding that she hopes to complete all<br />

new hires within the next six months. Designers will see<br />

the contractor’s new production capabilities for the Spring<br />

2008 season.<br />

Besides giving the company room to grow, the move may<br />

also have the effect of lowering its production prices. “With<br />

a solid system now in place and the added space to grow,<br />

we will be able to reach economies of scale there by offset-<br />

ting the high management costs of our company and ultimately<br />

lower costs,” Evans said. Additional hands will also<br />

ease production scheduling, which has been an issue for the<br />

boutique contractor.<br />

When the production department moves to its new<br />

home, which is just one mile from the Evans Group’s current<br />

location, the patternmakers, samplemakers, a complete<br />

fitting room and small retail area will take over the<br />

original space. “We are very excited about finally reaching<br />

this point, which we had aimed for the end of the year to<br />

do. We feel this will allow us to truly service the market of<br />

smaller designers and revive domestic, high-end production,”<br />

Evans said.<br />

Earlier this fall, the company opened a new San Francisco<br />

office, which is being used for fittings and sample sewing.<br />

Evans hopes to continue to open similar locations in other<br />

cities. The Evans Group’s clients include Cosa Nostra, Society<br />

for Rational Dress, Jeremy Scott, Morphine Generation,<br />

Geren Ford, Juan Carlos Obando, Anzevino &<br />

Florence and Grey Ant.—Erin Barajas<br />

PTC PLM KNOWLEDGE FORUM: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11th, 2007, SANTA MONICA, CA<br />

TIME TO VALUE<br />

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF PLM<br />

PLM IS TOUTED AS THE CURE-ALL FOR INEFFICIENT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.<br />

Achieving impactful benefits beyond the hype requires careful planning of people, process and technology.<br />

The PLM Knowledge Forum, sponsored by PTC and KSA, draws on the experience of retailers and<br />

brands worldwide. Lessons learned and proven best practices will help you make informed decisions<br />

on your own PLM strategy.<br />

KEY LEARNINGS:<br />

� Real World Examples of “Time to Value” – Featuring Converse, Reitmans, and Umbro<br />

� Accurately Defining PLM to build a Compelling Business Case<br />

� Being Smart about Process – Eliminating Bad Habits<br />

� Effective Implementations – Phasing to Win<br />

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PTC’s process-oriented approach to PLM is successfully changing the way companies improve product<br />

development. For more information or to register, please go to: www.ptc.com/go/plmforum<br />

Sponsored By:<br />

©2007 Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC). PTC and the PTC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC.<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 5


Kingpins<br />

Continued fom page 1<br />

more than 50 designers and brand reps. According to Paul<br />

Cavazos, Olah’s director of marketing and research and<br />

development, denim maven Adriano Goldschmied of Goldsign<br />

and Citizens of Humanity, Paige Premium Denim,<br />

Lucky Brand Jeans, J Brand, Juicy Couture, Guess?<br />

Inc. and Chip & Pepper shopped Kingpins for the latest in<br />

denim trends and garment production.<br />

Gap, Inc., BCBG, Kill City, Swell and Quiksilver also<br />

perused the casually assembled booths and chatted up<br />

representatives from Dow Fiber Solutions’ stretch fiber,<br />

XLA; Japanese denim mill Kurabo Industries; Supima<br />

cotton; and DyStar, a leader in eco-friendly dye and chemical<br />

technology for denim and garment washing. Other vendors<br />

offered services ranging from product and textile development<br />

to full-package manufacturing. A2, a Portuguese<br />

manufacturer of sportswear whose clients include Marc by<br />

Marc Jacobs, showed high-end organic and conventional<br />

cotton knits and wovens. Atlantic Denim, a mill in Morocco,<br />

came to Kingpins for the first time and showed duty-free<br />

denim available for the first time in the United States.<br />

Olah, who launched the tiny, über-exclusive show as a<br />

6 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

foil for the traditional textile and<br />

sourcing shows, said Kingpins was<br />

bustling despite a downturn in the<br />

denim market. “Everyone’s business<br />

is off. I don’t know if there’s<br />

a bubble, but no business is a vector;<br />

nothing can sustain a permanent<br />

upward trajectory. There is<br />

consolidation, and this is fashion,”<br />

he said. But, he added, denim consumption<br />

is very consistent, despite<br />

fashion’s notorious shifting<br />

trends. Kingpins—which targets<br />

premium-denim, contemporary<br />

and designer brands—is reaching<br />

for the tastemakers who innovate<br />

and move the trends forward.<br />

“Consumers already have one of<br />

everything,” he said. At Kingpins,<br />

designers can find resources to help them realize the next<br />

big thing.<br />

XLA, a two-way stretch fiber recently introduced in denim,<br />

launched a collection of corduroy fabrics in collaboration<br />

with Kurabo and Pima cotton. The result is a buttery-soft<br />

COOL KIDS, GOOD DENIM: A casual atmosphere and<br />

nightly parties make Kingpins an ideal spot for relaxed<br />

working and fun networking.<br />

corduroy in a variety of weights<br />

with excellent drape. “Everyone<br />

loves it. It feels so different from<br />

traditional corduroy,” Olah said.<br />

According to Holiday Watson,<br />

XLA’s global communications<br />

manager, the combination of XLA<br />

and Pima pushes the fabric’s price<br />

25 percent to 30 percent above<br />

other corduroy fabrications. “But<br />

there is added value in the product.<br />

There is almost no comparison<br />

between the two,” she said.<br />

For Spring, bleached-out, fullleg<br />

jeans are trending well in<br />

10- to 11-ounce denim, Cavazos<br />

said. Designers are strongly supporting<br />

dark, clean denim in trouser<br />

cuts for women. “It is a little<br />

dressier and gives us a break from the skinny,” he said. At<br />

the Kurabo booth, designers were opting for heavier, 13- to<br />

14-ounce denim in deep, saturated blue for men. For women,<br />

designers responded well to 11-ounce stretch denim<br />

with tight construction and darker washes.<br />

Azdrubal Azevedo, owner of<br />

A2, the high-end Portuguese factory,<br />

said he was pleased with<br />

Kingpins. “It is very much what<br />

we expected: more customers,<br />

more interested people. It was<br />

better than last season and very<br />

worthwhile,” he said, estimating<br />

that 20 percent of his appointments<br />

were with new clients. A2’s<br />

knits, particularly organic blends,<br />

“I don’t know if<br />

there’s a bubble,<br />

but no business is<br />

a vector; nothing<br />

can sustain a<br />

permanent upward<br />

trajectory. There is<br />

consolidation, and<br />

this is fashion.”<br />

—Andrew Olah,<br />

co-founder, Kingpins<br />

sparked interest with <strong>California</strong><br />

designers. One dark spot on the<br />

otherwise-shiny Kingpins was<br />

the effect of the weak American<br />

dollar, Azevedo said. “It raises<br />

the cost of [American] designers<br />

doing business with me and puts<br />

me out of some of their reach,” he<br />

said.<br />

Christina Brocato, director of<br />

product development at Paige<br />

Premium Denim, has shopped<br />

Kingpins since its first <strong>California</strong><br />

edition in October 2006. “I like<br />

the vibe and the assortment of<br />

people they put together. They’re<br />

known for the quality of the mills<br />

they work with globally,” she said,<br />

noting that gives her confidence<br />

when she shops the show. “You<br />

can do anything here, from design<br />

and development to sourcing and<br />

full-package buys,” she said. A<br />

standout for Brocato this season<br />

was DyStar, the Reidsville, N.C.–<br />

based dye and chemical company<br />

that used Kingpins as a platform<br />

to showcase its eco-friendly innovations<br />

in denim washing. “It<br />

is so great to learn new ways to<br />

do business that are easier on the<br />

environment,” she said.<br />

For more information about<br />

Kingpins, visit www.olah.com. ■


Technology<br />

Lawson Debuts New Inventory-Replenishment Tool<br />

By Robert McAllister<br />

TECHNOLOGY EDITOR<br />

Retailers now have another piece of technology<br />

to help them keep their store racks fresh.<br />

St. Paul, Minn.–based Lawson Software has<br />

released a software application designed to manage<br />

the entire product assortment and store-replenishment<br />

process.<br />

The Lawson Assortment Replenishment<br />

Planner was developed especially for the apparel<br />

and sewn-products industry, which calls for fast<br />

turns and quick reaction. The replenisher works in<br />

conjunction with Lawson’s M3 enterprise system<br />

and helps manage all aspects of inventory management,<br />

including defining and introducing new collections,<br />

planning store assortments and executing<br />

merchandise buy plans and store push plans, and<br />

managing store-inventory replenishment.<br />

Lawson is currently beginning<br />

the first implementation of the Assortment<br />

Replenishment Planner<br />

with a major European retailer.<br />

“The fashion-brand owners we<br />

work with identify assortment and<br />

replenishment planning as one of<br />

their top business challenges,”<br />

said Andrew Dalziel, marketing<br />

director for Lawson Software.<br />

“[This] fills a large gap in the retailing<br />

experience.”<br />

Fashion-brand owners usually<br />

have many different spreadsheets<br />

and software systems to plan their<br />

assortments and manage their<br />

stores, explained Dalziel. With<br />

different store groups taking different<br />

combinations of styles,<br />

colors and sizes, it can be a timeconsuming<br />

and broken process,<br />

he said.<br />

“The Assortment Replenisher<br />

addresses these concerns<br />

through one software system that<br />

can build the right assortment<br />

plans, push plans and inventoryreplenishment<br />

plans, helping to<br />

maximize the fashion-brand owner’s<br />

overall sell-through rates.”<br />

It can ultimately help improve<br />

a fashion-brand owner’s ability to<br />

ensure the right product mix to<br />

achieve more sales at the full ticket<br />

price and monitor performance<br />

for a particular store, collection or<br />

product, Dalziel added. The new<br />

application makes it simpler for<br />

a fashion-brand owner to maximize<br />

profits with a reduction in<br />

store stock-outs, markdowns and<br />

obsolete inventory and enables<br />

fashion-brand owners to make<br />

smarter decisions regarding assortment<br />

and replenishment<br />

planning for current and future<br />

collections.<br />

A number of prospective and<br />

existing customers are taking<br />

a look at the new tool, and contracts<br />

are expected to be signed<br />

shortly. In the meantime, the<br />

company has signed Hong Kong<br />

dress-shirt specialist TAL to use<br />

M3’s planning workbench and<br />

Supply Chain Order solutions.<br />

These tools are expected to help<br />

TAL achieve shorter planning and<br />

production lead times, respond<br />

faster to market trends and improve<br />

inventory management.<br />

“We used to rely on Excel<br />

spreadsheets for mid- to longterm–capacity<br />

planning, but it<br />

was time-consuming, not integrated<br />

and susceptible to human<br />

error,” said Delman Lee, director<br />

of technology for TAL. “With the<br />

Planning Workbench, whether it<br />

is the sales team loading orders<br />

or the planners balancing capacity,<br />

all changes are immediately<br />

updated for everyone to see. We also saved time.<br />

For 200,000 orders, we used to take eight hours to<br />

download and sort data with Excel, but it can be<br />

done in 30 minutes now.”<br />

Lee said the Supply Chain Order application<br />

helps in the event that if a customer’s order changes,<br />

all other related material-requirement orders<br />

are taken care of. “We estimate that this gives us<br />

80 percent savings in time spent on these tasks,”<br />

added Lee.<br />

OptiTex Adds Adam<br />

OptiTex Ltd. next month will add Adam, a<br />

male virtual mannequin, or “avatar,” to its 3-D<br />

CAD and design-software systems.<br />

Beginning in November, Adam will appear<br />

within OptiTex’s 3-D and Version 10 3-D modules<br />

and related applications, serving as a complement<br />

to Jasmine, the software’s female equivalent, as<br />

well as a family of boy, girl and baby avatars.<br />

Adam’s feature set expands on the previous<br />

versions of OptiTex’s 3-D male models. Users will<br />

be able to enter key measurements and manipulate<br />

characteristics such as muscle-tone definition,<br />

belly shape and a wide range of postures to create<br />

an Adam, which will then model clothing and conduct<br />

fit simulations.<br />

Aside from reducing iterations in the patternmaking<br />

process, the avatar can also be used for<br />

virtual fashion shows and other uses.<br />

“Virtually every parameter of the avatars is<br />

customizable, allowing designers to see their creations<br />

come to life on the screen, virtually eliminating<br />

the expense of models and fabric waste,<br />

and significantly reducing production time,” said<br />

Ran Machtinger, chief executive officer of Opti-<br />

Tex Ltd. ■<br />

swim<br />

january 10-13, 2008 & September 12-14, 2008<br />

surfexpo.com | 678.781.7900<br />

Optitex’s new avatar, Adam<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 7


New Resources<br />

Jeffrey Sebelia<br />

Launches New Line<br />

On the heels of debuting his Spring 2008 Cosa Nostra<br />

collection on the runway during Los Angeles Fashion<br />

Week, designer Jeffrey Sebelia has launched a new line to<br />

further his reach. Sebelia, who is widely recognized for his<br />

appearance on Bravo TV’s “Project Runway” fashion reality<br />

competition, is hoping to capitalize on his fame with Jeffrey<br />

Sebelia, a new young contemporary line.<br />

“I’m targeting a different customer [than Cosa Nostra].<br />

It’s a much younger woman, and it is priced as such,” Sebelia<br />

said. Backed by Los Angeles–based Green Mochi, makers<br />

of the 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent line, the new collection<br />

is set to appeal to a wider audience. “It’s more of a casual<br />

look that more women can wear,” Sebelia said. Less focused<br />

than Cosa Nostra, which targets a niche market of sexy rock<br />

’n’ roll outcasts, the new line is more wearable, with pretty dresses, flirty tops, tailored<br />

pants, jersey dresses and skinny tuxedos.<br />

“It’s still me, so there is a bit of a rock ’n’<br />

roll slant, but mostly it is just sportswear<br />

done really well. The tuxedo is about as out<br />

there as I get with this line,” he said.<br />

With wholesale prices starting at $22 for<br />

T-shirts and hovering between $41 and $78<br />

for dresses and pants, the collection is positioned<br />

to be easy on the wallet. The collection,<br />

which is produced both domestically<br />

and overseas, is just beginning to be introduced<br />

to retailers, and Sebelia is hesitant to<br />

pinpoint exactly who will sell the line. “We<br />

want to be in all the key boutiques. I think<br />

it is something that would do really well in<br />

those boutiques that mix really high-end<br />

stuff with more-contemporary and young<br />

contemporary,” he said.<br />

For now, buyers can see the line at the<br />

Steve Martino & Associates showroom<br />

in The New Mart. For more information,<br />

call (213) 627-4413.—Erin Barajas<br />

8 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Hellz Bellz:<br />

Raw, Loud and<br />

in Your Face<br />

Hellz Bellz went from a spare-time hobby<br />

for Lanie Alabanza-Barcena to demanding every<br />

inch of her space. Alabanza-Barcena and her husband,<br />

Bam Barcena, felt the growth of the line immediately in their New York apartment,<br />

which was doubling as the shipping center for more than 3,500 units of graphic T-shirts.<br />

“It got out of hand to the point where we could barely walk through our apartment,”<br />

said Alabanza-Barcena, who was also working as an art director for Rocawear at the time.<br />

“That’s how we ended up getting a bigger warehouse, and that was in L.A.” she said.<br />

Alabanza-Barcena started Hellz Bellz in 2005 as a cotton T-shirt line splattered with<br />

graphics such as a trompe l’oeil print of a bandanna tied around the neck. A San Diego<br />

native, Alabanza-Barcena moved to New York in 2004 with her husband, who was a senior<br />

designer at Ecko Unlimited and design director for Akademiks.<br />

In September, the two opened new ample warehouse<br />

space in El Monte, Calif., and expanded Hellz Bellz into<br />

a cut-and-sew line for Fall 2007.<br />

Each season, a different dose of niche culture clubs<br />

inspires Hellz Bellz graphics and fashion designs. This<br />

Holiday it was 1960s and 1970s sexploitation films and<br />

the British punk and mod scene. For Spring 2008, “revolution<br />

for the hell of it” and youth angst serve as inspiration.<br />

A classic masculine motorcycle jacket is made<br />

feminine when rendered in an Arabic scarf fabric with<br />

fringed edges and extra-pocket detailing.<br />

“I wanted to create a brand that catered to the girls<br />

who weren’t so into the cutesy flowers, hearts and unicorns<br />

graphics. I wanted more edgy, in-your-face graphics<br />

for the tough girls, but still sexy,” Alabanza-Barcena said.<br />

Hellz Bellz is sold at boutiques such as In4mation in Honolulu; Commonwealth in<br />

Norfolk, Va.; 5 & A Dime in San Diego; and Black Market in Santa Monica, Calif.<br />

Wholesale price points range from $20 for cotton T-shirts to $61 for an embellished cotton<br />

fleece hoodie and from $65 to $75 for satin track jackets and nylon windbreakers.<br />

For more information, contact The Museum Group Showroom at (212) 575-2373,<br />

Ext. 10, or visit www.hellz-bellz.com.—Rhea Cortado


New Lines<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market Center<br />

The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the <strong>California</strong> Market Center, located at 110 E. Ninth St., Los Angeles.<br />

The <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> lists new tenants and lines each market-week issue. Compiled by Rhea Cortado<br />

NEW SHOWROOMS<br />

Hobo International<br />

A1075<br />

Hobo Belt Collection<br />

Hobo Eyewear/Sunglasses<br />

Hobo Eyewear/Readers<br />

Cindy Clark<br />

B511<br />

Company C Sales<br />

Dex & Stella Trend-driven fashion<br />

jewelry, necklaces and bracelets<br />

Fever Contemporary sweaters and knit<br />

tops<br />

Shirt Passion Contemporary European<br />

sportswear geared toward American<br />

customers<br />

Two Flowers by Jasmine & Lily<br />

Dresses, wovens and knits in prints and<br />

solids<br />

Onovo Royaluxe <strong>Apparel</strong><br />

B540<br />

Femme Onovo Women’s collection<br />

Onovo Men’s collection<br />

Renee and Co.<br />

B598<br />

Drive Jeans Contemporary men’s and<br />

ladies’ denim<br />

Kaporal 5 French-based dual-gender<br />

collection<br />

One Life Women’s casual streetwear with<br />

an edge<br />

Silver Dagger Men’s and women’s<br />

embellished item-driven collection and<br />

accessories<br />

Tika Bella Belts and bags<br />

Tough Jeansmith Contemporary<br />

unisex bag collection<br />

Traffic People London-based knit and<br />

woven dresses<br />

NEW LINES<br />

CONTEMPORARY<br />

X-Group<br />

A223<br />

Rockstyle<br />

Gary Lippy Sales<br />

A251<br />

Carlopik Contemporary European<br />

sportswear and dresses<br />

It’s Me Crossover item-driven sportswear<br />

Creative Concepts<br />

A272<br />

Aventures Des Toiles Innovative<br />

cuts and detailing, based on seven artists<br />

each season<br />

Carol Herzog and Erin Herzog<br />

A278<br />

Randy Kemper Better-sportswear line<br />

Skotts Washable Suede jackets and<br />

pants<br />

S&J Marcher, LTD<br />

A280<br />

Calipso Modal and Pima cotton tanks,<br />

tops and dresses, and garment-dyed tees<br />

Stephanie Manos Sales<br />

A283<br />

Flatiron Workshop Washed-cotton<br />

shirts, liberty-print blouses, sheer-striped tees<br />

and shirt dresses<br />

Arlene Henry Sales<br />

A286<br />

Baxis & Baxis European fabric noveltyitem<br />

jackets<br />

Camela Me Designer from France<br />

Manyus Fun, flared and flirty skirts<br />

Rep et Trois<br />

A294<br />

Inherit Casual, all-organic sportswear<br />

Pure Color Contemporary jean collection<br />

with an emphasis on fit, fabric and power<br />

colors<br />

Nu Paris<br />

A509<br />

Oton Couture Modern, funky, chic<br />

women’s and girls’ apparel<br />

Rebecca Bacon Inc.<br />

A534<br />

Jules Madison<br />

Yana Couture<br />

Yana K<br />

Yana K<br />

A559<br />

Yana Couture High-end, evening and<br />

cocktail attire<br />

Yana K Los Angeles Casual dress<br />

collection in silks, knits and cottons<br />

Rande Cohen Showroom<br />

B513<br />

Mimi & Coco Contemporary T-shirts<br />

and dresses<br />

My Tribe Contemporary leather jackets<br />

and tees<br />

Wrap-Up Suede-like embellished robes<br />

Jennifer Michelle Sales<br />

B520<br />

Velvet Rose Dip-dyed, crystal-encrusted<br />

tees with graphics<br />

Landa Sales<br />

B523<br />

Be.ology Positive-affirmation tees<br />

Hale Mary Showroom<br />

B530<br />

G-Lish Hand-embellished tanks<br />

Life Evolving Consciously aware<br />

clothing and yogawear<br />

Agent Icon Showroom<br />

B531<br />

Heike Jarick Luxurious fabric, tailoring<br />

and classic lines<br />

San & Soni Distinguishing construction<br />

New Lines page 10<br />

M A R Y B R E N N A N & C O.<br />

L.A. Market | Spring ’08 | October 26-29<br />

LAUNCHING 2 NEW AND NOT-TO-BE-MISSED APPAREL LINES !<br />

YSIS (YOUR SLIP IS SHOWING) - fl irtatious and beautifully crafted embellished slips to be worn<br />

interchangeably under playfully interpreted classic dresses<br />

LUSINE - fresh, sexy and fabulous! day to evening knit tops and dresses<br />

Also Exhibiting:<br />

Monique Leshman - gorgeous and in-demand, hand-beaded tunics and more (moniqueleshman.com)<br />

Peonie Swimwear - glamorous and sexy Brazilian swim line for bathing beauties (peonieswim.com)<br />

Archive jewelry - everyone’s favorite charm necklaces! (archive.com)<br />

Beth Lauren jewelry - “elegant and intricate, like works of art” Lucky Mag (bethlauren.com)<br />

Candace Ang jewelry - “the perfect fusion between punk and girly” Ellegirl.com (candaceang.com)<br />

Diane Yang jewelry- “I want, I need, I have to have it” In Style<br />

Pink Paisleys jewelry- a favorite designer among L.A.’s “IT” girls!<br />

Cheryl Default jewelry - hip, timeless, earthy and original!<br />

Georgia Fletcher - one-of-a-kind icon jewelry<br />

Showroom Profiles<br />

Liza Stewart<br />

Showroom<br />

<strong>California</strong> Market<br />

Center<br />

Suite B535<br />

(213) 622-9669<br />

Liza Stewart’s<br />

2,400-square-foot location<br />

in the <strong>California</strong><br />

Market Center<br />

is designed to be as<br />

internationally eclectic<br />

as the landscape<br />

of Los Angeles. A dividing<br />

brick wall and<br />

archway is an ode to<br />

Los Angeles’ Olvera<br />

Street, and Louis XIV<br />

French period–style<br />

furniture adds texture to the global flavor.<br />

“What I wanted to do is create different environments within our<br />

room,” Stewart said, since some buyers spend the whole day in the<br />

showroom viewing multiple collections. “I think it frames the collections<br />

best.”<br />

Stewart’s showroom has been in the <strong>California</strong> Market Center for 11<br />

years. Her showroom roster includes the easy knit Carilyn Vaile Black<br />

Label and the bamboo fabric–based Carilyn Vaile Green Label line, New<br />

York–based Walter, New York–based Cynthia Steffe, Nougat London,<br />

Los Angeles–based Maria Bianca Nero, Los Angeles pant line Bendix<br />

and Los Angeles–based item tops line Mezon.<br />

Collection-based lines are what Stewart knows best. Before she moved<br />

to Los Angeles 12 years ago, she worked in the Chicago sales showroom<br />

of her father, Marshall Stewart, who represented brands such as Nicole<br />

Miller, Calvin Klein, Halston, Andrea Jovine and Adrienne Vittadini.<br />

“That’s what [buyers] come to me for. It’s become our specialty<br />

because we understand collection merchandising and sales,” Stewart<br />

said. “It’s a different formula than just a jean line. You’re building a brand<br />

within your stores.”—Rhea Cortado<br />

Cooper Design Space | 860 S. Los Angeles St., Ste. 208 | 213.244.1281 | marybrennanco.com<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 9<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 9


New Lines<br />

New Lines<br />

Continued from page 9<br />

and feminine, architectural, highquality<br />

fabrics<br />

Helen & Aaryn Costello<br />

B545<br />

Blue Azure Dresses and tops<br />

Born Crucial Garment-dyed<br />

dresses and tops<br />

Krista Lee Contemporary, fun<br />

sportswear<br />

Bob Ditchik and Howard<br />

Meyers<br />

B567<br />

Kische Contemporary sportswear<br />

Revelation Showroom<br />

B571<br />

CC Couture Contemporary silk<br />

and silk cotton dresses<br />

Feelgood T-Shirt Co. Novelty<br />

tees<br />

Sorted Eco-friendly tops in<br />

bamboo, oat/poly, soy/poly and<br />

organic cotton<br />

T. Smith & Co<br />

B588<br />

J’aime by Jaime Pressly<br />

Better contemporary dresses, tops,<br />

jackets and pants<br />

Naïve Spain Bohemian-chic,<br />

casual contemporarywear<br />

The Vonderheide Showroom<br />

C502<br />

Rosner Modern jeans and pants<br />

from Germany<br />

Zaffiri Contemporary sportswear,<br />

novelty treatments and styles<br />

L On 5<br />

C514<br />

Boldaceous Contemporary plussize<br />

line<br />

Tammy Mars Contemporary<br />

dresses and tops<br />

Laura Cohen<br />

C529<br />

Animale Updated modern,<br />

sophisticated women’s sportswear<br />

Silk Threads Novelty-print<br />

dresses, tunics and tees<br />

Valerie Hamilton Silk updated<br />

day-to-evening dresses<br />

Kathleen O’Connor Sales<br />

C540<br />

Beluva Novelty-item jackets and<br />

sweaters<br />

Kay Celine Modern<br />

contemporary item tops and dresses<br />

in jersey, lace, mesh, print and solids<br />

Lucinda Showroom<br />

C548<br />

Mison Domestic indie line from<br />

the Bay Area<br />

Rene R Domestic casual line in<br />

cotton and bamboo fabric<br />

Sense Clothing<br />

Skin Handbags Handbags in<br />

contemporary designs<br />

Yumi London-based color- and<br />

print-driven line<br />

Kamofie Designs/The<br />

Kollective<br />

C552<br />

Amery Carriere Designs<br />

Romantic jewelry with an edge<br />

Julez Bryant Classic gold jewelry<br />

with modern industrial shapes<br />

Megan Thorne Fine Jewelry<br />

Fashion-forward fine jewelry<br />

Funtrap Showroom<br />

C555<br />

InTouch Fitness line for the green<br />

market<br />

Jingerbrasil Brazilian<br />

activewear<br />

LA Body Japanese functional and<br />

great-fit sports underwear<br />

Scolar Savvy graphic design–<br />

incorporated girly silhouettes<br />

Tyoga Comfortable, elegant and<br />

beautiful yoga/lifestyle collection<br />

Renee Cohen Sales LLC<br />

C561<br />

Simon Chang Contemporarylifestyle<br />

approach to dressing<br />

Sued Mod High-fashion leather<br />

collection<br />

Necessitees<br />

C577<br />

Necessitees Pantees<br />

Impulse Moda<br />

C578<br />

Amelia Toro Sophisticated South<br />

American designer dresses<br />

Sfizio Item-driven Italian designer<br />

and contemporary<br />

Deborah USA Sales<br />

C579<br />

Barbara Milano Fashion<br />

handbags made in Italy in highquality<br />

materials<br />

Blankflow High-fashion Italian<br />

handbags<br />

Lynn Girard<br />

C585<br />

Pure Style Reusable nipple<br />

concealers, full-cup and half-cup bra<br />

inserts, adhesive strapless shaping<br />

bras, and underarm garment<br />

protectors<br />

Johnny Was<br />

C586<br />

Whitley Fashion-forward dresses<br />

and blouses<br />

UPDATED<br />

Neetu Malik<br />

A267<br />

Cake Hand-loomed cotton sweaters<br />

Robin Kaplan Silk coordinated<br />

skirts with tops<br />

Fred Postal Associates<br />

A301<br />

Adore’A Contemporary dresses<br />

and sportswear<br />

Dream Designs Organic cotton<br />

dresses and sportswear<br />

Les Winner & Associates<br />

A304<br />

Paradyz Couture Brazilian<br />

day-to-evening dresses and romantic<br />

tops<br />

Jennifer Hutton Sales<br />

A306<br />

Bleu Bayou Novelty jackets and<br />

blouses<br />

Linea Domani Missy/updated<br />

novelty skirts and dresses<br />

Kristi Williams Sales<br />

A312<br />

Magnet Art Plus Plus-size<br />

cotton tees with lace<br />

Melody Fast Sales<br />

A313<br />

Tara Vao Updated linen and<br />

textured batiks<br />

Transparente European linens<br />

and cottons<br />

Fern Liberson & Co.<br />

A317<br />

Spiritual Fitness Yogawear<br />

and casualwear<br />

Steven Levison<br />

A327<br />

John P Sweater collection from<br />

Greece<br />

Only USA<br />

A335<br />

Banana Blue Australian Casual<br />

contemporary linen<br />

ULS Andersson Updated<br />

contemporary dresses<br />

Margaret Cox & Associates<br />

A339<br />

Insight Related separates<br />

Gina Yao Sales<br />

A359<br />

E.M. Hall USA <strong>Apparel</strong><br />

Group Contemporary missy fit<br />

E.M. Hall USA Sport Casual<br />

two-piece garment-dyed sets<br />

Nigel Stewart<br />

A382<br />

38% Missy contemporary tops and<br />

dresses<br />

Studio III<br />

A385<br />

Linday<br />

Svetlana Related contemporary<br />

separates and dresses<br />

Sharon Jakum Collections<br />

A386<br />

Felicity Sweaters<br />

Silvany Cotton line for Spring<br />

Salt & Pepper Sales<br />

B329<br />

Peligrosa Fashion-forward<br />

organic collection for men and<br />

women in luxurious materials<br />

Sharon Koshet Sales<br />

B335<br />

Elaris Hand-knit novelty sweaters<br />

Hope & Emma Hot, trendy<br />

10 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

contemporary separates<br />

I Am by Alberto Makali<br />

Daytime dresses<br />

Maddesign Art-inspired tees<br />

and tops<br />

Nu Paris Contemporary<br />

sportswear and dress collections from<br />

Paris and Milan<br />

Wayne Mourry<br />

B357<br />

L’Omi Young contemporary better<br />

tees<br />

LINGERIE AND<br />

ACCESSORIES<br />

Accessories Buy JoAnne<br />

A1002<br />

D.G.M. Getaway Straw totes<br />

and novelty bags<br />

She Shells Shell jewelry and<br />

wood beads<br />

Lea Goldman<br />

A1012<br />

Crown Caps Canadian hat line<br />

for men and women in straw and<br />

leather<br />

Lizzy Toy Design Canadian<br />

hat line for women in straw and<br />

cotton knits<br />

Roxstar<br />

A1076<br />

Via Nova Handbags<br />

Russell & Ellie Frank<br />

A1080<br />

Debora Carlucci Italian<br />

designer jewelry<br />

Otazu Designer gold, silver and<br />

semiprecious stone jewelry<br />

A.N.D.M. Showroom<br />

B1033<br />

Elizabeth Wahju Design<br />

Elegant, luxurious accessories<br />

Hysteric Yellow<br />

Mimsy Collections Unique,<br />

sophisticated leather clutches and<br />

handbags<br />

Engels Showroom<br />

B1069<br />

Anadia T Fun, embellished<br />

Haviana flip-flops and home goods<br />

Antik Denim Handbags Fine<br />

leather bags complementing the<br />

Antik Denim apparel line<br />

Stacey Cameron Sterling and<br />

gold-filled vintage-inspired jewelry<br />

Patricia Marquis Showroom<br />

B1071<br />

Conturelle Elegant, sophisticated<br />

European full-figure bras<br />

Elizabeth Cotton Classic<br />

pajamas<br />

FFWD Showroom<br />

B1081<br />

Booty Parlor Fun, flirty gifts,<br />

panties and bras<br />

Fleur’t Boyshorts, loungewear,<br />

camis and chemises<br />

Little Hill Edgy, fun streetwearinspired<br />

lingerie<br />

Nina V Modal camis, chemises<br />

and dresses<br />

Papete Swim and lingerie<br />

JUNIORS/YOUNG<br />

CONTEMPORARY<br />

Z. Cavaricci<br />

A875<br />

Yuki Japanese-inspired juniors<br />

premium denim<br />

Kavio/Boxxolo<br />

A881<br />

Delicious Trendy juniors knit<br />

dress line<br />

GiGi Sales<br />

B865<br />

Red Pepper Men’s and women’s<br />

contemporary denim line<br />

MENSWEAR<br />

Mitch Jenner<br />

C454<br />

Parigi Group Licensed kids’<br />

apparel for Akademiks, Enyce, Apple<br />

Bottoms and Phat Farm<br />

Kremer Group<br />

C459<br />

Indian Rock Culture Detaildriven<br />

contemporary denim<br />

ReRock Young contemporary<br />

denim<br />

Showroom Profiles<br />

Susana<br />

Mercedes<br />

The New Mart<br />

Suite 212<br />

(213) 489-9292<br />

information@susanamercedes.com<br />

For some fashion designers, simplicity is the<br />

height of elegance. For Susana Mercedes, beauty<br />

can be found in the most unique spaces.<br />

The veteran Los Angeles designer opened a<br />

100-square-foot showroom for her self-named<br />

fashion business, Susana Mercedes, on Oct.<br />

8. The showroom was leased from business incubator<br />

and nonprofit education group Fashion<br />

Business Inc.<br />

Mercedes opted to give the space, formerly an<br />

office, a completely new look with a simple but<br />

elegant design. A driftwood table, purchased from a St. Vincent De Paul thrift shop, sits<br />

beside a small ottoman, which also serves as storage space. Olive-beige–painted walls serve<br />

as a simple backdrop to Susana Mercedes’ highly detailed collection.<br />

The showroom carries Mercedes’ restored vintage line. This line offers one-of-a kind<br />

pieces from the 1950s to 1980s that are restored by the designer. She said that she gives the<br />

pieces added sparkle by putting special details on the restored clothes, such as 60-year-old<br />

buttons made in Paris.<br />

The showroom also offers the Susana Mercedes Limited Edition line. The line features<br />

tops, dresses, coats and pants that will be made in limited runs of no more than 100<br />

pieces. The clothes are inspired by the silhouettes of the mid-20th century, but Mercedes<br />

said that she gives them a fashion-forward look with details such as an unfinished hem or<br />

cowl neck. Wholesale price points are $399 for tops and $1,200 for hand-beaded tuxedo<br />

pants.<br />

Now that the showroom is open, Mercedes said that her next step will be to place her<br />

collection in high-end boutiques.—Andrew Asch<br />

New Lines<br />

The New Mart<br />

The following are new lines carried by showrooms at The New Mart, located at 127 E. Ninth St., Los Angeles.<br />

The <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> lists new tenants and lines each market-week issue.<br />

NEW<br />

SHOWROOMS<br />

Susana Mercedes<br />

Suite 212<br />

Her Style Source by<br />

Susana Mercedes<br />

Next by Chris Meyers Sales<br />

Suite 806<br />

Fig. 8 Easy fashion separates<br />

Love Polly Novelty<br />

Maze by XCVI Novelty bottoms<br />

resource with a contemporary fit<br />

and look<br />

M Line Novelty T-shirts<br />

NEW LINES<br />

10 Eleven<br />

The Bank<br />

Biba<br />

Rag and Bone<br />

Hatch<br />

The Bank<br />

Costello Tagliapietra<br />

Degaine<br />

Goava<br />

Isabella Tonchi<br />

Jim Zarinfar<br />

Kerrigan<br />

Magda Berliner<br />

Michel Berandi<br />

Pepper and Pistol<br />

Sabrina Dehoff<br />

The Gig Showroom<br />

Suite 203<br />

Girlfriends by Pure Style<br />

Undergarment solutions<br />

Letters of Marque Fine<br />

loungewear<br />

Brothers and Sisters<br />

Suite 209<br />

Kaya Stuart<br />

Wednesday<br />

Core Showroom<br />

Suite 402<br />

Edie France<br />

Tt<br />

Chris Cantrell<br />

Suite 404<br />

Twin Fin<br />

TKN Sales<br />

Suite 404<br />

Blac Label<br />

Kuan<br />

Nancy K Showroom<br />

Suite 406<br />

Aubergine Los Angeles–based<br />

line offering tops and dresses<br />

Hangover Contemporary line of<br />

sporty knit silhouettes<br />

S.A.M.<br />

Suite 407<br />

Aka<br />

J Brand Kids<br />

Chantal Accessories<br />

Suite 410<br />

2 Sisters Designs Handcrafted<br />

jewelry using traditional metalsmithing<br />

techniques<br />

Toolbox/Monopoly<br />

Suite 501<br />

Hard Core Elegance Sterlingsilver<br />

jewelry<br />

Robbie French Designs<br />

Vintage, aged, distressed and studded<br />

belts and leather bags<br />

The Accessory Shop Bags,<br />

belts and wallets combining vintage<br />

inspiration and contemporary<br />

sensibility<br />

Select Showroom<br />

Suite 502<br />

Robins Jean<br />

Rowdy<br />

Tailor Vintage<br />

Travis Walker<br />

Tony Barra Sales<br />

Suite 507/509<br />

So Low Women’s contemporary<br />

activewear<br />

Theresa Matthew Studio<br />

Suite 602<br />

Salomay Contemporary tops<br />

using luxury yarns and trim<br />

Barbara James & Co.<br />

Suite 607<br />

Beau Bois Tops and dresses<br />

Mode Studio<br />

Suite 609<br />

Belabumbum Lingerie and<br />

loungewear<br />

Clo Studio Casual, sophisticated<br />

fashion lingerie collection<br />

Pfiff Luxury lingerie<br />

Room<br />

Suite 611<br />

Milia M<br />

Parballe<br />

Laurie Hasson<br />

Suite 700<br />

Zachariah Bryant<br />

Darlene Valle Showroom<br />

Suite 701<br />

A to Z Contemporary tees and knit<br />

dressing<br />

Henri Abitan Young designer<br />

collection<br />

Mary Hardie Showroom<br />

Suite 701<br />

Lyric Culture Premium denim<br />

and belts complemented by T-shirts<br />

inspired by music from the 1960s<br />

and 1970s<br />

KLA/Karen L. Anderson<br />

Suite 704<br />

Chronologie Casual pants<br />

Crème Fraiche Fitted pants<br />

Crème Fraiche Light casual<br />

pants<br />

Ginger<br />

Suite 707<br />

2 10 Collection of chunky,<br />

embellished tees, tunics, dresses and<br />

leggings<br />

Denim of Virtue Denim<br />

collection in signature washes and<br />

detailing<br />

Nela Whimsical collection of<br />

dresses printed with custom designs<br />

Solo Jewelry line using silver,<br />

gold, leather, and semiprecious and<br />

precious rough-cut stones<br />

Studio Two<br />

Suite 709<br />

Sweetface Contemporary sexy<br />

item collection by J.Lo<br />

Sway Showroom<br />

Suite 800<br />

Dream Culture Women’s<br />

New Lines page 11


Showroom Profiles<br />

The <strong>News</strong><br />

Cooper Design Space<br />

Lobby F<br />

(213) 892-8822<br />

Since The <strong>News</strong>, a New York–<br />

based showroom and public-relations<br />

company, opened its Los<br />

Angeles showroom at the Cooper<br />

Design Space in 2004, it has been<br />

known for championing up-andcoming<br />

young designers. Notables Vena Cava, Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders,<br />

Jovovich-Hawk, and Shipley and Halmos (the new line from former Trovata founders<br />

Jeff Halmom and Sam Shipley) call the showroom home. The cavernous 4,400-square-foot<br />

space just off the Cooper building’s lobby is home to approximately 15 brands, including<br />

Australia’s Josh Goot, Cheap Monday, Habitual, Clu, Lutz & Patmos, Wayne, Sea and<br />

Rose, the new line from Los Angeles–based stylist Britt Bardo, during fashion markets.<br />

Despite the slew of young designer and contemporary brands that read like a who’s who<br />

of fashion upstarts, founder Stella Iishi says there is no overlap among the brands. “They<br />

are all very different and distinct so that no two lines conflict,” she said. Rose is packed with<br />

gorgeous, simple takes on closet staples, including slouchy T-shirts with inserts of delicate<br />

mesh. Jovovich-Hawk doles out feminine vintage-inspired pieces with a modern edge, and<br />

Josh Goot makes sleek, modern pieces with color-block details and lots of sex appeal. The<br />

<strong>News</strong> also stands out because it represents the same clients on both coasts. “I think that’s<br />

pretty important, to have one person giving the same message for the brand,” she said.<br />

Straddling both coasts, The <strong>News</strong> is in a unique position to track buying trends. But<br />

lately, New York and Los Angeles buyers seem to be on the same page, Iishi said. “In the<br />

old days, it used to be that the West Coast bought lighter stuff and the East Coast went<br />

heavier. Now people everywhere are doing light and layering—more like <strong>California</strong>, so the<br />

<strong>California</strong> style of dressing has filtered through to the East Coast.”<br />

A favorite among high-end Los Angeles specialty boutiques, including Ron Herman,<br />

Fred Segal Flair, Diavolina, American Rag and Satine, The <strong>News</strong> is only open during<br />

markets, which gives it an exclusive air. “We don’t have any windows either, so we may<br />

seem a little closed off,” Iishi said, but she encouraged buyers to stop by. “We have something<br />

for everybody. About 90 percent of our lines are young designer and contemporary.”<br />

—Erin Barajas<br />

New Lines<br />

contemporary collection<br />

Miriana Ojeda<br />

Suite 803<br />

Andy The-anh<br />

JVL<br />

Kande<br />

Mae<br />

Petrovich & Robinson<br />

Sablina<br />

Samora<br />

Shift<br />

Suite 805<br />

Sunlight & More<br />

Tivoli Paris collection<br />

Nothing to Wear<br />

Suite 806<br />

Eco-Lounge by Loungerie<br />

Organic cotton with surplus fabrics<br />

and bamboo/cotton knits<br />

Eco-Lux by Subtle Luxury<br />

Fashion sweater knits in organic<br />

cotton, bamboo and hemp<br />

Love Surplus Leftover fabrics<br />

and trims made into shopping bags,<br />

lounge pieces and fashion items.<br />

Corina Collections<br />

Suite 807<br />

Almas Handbags Accessories<br />

and bags handcrafted by Argentine<br />

artisans<br />

Spiders & Caviar Form-fitting,<br />

stylized tops<br />

Sue Goodman Showroom<br />

Suite 813<br />

Joshua<br />

Sworn Virgins<br />

Kathy Walker Sales<br />

Suite 900<br />

81 Hours<br />

Lauren Conrad<br />

Fragments<br />

Suite 901<br />

Arman Fine jewelry<br />

Morado Handbags<br />

Ray Griffiths Fine jewelry<br />

Showroom 903<br />

Suite 903<br />

C&C <strong>California</strong> Loungewear<br />

Denimarea<br />

Suite 913<br />

Terra Plana<br />

Cooper Design Space<br />

Focus Showroom<br />

Suite 1001<br />

Ali Ro Dresses<br />

Pamela Carone Showroom<br />

Suite 1009<br />

Cheyenne<br />

Ziroco<br />

Joanne Fiske Showroom<br />

Suite 1011<br />

Tysa<br />

Mix<br />

Suite 1106<br />

Pathway Contemporary women’s<br />

top and knit dress collection<br />

Chan Luu<br />

Suite 1107<br />

Georgie Pants<br />

Ginny Wong<br />

Suite 1108<br />

Yumi Kim<br />

Work in Progress<br />

Suite 1210<br />

Mblem by Mandy Moore<br />

Virginie Castaway<br />

The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the Cooper Design Space, located at 860 S. Los Angeles<br />

St., Los Angeles. The <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> lists new tenants and lines each market-week issue.<br />

NEW<br />

SHOWROOMS<br />

Zooey<br />

Mezzanine<br />

GreenLabel by Zooey<br />

Zooey by Alice Heller<br />

Collection<br />

Zooey Boo<br />

Zooey Men’s<br />

Altruistic Society<br />

Suite 309<br />

Dangerous Breed<br />

Funkie Junk<br />

Obelisk<br />

Quentin and Claude<br />

Nyali<br />

Suite 515<br />

Dana Schneider<br />

Emily Arney<br />

Emshallah by Soukwear<br />

Giorgio Brato<br />

Mine Jewelry<br />

Seril Handbags<br />

Tola & Layla<br />

Vivi Sun<br />

NEW LOCATIONS<br />

Cynthia O’Connor +<br />

Company<br />

Mezzanine 2<br />

Black & Brown<br />

Botkier<br />

CC Skye<br />

Due Farina<br />

Goldenbleu<br />

Gusto Denim<br />

Gustto<br />

Hollywould<br />

Jocelyn<br />

Jules Smith Designs<br />

Julie Haus<br />

Kara Janx<br />

Katherine Kwei<br />

Leigh & Luca<br />

Marlene Maree<br />

Pa Tou Tou<br />

Rebecca Minkoff<br />

Scharke<br />

Thirteen Denim<br />

Treesje<br />

Denise Williamson<br />

Showroom<br />

Suite 540<br />

AdamplusEve<br />

Cindy Lee<br />

Development by Erica<br />

Davies<br />

Erica Davies<br />

Linda Farrow Sunglasses<br />

New Lines page 13<br />

A. You Give Us Your Invoice.<br />

B. We Give You the Money.<br />

C. You Pay Your Bills.<br />

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OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 11


Showroom Profiles<br />

Caste Inc.<br />

Gerry Building<br />

Suite 703<br />

(213) 627-6768<br />

After trying the multi-line rep route<br />

for the past year, owners of the Los Angeles–based<br />

contemporary men’s label<br />

Caste Inc. decided to open a corporate<br />

showroom in the Gerry Building. The<br />

launch coincides with the debut of a new<br />

women’s contemporary line.<br />

The main force behind Caste is Dong<br />

Ming Pan, better known as “Pan,” who<br />

runs operations as well as oversees design.<br />

Under Pan, Caste has carved a<br />

niche providing value and contemporary<br />

styling. It’s best known for its cashmere<br />

knits, starting at $50.<br />

T-shirts start at $15. The line is sold in specialty boutiques, including Fred Segal and<br />

Villains.<br />

The new women’s line features mostly silk dresses wholesale priced from $50 to $130.<br />

The initial roll-out includes floral kimono dresses in silk along with metallic-coated linen<br />

dresses, floral prints and others. Everything is made near Shanghai, China.<br />

Shadi Tehranirad is the sales rep and assists in marketing and other areas.<br />

“The great thing about our line is that it’s contemporary, yet looks great on younger as<br />

well as older women,” Tehranirad said, adding that the showroom may add other companyowned<br />

lines in the near future.—Robert McAllister<br />

New Lines<br />

New Lines<br />

Continued from page 11<br />

Nobody Denim<br />

Thread Social<br />

Vincent Jewelry<br />

BPMW<br />

Suite 1009<br />

Barking Irons<br />

B. Son<br />

Claw $<br />

Emperor’s New Clothes<br />

Endovanera<br />

LA Denim Atelier<br />

Penfield<br />

Public School<br />

Yoko Devereaux<br />

NEW LINES<br />

The <strong>News</strong><br />

Lobby F<br />

Band of Outsiders<br />

Josh Goot<br />

Rose<br />

Shipley and Halmos<br />

Showroom Seven<br />

Mezzanine 3<br />

Erickson Beamon<br />

Sunglasses<br />

Handwritten<br />

Sue Stemp<br />

Blue Bird Showroom<br />

Suite 204<br />

And Cake Loungewear<br />

Gara Danielle<br />

Natalie Anne<br />

Nola Singer<br />

The Agency Showroom<br />

Suite 210<br />

Cicada<br />

Erica Anenberg<br />

Shantilly Jewelry<br />

Joey Showroom<br />

Suite 215<br />

J.O.B.<br />

Melanie Dizon<br />

Sophia Eugene<br />

Butik<br />

Suite 219<br />

Alexandra Dillon<br />

Nugaard Designs<br />

Terry by Sookwear<br />

Namaste Greenhouse<br />

Suite 328<br />

Ajna<br />

B’sbee<br />

Ciel<br />

Katharine Hamnett<br />

Perfectly Imperfect<br />

Atlas Showroom<br />

Suite 409<br />

Bureau<br />

Nave<br />

Posso the Spat<br />

Soni & Cindy<br />

The Smooth Company<br />

Movement Showroom<br />

Suite 525<br />

Andrea S.<br />

Gerry Building<br />

NEW<br />

SHOWROOMS<br />

Caste Showroom<br />

Suite 703<br />

Caste<br />

Creative Recreation<br />

Suite 704<br />

Creative Recreation<br />

NEW LINES<br />

Karma<br />

Suite 203<br />

5 Crown Tees<br />

Bread & Butta Tees<br />

Chica Boom Clothing<br />

Crooked Monkey Tees<br />

Streetwise Sales<br />

Suite 401<br />

Baby Phat Headwear<br />

GERRY DEBUT: Sales rep Shadi Tehranirad and a<br />

few knits from Caste Inc., now open in L.A.’s Gerry<br />

Building<br />

Oak Bay<br />

Rich Yung<br />

Level 7 Showroom<br />

Suite 407<br />

Engine 9<br />

iT Jeans<br />

Suite 701<br />

!iT In The Loop<br />

Nikki & Lucy Showroom<br />

Suite 702<br />

Doll House<br />

Paris Hilton Collection<br />

TEMPORARY<br />

EXHIBITORS FOR<br />

MARKET DURING<br />

OCT. 26–29<br />

Boutique Lingerie Show<br />

Suites 501 and 502<br />

Blue Life<br />

Boulee<br />

Daughters of the<br />

Revolution<br />

Kerri Wilder Jewelry<br />

Kettle Black<br />

Stelle by Gilber Gilmore<br />

Findings<br />

Suite 608<br />

Isabel Morant/Etoile<br />

Maggie Ward<br />

Minden Chan<br />

Riot Showroom<br />

Suite 611<br />

Afshin Feiz<br />

Cassette<br />

Chris Habana Jewelry<br />

Cloak & Dagger<br />

Cosa Nostra<br />

Disaya<br />

Dress<br />

Eventide<br />

Hussy<br />

SAS Showroom<br />

Suite 614<br />

Claudie Pierlot<br />

Eliza Gran Kids<br />

Foley + Corinna<br />

Laloo<br />

Publika<br />

Syla by Sylvie Cachay<br />

Community Service<br />

Suite 1135<br />

Kritik<br />

The following are new lines carried by showrooms at the Gerry Building, located at 910 S.<br />

Los Angeles St., Los Angeles. The <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> lists new tenants and lines each<br />

market-week issue.<br />

Anne Lewin<br />

Barbara<br />

Crabtree & Evelyn<br />

Dana Pisarra<br />

Derek Rose<br />

Disney Couture<br />

Eminence<br />

Gossard London<br />

Huit<br />

Keep Me<br />

Lavit Lingerie<br />

Montelle<br />

Panache<br />

Princesse Tam Tam<br />

Ravage<br />

Samantha Chang<br />

Shock Absorber<br />

The Little Bra Co.<br />

Zovo<br />

Extreme<br />

Makeover<br />

It was time for a change.<br />

The new <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> Web site is<br />

now dramatically improved: beautifully designed,<br />

better functioning and more interactive than ever.<br />

See the new Trends section and search the archives<br />

for your favorite trends, both past and present. The<br />

Fashion Slideshows will dazzle you with extensive<br />

runway coverage. The new Calendar section lets you<br />

visit all 2007 & 2008 trade shows and events, locate<br />

them on Google Maps and save to your calendar.<br />

The Classifi ed section is searchable,<br />

divided by category and FREE!<br />

It’s better than ever.<br />

Visit the new <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> Web site<br />

and see for yourself.<br />

CALIFORNIA<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong><strong>News</strong>.net<br />

Where fashion get down to businesssm<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 13


14 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Events<br />

Suite<br />

Party<br />

Who: Design Suites and<br />

<strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />

What: Closing-night party<br />

Where: Design Suites at<br />

Smashbox Studios, Culver<br />

City, Calif.<br />

When: Oct. <strong>18</strong><br />

The scene: It was standing- The Jack Rabbit booth<br />

room only at the Design<br />

Suites’ closing-night party<br />

at Smashbox Studios, where stylists,<br />

press and industry executives mixed<br />

business with pleasure by sampling hors<br />

d’oeuvres and cocktails while perusing<br />

the offerings of the labels exhibiting at<br />

the Design Suites, including Alternative,<br />

Amykatherine, Jennifer Lauren<br />

Mazur, Anna Kosturova, Blue Tattoo,<br />

BLVD, DanSara, L&R Couture, La<br />

Chica Chic, Privacy Wear, Smooch<br />

Jeans and Zova L.A.—Alison A. Nieder<br />

Blue Tattoo<br />

Kaptain, designer of<br />

Bubble Leather, and Natali<br />

Slele<br />

The <strong>California</strong> Market Center’s Senior Vice President of<br />

Operations Ben Lee (left) with Kent Smith, executive director<br />

of the Los Angeles Fashion District Business Improvement<br />

District, and Joanne Lee, senior vice president, CMC services<br />

VOLKER CORELL


Events<br />

Rodeo Honors Galanos on Walk of Style<br />

Who: Rodeo Drive Committee<br />

and City of Beverly Hills<br />

What: Rodeo Drive Walk of<br />

Style presentation and luncheon<br />

Where: Beverly Hills<br />

When: Oct. <strong>18</strong><br />

The scene: Former first lady Nancy<br />

Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale<br />

joined Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy<br />

Delshad and the Rodeo Drive Committee<br />

to honor fashion design<br />

legend James Galanos last week.<br />

Galanos was presented with the<br />

11th “Rodeo Drive Walk of Style<br />

Award” on Oct. <strong>18</strong> with an induction<br />

ceremony on Rodeo Drive and<br />

Betsy Bloomingdale, James Galanos, Nancy Reagan<br />

and Jimmy Delshad<br />

a luncheon in his honor. Ralph Rucci flew in to honor Galanos, and Peggy Moffet and<br />

much of the Beverly Hills community joined the celebration.<br />

Known as the epicenter of luxury and fashion of the West Coast, Rodeo Drive was<br />

the fitting place to honor the <strong>California</strong> design legend, who dressed the city’s socialites<br />

and Hollywood’s elite for more than 50 years. Galanos is renowned for the timelesss<br />

style and exquisite workmanship of his eveningwear and cocktail dresses. Clients included<br />

Marlene Dietrich, Diana Ross, Judy Garland, Bloomingdale and Reagan.<br />

He was inducted into the Coty Fashion Awards Hall of Fame in 1959 and received<br />

the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in<br />

1985. Mayor Delshad presented the award and proclaimed the day as “James Galanos<br />

Day” in Beverly Hills. It was a touching moment when Reagan stood and spoke to her<br />

longtime friend and designer, who dressed her from acting days through her White<br />

House years. “I just wanted to congratulate you and say that everything I have heard so<br />

far you certainly deserve. You deserve everything, and I’m so proud of you,” Reagan said.<br />

Galanos was the epitome of elegance himself and surprised to be awarded after his<br />

retirement. “It’s totally unexpected, and I’m surprised. I thought I retired and was forgetting<br />

about fashion and here it is all over again,” explained Galanos. “It’s pleasant to<br />

be remembered, obviously, but other than that, I just take it in stride,” he said.<br />

A special outdoor exhibition along Rodeo Drive will feature images of Galanos’ work<br />

photographed by Victor Skrebneski until Oct. 28. And a plaque featuring Galanos’ signature<br />

and quote will be placed permanently in the sidewalk on the world-renowned<br />

shopping street.<br />

The award, which was created in 2003, is an ongoing style award that honors<br />

legends of style for their contributions to entertainment and fashion. Past recipients<br />

include Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Edith Head, Herb Ritts, Mario Testino and, most<br />

recently, Gianni and Donatella Versace.—N. Jayne Seward<br />

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The CDI Fall/Winter 2008 collection is now ready for presentations.<br />

We are also pleased to announce the launch of two new collections:<br />

Parras – ECO<br />

A new collection of denim utilizing recycled denim<br />

Parras Plus–featuring Innova ®<br />

For additional information please contact us at 888-260-5280<br />

Sales and Marketing for both<br />

Premium by Parras and CDI are located at<br />

846 S. Broadway, Suite #401<br />

Los Angeles CA 90014<br />

888-260-5280<br />

Please come see us at Premiere Vision (Les Docks - Paris)<br />

December 4th–5th to preview our Spring ’09 denim collection<br />

Laura Prenner LA Sales Manager lprenner@parras.com.mx<br />

Julie Gzebb West Coast Sales Mgr jgzebb@parras.com.mx<br />

Matthew Fuhr VP Sales/Marketing mfuhr@parras.com.mx<br />

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OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 15


LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEK SPRING 2008<br />

Linda Loudermilk<br />

Eco-conscious designer Linda Loudermilk put her own spin on Los Angeles Fashion Week<br />

with an Oct. 17 show held at BP’s Helios House, a Los Angeles gas station that strives to lessen<br />

its impact on the environment by using recycled building materials and energy- and watersaving<br />

initiatives. “The location is hilarious. It’s a green gas station, but it conveys the message<br />

that if they can be a little bit more earth-friendly, anybody can. Just do it!” Loudermilk said.<br />

Loudermilk, who is known for using innovative, chic green fabrics, showed immensely wearable,<br />

imaginative pieces on the runway. Inspired by the notion that nature can be destructive<br />

and unpredictable, Loudermilk sent wind-blown, artfully tattered styles down the catwalk. A<br />

classic shirtdress featured a funky off-the-shoulder neckline, and men’s sweaters featured<br />

layered, asymmetrical collars. Loudermilk also created a print that registers as a random floral<br />

but is, in fact, an image of an overturned rubbish bin streaming colorful bits of trash. “It’s about<br />

walking down the street and having wind, like a tornado, mess you up, but you are still sexy<br />

and powerful,” the designer said.<br />

Texture, in the form of layers of chiffon, pleats, metal-infused silks, and cottons dipped in<br />

shiny, crinkled wax, played a big role in Loudermilk’s Spring 2008 collection. Loudermilk also<br />

showed avant-garde pieces, including a black chiffon funnel dress that enveloped the wearer<br />

like a twister and a gold dress that became a real-life gilded cage, alongside impeccable tailored<br />

suits for men and women.—Erin Barajas<br />

The Green Initiative<br />

Fashion Show<br />

The Gallery Los Angeles presented The Green Initiative Fashion Show<br />

on Oct. 17 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in<br />

Culver City, Calif. Mikey Koffman, founder of The Gallery Los Angeles, a<br />

philanthropic public-relations and marketing company specializing in green<br />

branding, produced the eco-focused event. Koffman said she wanted to<br />

help bring awareness to eco-friendly and socially responsible designers and<br />

create a forum for them to show their collections on the runway. For the<br />

designers featured in the show, at least half of their collections were made<br />

from eco-friendly materials, including recycled fabrics, organic cotton and<br />

bamboo. Many also utilize sustainable fabrics and have fair-trade policies.<br />

The show included an array of clothing and accessories ranging from casual<br />

to dressy.<br />

Rene Geneva Design opened the show with dramatic skirts, dresses and<br />

corsets. The collection, inspired by Japanese architecture, was made of<br />

hemp, organic cotton, Tencel and recycled textiles. M The Movement, a<br />

denim-based streetwear line for men and women, showed a mix of tees,<br />

jackets and denim. The collection included cashmere hoodies from Mongolia,<br />

organic Pima cotton and alpaca knits from Peru. Protect the Element<br />

by Roshi Salim focused on reducing the amount of chemicals that go into<br />

manufacturing clothing. Her organic cotton and naturally dyed clothing included<br />

childrenswear as well as women’s dresses, shirts and skirts with<br />

clean, sophisticated lines in khaki and white.<br />

Wet Cement, created by Andrew Lee, former president of 575 Denim, and<br />

set designer Stef Z, included T-shirts, skirts and shorts for girls and for guys,<br />

with custom-screened images inspired by life. Trees, numbers and a “save<br />

water” eco-message decorated the collection in green, gray and white.<br />

Men’s and women’s knits by Peligrosa were stylish and modern, utilizing<br />

organic wool, cashmere and recycled cotton. The collection, founded by<br />

Adam Sidell and Nico Morrison, added a sophisticated, fashionable edge<br />

to the show.<br />

Vintage China closed the show with streetwear made in organic fabrics<br />

with bold Chinese script that included humanitarian messages. The show<br />

also featured accessories including ArteSania jewelry by Laura Cardenas,<br />

Demano handbags made from recycled materials and shoes by Calleen<br />

Cordero.—N.J.S.<br />

16 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

Evidence of Evolution<br />

Evidence of Evolution launched its green line Oct. 17 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at<br />

Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

The Los Angeles–based collection, created by partners Ali Alborzi and Andrew McCarthy, is<br />

made of organic cotton and hemp silk using low-impact dyes. “We watch what we put into the<br />

gutters,” Alborzi said with a laugh.<br />

The inspiration for the collection is the bohemian crusader living in today’s global society,<br />

campaigning for eco-conscious living and striving for a sustainable future.<br />

The runway presentation began in a solid white palette and then exploded into color. “Everyone<br />

thinks that green has to be boring, but it doesn’t. It can be vibrant. It can be anything you<br />

want,” Alborzi said.<br />

A palette of red, mustard, peacock blue, fuchsia and neutral gray dominated the collection.<br />

Women’s styles included simple, short tunic shapes and long dresses in a gauzy cotton fabric.<br />

Nature-inspired graphics, such as a feather print, appeared on a drawstring dress and off-theshoulder<br />

tee. And there were plenty of little tank tops paired with colorful skinny jeans. The men’s<br />

collection had the look of a casual bohemian sophisticate and included clean styles such as a<br />

white jacket paired with a Henley tee and a shocking red four-pocket jacket and jean ensemble.<br />

Vests and hoodies added casual ease, and ties dressed up the look.—N. Jayne Seward<br />

Rene Geneva Design M The Movement Protect the Element<br />

Wet Cement Peligrosa Vintage China<br />

TIM REGAS, COURTESY OF LINDA LOUDERMILK<br />

JOHN ECKMIER


JOHN ECKMIER<br />

Jeremy Scott<br />

Jeremy Scott returned to the runway Oct. 17 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox<br />

Studios in Culver City, Calif., after a four-year hiatus to show his “Urban Decay” collection.<br />

Scott, who has been showing his collection in New York and Paris in recent years, decided to do<br />

a follow-up show in Los Angeles after presenting his Spring collection in Paris. “I thought it would be<br />

nice after four years to make a little statement to show what I’ve been working on and support the<br />

community,” Scott said. “It’s nice to pop back in and say, ‘hey,’ and pop back out again.”<br />

The collection was inspired by construction workers, construction sights and all of the dirty, dingy<br />

city things that are unappealing and unattractive. “I wanted to make something beautiful out of them<br />

and make them feminine and chic at the same time,” Scott said.<br />

He juxtaposed little silk charmeuse rompers and chic ladylike dresses with strong masculine<br />

prints. Boot prints, tire treads, road signs and hand prints dripping paint decorated dresses, frilly<br />

swimwear and sportswear. Trash can lids were worn slightly askew on the heads of models who<br />

adopted a chic sensibility, reminiscent of Dior’s “New Look” and mixed with Scott’s own campy<br />

sense of style. Tires were transformed into belts, and wrenches seemed to make complete sense as<br />

chandelier earrings, necklaces and bracelets.<br />

The men’s collection had a sexier edge. A black fishnet top was paired with blazing, yellow ruler–<br />

print jeans, a parka was layered over tiny briefs and a cardigan jacket was worn with transparent cargo<br />

pants. Hard hats, Adidas boots and transparent construction vests completed the look.—N.J.S.<br />

Whitley Kros<br />

Actress Marissa Ribisi and business partner Sophia Coloma debuted their new line,<br />

Whitley Kros, Oct. 16 to a packed crowd of fashionistas, Hollywood actors and retail buyers<br />

at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

Their collection was sleek, clean and powered by subtle colors blended with bright<br />

tones ranging from eye-popping yellows to hot pinks.<br />

Some of their design cues came from Coloma’s experience as the former co-owner of<br />

the Satine Boutique on West Third Street in Los Angeles. Ribisi’s creative sense comes<br />

from her first venture into fashion as a teen-ager, when she and her siblings started a<br />

T-shirt line called Monster. She later launched an acting career, as did her twin brother,<br />

Giovanni. The designer is married to musician Beck, with whom she has two children.<br />

Whitley Kros is a fictional character the two designers invented. “She is a traveler,<br />

young and very free,” said Coloma, a native of Australia. “The collection will always be<br />

in her suitcase.”<br />

This Spring/Summer ’08 collection was the contents of Kros’ suitcase after attending<br />

the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. Those contents included lots of navy-blue items,<br />

including a classic short jumpsuit with short sleeves; an “Edgemont” dress; and clean,<br />

sleek jackets influenced by Chanel.<br />

The designers spent eight months perfecting the fit of their “Vine” jeans, which have<br />

skinny legs.—D.B.<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

Grey Ant<br />

Grant Krajecki started his career designing for porn films, the theater and<br />

the Ice Capades.<br />

So it is no wonder that his collection always takes on a theatrical twist when<br />

parading down the runway.<br />

It was no different for Krajecki’s Spring/Summer ’08 show, held Oct. 16 at<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

The designer, who started his label in Los Angeles in 1998, got cheers from<br />

the crowd when he sent one plump model and one older model strutting down<br />

the catwalk alongside the standard fare of thin, leggy women. Some models<br />

wore wild frizzy wigs so large they could have doubled as umbrellas.<br />

Krajecki’s creations for men and women had creative silhouettes and fabrics,<br />

although he stuck to a subdued array of colors that gravitated toward gray<br />

and white, veering occasionally into yellow, lavender and dusty pink.<br />

Grey Ant’s denim selection and pants took the high road, incorporating super-high<br />

waists to go with skinny-leg or wide-leg looks. Dresses were amply<br />

represented, some in tent-like silhouettes or kimono looks. Others had corseted,<br />

strapless tops or bikini tops. For men, Krajecki incorporated a certain garage<br />

influence with overalls and jumpsuits, oversize and boxy tops, and high-waisted<br />

jeans.—Deborah Belgum<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

Brian Lichtenberg<br />

As many designers zig toward eco-friendly themes and natural inspiration<br />

this season, Brian Lichtenberg zagged in the other direction<br />

and was inspired by toxic waste and slime. Pattern pieces of green goo,<br />

inspired by childhood pop-culture references including the film “Ghostbusters,”<br />

dripped from the collars of his “futuristic sportswear” collection,<br />

shown on Oct. 19 at the Architecture and Design Museum in Los<br />

Angeles.<br />

Lichtenberg elaborated that the collection was about “taking something<br />

that’s humorous and turning it into something that’s modern.”<br />

Drooping armholes held by stringy straps added a lazy comfort quality to<br />

a simple black knit tent dress. On a romper in a 1980s Laura Ashley–type<br />

floral print with a motorcycle-jacket collar, the stiff shape of elongated<br />

armholes took a futuristic turn as the shoulders jutted out like a space<br />

cadet’s.<br />

Lichtenberg introduced swimwear for the first time, with men’s mini<br />

briefs and an asymmetrical women’s one-piece.—Rhea Cortado<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 17


LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEK SPRING 2008<br />

Christian Audigier<br />

Christian Audigier set the scene for his Oct. 16 Parisian military-themed show during<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., with an enormous<br />

mock-up of the Eiffel Tower and a young girl crooning “La Vie en Rose.” The designer,<br />

who also designs the tattoo-tinged Ed Hardy line, rocked the boat last season with his<br />

over-the-top runway presentations featuring his more-is-more aesthetic—and he delivered<br />

more of the same for Spring 2008.<br />

Audigier sent jazzed-up casual staples for guys and girls down the catwalk. T-shirts<br />

featured layers and layers of tattoo-inspired screen prints, foil treatments, studding and<br />

embroidery. Denim fluctuated between dark and medium washes, but all of it was peppered<br />

with tonal and rainbow-hued studs and grommets. Jersey dresses focused on easy<br />

silhouettes and busy graphics, including animal prints and graffiti scrawl. Dressier pieces<br />

for women included a short-sleeved leather blazer and a pleated satin skirt. Men’s styles<br />

bounced from casual allover print hoodies and slim shorts to crisp military-style woven<br />

shirts and tailored pants.<br />

Audigier—who peppered the entire collection with recurring hand-grenade, crown and<br />

rose images—couldn’t resist a bit of risqué edge. He showed models wearing skimpy lingerie<br />

beneath army-green anoraks and guys wearing camouflage-print briefs under leather<br />

ponchos bearing the American flag or rhinestone-studded marijuana leaves.—E.B.<br />

Bird of Prey<br />

Every season, Peter Ross takes an inspirational trip of cultural submersion.<br />

Last season for his Grail line, Ross traveled to Haiti. For the debut of his Bird<br />

of Prey collection for Spring 2008, shown Oct. <strong>18</strong> at Mercedes-Benz Fashion<br />

Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., gypsies and vampires of<br />

Romania were the muse.<br />

“It was all handmade. That’s what inspired us,” said Ross of the cultural<br />

attire. Grail is known for hand-applied surface treatments and distressed<br />

washes. Ross’ new endeavor, Bird of Prey, evolves his expertise of wash<br />

techniques into a modern, clean look. “The things that we do at the wash<br />

houses now are to make things beautiful, not to destroy them,” Ross said.<br />

A silver metallic foil wash was applied to a women’s orange knit jacket,<br />

men’s black slim jeans and stripes on a men’s shirt for a futuristic mood.<br />

Folkloric paisley prints and a diamond checkered circus pattern had a modern<br />

feel in high-contrast burnout treatment. The clean treatments were complemented<br />

by the contemporary silhouettes of easy knit dresses, knit jackets and<br />

straight-leg bottoms.—R.C.<br />

<strong>18</strong> CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

LUC EKSTEIN<br />

Christian Audigier, whose Ed Hardy tattoo-print T-shirts have become almost<br />

iconic, presented “a fashion show for the people” Oct. <strong>18</strong> at The Grove lifestyle<br />

shopping center in Los Angeles.<br />

More than 100 models strutted down a red carpet extending several hundred<br />

yards down the mall’s courtyard before thousands of fans and mall visitors. A<br />

big stage was set up at the courtyard’s fountain, where Fred Levine, owner of<br />

retail chain M. Fredric, introduced the event, calling the Ed Hardy phenomenon<br />

one of the hottest trends in the world.<br />

Amid the Chinese dragons, marching bands, rappers and drummers, Audigier<br />

presented images of skulls, bleeding hearts, tiger faces and Virgin Mary<br />

icons over tees, denim and outerwear.<br />

He did luxe up the line with glittery leather jackets with metallic finishes and<br />

stud and jewel embellishment. He also presented a smattering of nautical looks<br />

for women, including striped shirts. Audigier wrapped up the show with a look<br />

at his new children’s collection, featuring originals and scaled-down versions of<br />

the adult line.—Robert McAllister<br />

Bradley Baumkirchner<br />

Bradley Baumkirchner, the endearing designer from last season’s “Project<br />

Runway” series, debuted his new collection Oct. 19 at The Besant Lodge in<br />

Hollywood. Among the crowd were hipsters; editors; and fellow “Project Runway”<br />

alum Nick Verreos and partner David Paul, designers of the Nikolaki line.<br />

Baumkirchner said he listened to a lot of Bach and looked at children’s<br />

dresses and the ballet when he designed the collection. “I think that the piano<br />

and Bach influenced me a lot more than anything,” Baumkirchner said. “I tried<br />

to make it a lot more feminine than my last one.”<br />

A classical pianist played while models walked slowly through the venue<br />

wearing cute frocks, tops paired with ruffled shorts, and cape-and-pant ensembles.<br />

Dresses, including a cream silk taffeta ballet dress with gathers at the<br />

neckline and a decorative ruffle, were sweet and childlike. A blue version of the<br />

dress had a black bowtie, Peter Pan collar and bubble-ruffle hem. Baumkirchner<br />

used mostly silks, linen and waxed linen blends for the concise, focused<br />

collection. Colorful toile prints decorated tank tops and blouses, ruffles and<br />

scallop hems were key details, and gold metallic jacquards added a French<br />

vintage element to trousers and capes.—N.J.S.<br />

VOLKER CORELL Ed Hardy<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

JOHN ECKMIER


Monarchy<br />

Monarchy’s edgy rock ’n’ roll embellished style went to prep school for the label’s<br />

Spring 2008 fashion show, held Oct. <strong>18</strong> at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox<br />

Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

Embroidered men’s polo shirts and graphic V-neck tees were carried to morefashionable<br />

heights when paired with seersucker shorts, pin-striped trousers and<br />

dark raw jeans. At the same time, the private-school uniform had a dose of Monarchy’s<br />

edge through a screen print on the back of a plaid vest and a repeating dagger<br />

print on top of a striped grandpa cardigan. “We were hoping to bring something<br />

besides a bunch of guys walking out in T-shirts and jeans,” said designer Eric Kim,<br />

who expanded Monarchy from T-shirts and jeans to a full collection last season.<br />

For women, shapes ranged from an ultra-loose, relaxed black shirt dress to formfitting<br />

high-waist pants and short shorts that emphasized the hips.<br />

Monarchy’s graphic designs preached the green message, which has been a theme<br />

throughout Fashion Week this season. One shirt read, “Global warming is so hot right<br />

now.” Kim said that because of limitations in organic supply and eco-fabric technology,<br />

the brand has not converted entirely to eco-friendly fabrics and the slogans were<br />

more about spreading the message of environmental awareness.—R.C.<br />

LRG<br />

Streetwear brand<br />

LRG showcased its<br />

Spring 2008 men’s<br />

line and Luxirie, its<br />

women’s collection,<br />

Oct. 17 at 944 magazine’s<br />

Hollywood<br />

headquarters. Looks<br />

were shown on<br />

mannequins posed<br />

around the party,<br />

and a few models<br />

flaunted select candy-colored<br />

Luxirie<br />

separates.—E.B.<br />

FELIX SALZMAN<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

Oligo Tissew<br />

Oligo Tissew designer Kristopher Enuke found inspiration in an alternate reality for his<br />

Spring 2008 collection, which bowed Oct. <strong>18</strong> at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox<br />

Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

“It’s where we are versus where we want to be,” said Enuke, who designs the line with<br />

his wife, Amy. “We thought, ‘What if the world was like this—no war, no conflict, a world<br />

full of light and beauty?’”<br />

Dubbed “Fairy a Place,” the impetus for the collection was the desire to escape to a<br />

more ideal world, Enuke said, noting that he kept the colors pure and the knits airy.<br />

For denim, that meant pants and skirts washed down to a nearly white shade with just<br />

a hint of pigment or in midnight with a bit of sheen. For a bit of color, Enuke added a periwinkle<br />

shade. Shapes included fitted pencil shirts and high-waisted jeans in trouser and<br />

ultra-skinny styles.<br />

T-shirt graphics were breezy, with bright florals combined with Japanese cartoon imagery. “There’s<br />

a sweet cake girl in Japanese folklore,” Enuke explained. “She brings joy and good cheer.”<br />

Screen-printed T-shirt dresses featured draped backs designed to convey a sense of<br />

airiness. Indeed, when the models walked the runway, the back of the dresses swung and<br />

billowed behind them. “We tried to imbue a lightness of being into the process,” Enuke<br />

said.—Alison A. Nieder<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

David Yurman<br />

For Evan Yurman, men’s jewelry can be classified in three<br />

tiers. “Conservative, less conservative and way out there,”<br />

said Yurman, the director of men’s jewelry at New York–<br />

based luxury jeweler and design house David Yurman, which<br />

is the self-named company founded by his father, David.<br />

Evan Yurman gave a preview of his Spring 2008 men’s<br />

line Oct. 24 at sumptuous The Paramour nightclub, located<br />

above Los Angeles’ Hollywood neighborhood. Rock band<br />

The Bravery performed, and Yurman spoke about the new<br />

collection.<br />

One theme for the Spring 2008 collection is black diamonds<br />

and titanium. For the “way out” crowd, Yurman<br />

designed jewelry around dinosaur fossils gained from a<br />

precious-stones broker in Utah. For the more discreet man,<br />

Yurman said that he also offers plain silver cuff links and<br />

white and black diamond pendants. Retail price points range<br />

from $250 to $5,000.—Andrew Asch<br />

Jünker<br />

Jünker designers Tod Waters and Giuliana Mayo took to the streets for<br />

their Oct. <strong>18</strong> fashion show. You had to be in the know to find the show,<br />

dubbed the “Street Massacre,” which was held in a desolate alley in downtown<br />

Los Angeles. Guests who RSVP’d received a text message with the<br />

cross street a few hours before the show. The dark alley was soon lit by the<br />

headlamps of custom Powerplant Choppers motorcycles, and music blaring<br />

from a hatchback car provided the soundtrack for the show.<br />

And while the look was pure Jünker—plenty of corsets, second-skin<br />

leather pants and tiny skirts trimmed with leather and D-rings—there were<br />

new variations on Waters and Mayo’s signature style. Jean-cut pants and<br />

a vest were offered in an Italian lamb printed in a blown-out plaid, Jünker’s<br />

miniskirt was re-created using remnants of an American flag, and a<br />

leather vest and skirt came in Union Jack colors.<br />

Jünker model and fetish pinup Courtney Cruz opened the show in a<br />

leather-trimmed, tea-stained white silk organza dress that draped daringly<br />

in the back. She also closed the show in a T-shirt that read “Corporate<br />

fashion sucks,” which she ripped off before her final walk.—A.A.N.<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 19


LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEK SPRING 2008<br />

Petro Zillia<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., closed on a cheerful note thanks<br />

to designer Nony Tochterman, who returned to the runway—and wholesale business—with a small collection<br />

of dresses in a full spectrum of colors.<br />

From the moment the first model walked down the runway, stopped and smiled sweetly for the bank of<br />

photographers, Tochterman set the happy tone for the Oct. <strong>18</strong> show.<br />

“The whole feeling was about L.A. and the L.A. girl—and she needs to be perky and happy,” said Tochterman,<br />

who escorted the quintessential L.A. girl Paris Hilton to her seat minutes before the show started.<br />

The show featured 21 looks: nine for daytime and 12 for evening. The candy colors on the runway echoed<br />

those found on the packaging of the makeup line Tochterman recently launched in collaboration with Smashbox<br />

cosmetics. Indeed, Tochterman said, the show was the result of several collaborations: Fred Segal Beauty<br />

did the hair and Smashbox did the makeup using Tochterman’s new line. Brazilian shoe line Gracienne<br />

created gold sandals for the show, the belts were by Spear, and jewelry line Noir created oversize hoop and<br />

heart earrings.<br />

The collection marks a return to the wholesale side of the business for Tochterman, who scaled back her<br />

business when she opened her store, House of Petro Zillia, on Los Angeles’ West Third Street last year.<br />

Runway looks included a strapless short jumper in cheery yellow sateen and both long and short ruffled<br />

dresses in lipstick red, canary yellow and coral. A strapless jumper in fuchsia satin was also worn by Hilton in turquoise,<br />

while a dramatic floor-length vest in gold Lurex was paired with a high-waist hot short in gold.—A.A.N.<br />

Candice Held<br />

For Candice Held, scarves are not an accessory—they are the entire<br />

outfit. Since 2004, Held has found success fashioning vintage scarves<br />

into dresses and tops. At her Spring 2008 fashion show, held Oct. <strong>18</strong> at<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.,<br />

Held proved she has an eye for designing prints, as well.<br />

“They are like little paintings,” said Held of the centerpiece scarf-like<br />

print of her dresses that “tell a story.” This season, the story was a whimsical<br />

summer in an original silk “summer sky” hot air–balloon print and an<br />

original floral “rose garden” print.<br />

She continued to offer the one-of-a-kind mismatched charm of her vintage<br />

scarf designs in the new styles through vintage-inspired color combinations<br />

and mixing a number of prints on one piece. Held expanded her<br />

range to a point, while staying true to the line’s roots. A group of cotton<br />

“dish towel” dresses was based on a dress Held constructed out of actual<br />

dish towels for a trip to Mexico. Another dress featured cotton handkerchiefs<br />

patched together like a quilt.—R.C.<br />

20 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

JESSICA SILVERSTEIN<br />

Voom by Joy Han<br />

Los Angeles designer Joy Han is taking a break from her playful silk<br />

baby dolls and moving into more-streamlined silhouettes and even bolder<br />

prints featuring eye-popping colors and graphics gleaned from Roy Lichtenstein’s<br />

pop art as well as ’60s mod and ’80s funk for Spring ’08. Han’s<br />

Voom by Joy Han fashion show was presented Oct. 17 at Mercedes-Benz<br />

Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

The designer’s line has steadily evolved, and the Spring collection is<br />

more runway-friendly and tailored than ever before.<br />

High waistlines and collars blended with more-traditional silhouettes for<br />

a ranging yet focused collection. Han’s graphic checkerboard prints on silk<br />

pieces coupled with stark yellows, fuschias and purples on patent leather<br />

were offset by more neutral plaids, stripes and polka dots on woven materials.<br />

Featured pieces included bolero jackets, puff-sleeve tops, and long and<br />

cropped patent jackets along with tube and bikini tops and kimonos.<br />

—R.M.<br />

Samora<br />

Designer Samora Olayan has been making pretty dresses and separates for her contemporary<br />

collection, Samora, since 2002. This season, the designer wanted to highlight strength<br />

alongside beauty and chose Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, as her muse. Olayan’s<br />

Spring 2008 collection debuted on the runway Oct. <strong>18</strong> at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at<br />

Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

“This collection is about celebrating women’s femininity and their strength,” she said.<br />

Women always have to balance both in these times.” To show that balance, the designer<br />

blended military details such as epaulettes with draped dresses worn with gold metallic sandals.<br />

She incorporated several asymmetrical details, including one-shoulder and one-sleeve<br />

silhouettes. Olayan extended the concept to a piece she called the “should wrap,” a ruffled<br />

wrap that covers one arm.<br />

A pretty chocolate-brown taffeta dress trimmed in aqua was more “Roman Holiday” than<br />

Roman goddess of war. Day dresses in a pinched floral fabric were picnic-ready, while a natural-colored<br />

dress with rough black stitching provided an earthy balance to Olayan’s gowns,<br />

which were lean columns of frothy silk and chiffon.<br />

This was Olayan’s ninth season at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. “I love the solidness of<br />

it. I wish everybody would stick to it and join hands under one umbrella,” she said. “I like that<br />

they bring attention to Los Angeles designers.”—A.A.N.<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

JOHN ECKMIER


Bebe<br />

Bebe kept it low-key when producing a fashion event Oct. 17 at the Social Hollywood<br />

nightclub in Hollywood. The party was held to celebrate the Brisbane, Calif.–<br />

based retailer’s Holiday 2007 collection, and it was a change from the company’s<br />

last two splashy runway shows, held at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox<br />

Studios in Culver City, Calif., where the exclusive Collection Bebe line, designed by<br />

David Cardona, was shown. (Cardona recently left Bebe to join premium-denim and<br />

lifestyle fashion house Rock & Republic.)<br />

But for Bebe, low-key is still glamorous and sexy. At the Oct. 17 show, the 45 looks<br />

featured evening and special-occasion dresses as well as separates for the retailer’s<br />

upcoming “Dressed to Thrill” Holiday collection, which will bow in November. Collection<br />

Bebe will continue to be distributed to select Bebe stores in the next month.<br />

Bebe’s fashion show also represented a dream come true for 16-year-old Kate-<br />

Lynne Pegg. She is living with immunity-deficiency syndrome, and it was her wish to<br />

model in a fashion show. Bebe worked with the Make-a-Wish Foundation to realize<br />

Pegg’s desire. Make-a-Wish raises funds to grant wishes to children whose lives are<br />

endangered by terminal illness. The Bebe fashion show also served as a fund-raiser,<br />

raising $16,000 for the nonprofit.—A.A.<br />

Jordi Scott<br />

New York–based designer Jordi Scott lit up the Vanguard<br />

in Hollywood, Calif., on Oct. 15 with a fashion show<br />

featuring her colorful neon Spring/Summer 2008 collection,<br />

titled “Infamous Academy.” More than 500 buyers,<br />

stylists and guests attended the line’s first Los Angeles<br />

fashion show.<br />

Since the line’s launch more than one year ago, music<br />

has been an inspiration for designers Scott and Starr<br />

Rinaldi. This time, the genres of new-wave and rave music<br />

dominated. Club and streetwear looks provided fireworks<br />

of color, from electric-colored spray paint on a pair of<br />

men’s white jeans to a fluorescent yellow tube dress with<br />

an airbrushed graffiti-style print. A childlike dress featuring<br />

a multicolor heart print illustrated the schoolgirl theme but<br />

showed a mischievous side in its short length, styled with<br />

fishnet stockings.—R.C.<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

Juan Carlos Obando<br />

Always a purveyor of quality and originality, Juan Carlos Obando surprised yet again for the showing of his<br />

Spring 2008 collection. The Colombian-born designer presented his collection with an intimate luncheon on Oct.<br />

16 at Craft restaurant in Los Angeles’ Century City district. Mannequins displayed the elegant 13-piece collection,<br />

which was handmade by Obando. “For the first time I feel really accomplished,” he said. “I did everything by<br />

myself—from draping to sewing and steaming,” he explained. Obando, an art director and fashion designer, tells<br />

a story with each collection. For this collection he created a screenplay titled “La Fura” to illustrate the mythological<br />

story of Persephone’s abduction into the underworld. “The whole idea is that you are the studio and I am the<br />

producer and I am selling you a movie,” explained Obando. His collection is Persephone’s wardrobe, and each<br />

ensemble portrays a different scene in the movie. The fabrics represent different textures and colors in the story<br />

such as the sun, water and tree roots, which translated as knots decorating the necklines of dresses and shoulders<br />

of jackets. Obando used his signature hanger dress as a model for each design and experimented with<br />

different fabrics and colors. He expanded from silk and waxed cotton into lace, sequins and lamé. A black gown<br />

was stunning in a cashmere lace with sequin and lace sleeves. A gold lamé hanger dress had vertical pleats<br />

and a subtle sheen, and a black chiffon gown had a hidden belt and elegant draped back. Chic, yet wearable,<br />

a black, waxed cotton coat had a wide collar that was elegant in its simplicity. Obando’s designs have won him<br />

nominations for the Fashion Innovator Award for the past two seasons at the Los Angeles Fashion Awards. Still,<br />

the designer remained modest. “I wanted to simply have lunch and talk,” he said.—N.J.S.<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

VOLKER CORELL<br />

Dina Bar-El<br />

Sultry eveningwear was first and foremost on the runway for Dina Bar-El’s Spring ’08 show,<br />

held Oct. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />

Known for her sexy silhouettes, Bar-El injected clean, modern looks into her dresses,<br />

which evoked designs from the 1950s and the 1980s. Dresses were structured out of silky<br />

fabrics and eye-popping colors, such as vivid oranges, husky blues, hot pinks, bright purples<br />

and emerald greens.<br />

Bar-El’s theme this season was “Trés Jolie” (French for “very pretty”), taken from her<br />

recent walk down the runway at Paris Fashion Week right before Los Angeles’ fashion<br />

extravaganza.<br />

“I was so inspired by all the bouquets of flowers in every corner of the Champs Elysées,”<br />

said the German-born Bar-El, who came to the United States when she was <strong>18</strong>. “It reminded<br />

me of all the colors I already had in the collection. So we decided to go with that theme.”<br />

Bar-El employed satin charmeuse and silk chiffon for most of her creations, which tumbled<br />

to the floor or grazed the knee.<br />

Strapless gowns dominated the show, but there were also halter looks, ruched bra bodices,<br />

off-the-shoulder numbers and deep V-necks. Goddess-like dresses were abundant, as well.<br />

The show ended with a slinky oyster charmeuse and chiffon wedding gown that could<br />

have doubled as an evening gown for a night out at a New York nightclub or a Hollywood<br />

movie premiere.—D.B.<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 21


LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEK SPRING 2008<br />

Single<br />

“Forget the runway” seemed to be the motto behind the Oct. <strong>18</strong> debut of<br />

Single’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection, held at the 944 Lounge, the in-office<br />

nightclub for the fashion and nightlife journal on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood,<br />

Calif.<br />

Instead of the traditional runway show for Single, models stepped up to<br />

white podiums to show off looks from the label’s next season. Photographers<br />

noisily shot pictures of the models, lending the event a bit of red-carpet drama.<br />

This sense of theater was exactly the point of skipping the runway show,<br />

said Single designer Galina Sobolev.<br />

The look of the 24 pieces modeled was supposed to evoke the jet set,<br />

Studio 54–inspired style of the late 1970s. Using materials such as silk chiffon,<br />

silk charmeuse and sequins, the collection’s dresses aspired toward a<br />

silhouette that was body-hugging yet offered an ease of movement.<br />

A nightclub sensibility may have also inspired the collection’s linen trousers,<br />

cut in a menswear fashion and then laminated with a coating to give<br />

them a metallic look. Sobolev also exhibited several looks for her tween line,<br />

Single Girl.—A.A.<br />

Thirteen Minutes<br />

Stylist Mike Sam previewed his debut line, English Clientele. Veteran designer Maggie<br />

Barry gave a taste of her Spring 2008 line. It was all part of the mix when Asian-American<br />

fashion and culture magazine Thirteen Minutes, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., produced its<br />

first fashion show on Oct. 19 at the swank nightclub Republic in Los Angeles.<br />

The show was something of a “welcome back” for Barry. Her extracurricular activities—<br />

making costumes for rock group Van Halen and the TV show “Deal or No Deal”—have been<br />

taking up a lot of her time recently.<br />

But her wardrobe gigs and her upcoming collection shared a couple of qualities. Both made<br />

use of discarded clothes to make new fashions. Barry described some looks as “surplus chic,” in<br />

which she used recycled parachute fabric and discarded collars from polo shirts to make dresses<br />

and bathing suits. She called other looks “summer of love.” They featured sequined eveningwear<br />

dresses, which were detailed with graphics of happy faces and patches depicting mermaids. “We<br />

normally do super-sexy dresses,” Barry said. “But we wanted to make this happy and fun.”<br />

Sam is the fashion editor of Thirteen Minutes and also works as a stylist for celebrities<br />

such as America Ferrera. Sam’s first English Clientele collection will bow in January 2008.<br />

He previewed his collection with a 25-look show that incorporated everything from ballerinainspired<br />

dresses to a Victorian jacket with fuchsia trim. Sam said that his label would also<br />

be distinguished by its sizing. Unlike many labels, he would not produce a size zero. Rather,<br />

sizes would range from a 2 to a 14.—A.A.<br />

Who’s Next<br />

Fledgling lifestyle magazine Who’s Next, What’s Next<br />

hosted a three-designer showcase Oct. 16 at the Mondrian<br />

hotel’s Skybar in West Hollywood, Calif., where the models<br />

walked a runway that spanned the hotel’s pool.<br />

Lotta Stensson, the Los Angeles–based contemporary<br />

designer of Lotta, opened the show with her Spring 2008<br />

collection of sexy jersey dresses and tops. B’s, a handbag<br />

line, also showed oversized handbags in a variety of fabrications.<br />

Shadang, a line of cotton T-shirts, sweats, dresses<br />

and shirts inspired by Chinese monks, caused quite the stir<br />

when it opened its runway presentation with sword-carrying<br />

martial artists who took to the runway for an acrobatic performance.<br />

The drama continued when one performer botched a<br />

backflip, punching a hole in the runway. Later, a model wearing<br />

a Shadang mini-dress fell through the hole into the pool<br />

below.—E.B.<br />

22 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

JOHN ECKMIER<br />

English Clientele English Clientele Maggie Barry Maggie Barry<br />

LUC EKSTEIN<br />

Yotum Soloman<br />

Newcomer Yotum Solomon debuted his eponymous collection<br />

Oct. <strong>18</strong> at the Nuni Gallery in Los Angeles.<br />

The 20-year-old designer from Israel just graduated from the<br />

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and didn’t waste any<br />

time breaking into the business. He based his designs on natural and<br />

cultural symbols found in his native land and put a bit of a <strong>California</strong><br />

spin on it.<br />

That translated into wrapped skirts and dresses as well as strappy<br />

footwear and swimwear. The designer embellished a number of<br />

pieces with the same PVC straps used on his footwear.<br />

He used colors such as olive and bright blue, as well as lots of<br />

white, and sometimes color-blocked them onto dresses and other<br />

pieces. Solomon is a former child violin prodigy.—R.M.<br />

Lotta Lotta Shadang Shadang<br />

LUC EKSTEIN<br />

FELIX SALZMAN


New Resources<br />

Stephenson<br />

With the Fall 2007 launch of her<br />

eponymous label, North Carolina native<br />

Amy Stephenson has settled into the So-<br />

Cal premium-denim market with ease.<br />

Strictly focused on jeans and washedcotton<br />

trousers, with limited distribution<br />

and small production runs, the line is<br />

sold at Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman,<br />

American Rag, Planet Blue, AB<br />

Fits and Nordstrom’s Via C boutiques,<br />

among others.<br />

Still, one of the biggest challenges<br />

the designer is facing is trying to stay<br />

small. “I want to be part of every aspect of the operation, and as this label grows, it’s becoming<br />

more and more challenging to do it all,” she said. “I would rather produce 2,000 beautifully<br />

crafted pieces as opposed to 200,000.”<br />

Targeting women 25 years old and older, Stephenson’s line offers fully finished all-bound<br />

seam construction on the interior, unusual leather and metal hardware, as well as the absence<br />

of outer branding. She views the line as being pure and vintage without being contrived,<br />

with a “just found in my mom’s hope chest” look. “I’ll never be a five-pocket brand,<br />

nor do I want to be,” Stephenson said. “I have some in the line, and they are super, but<br />

generally people come to me for novelty premium denim.”<br />

After only one season, signature styles have emerged: “The Brother,” a boy cut that<br />

Stephenson dubbed the epitome of tomboy chic, and the “Mercer Fisherman Pant,” with<br />

sailor-style button detailing on the front pockets. The denim is sourced from Japan and<br />

Italy, sewn in Shanghai and washed in Los Angeles.<br />

Stephenson, a Parsons School of Design graduate, designed in New York for eight<br />

years and is currently based in Los Angeles. The line remains bicoastal, and Stephenson<br />

visits New York once a month for inspiration and to see vendors. “My favorite photographers<br />

are in New York, my favorite vintage stores, etc.,” she said. “But for the most part, I<br />

live in the wash houses and shipping facilities of L.A.”<br />

Spring 2008 is Stephenson’s sophomore season. Twelve new styles will be introduced for<br />

the upcoming season, and the best-selling “Mercer Fisherman” and a few other top sellers<br />

will be carried over, as well. Maintaining a vintage vibe, washes for the latest styles are a<br />

palette of super-light ’70s-looking tones, described by the designer as “very Woodstock.”<br />

As she embarks on her third collection, she will also be producing diffusion lines for Urban<br />

Outfitters and Anthropologie. “They are so much fun to work with. It’s a way of growing<br />

the business for me while keeping the main line exclusive in the market,” she explained.<br />

And for Fall 2008, the newlywed will introduce a men’s collection with four styles inspired<br />

by and fitted for her husband.<br />

Wholesale prices range from $72 for shorts (available for Spring ’08) to $109 for the popular<br />

“Mercer Fisherman” style. Stephenson is showing at the Los Angeles Fashion Market<br />

at the Proper Fools Showroom, located in suite 520 of the Cooper Design Space.<br />

For more information, visit www.stephensonstudio.com.—Dena Smolek<br />

Kate and Kass<br />

Putting a playful twist on retro chic, Kate<br />

and Kass founder Anya Teresse brings a<br />

youthful eye to a classic aesthetic. Gleaning<br />

inspiration from 1960s films and female<br />

icons—including Jane Fonda, Jackie Onassis<br />

and Gloria Steinem—the Los Angeles<br />

designer clearly has a passion for vintage<br />

style.<br />

“Kate and Kass is inspired by singers,<br />

writers, artists, iconoclasts, movers and<br />

shakers,” Teresse explained. “I’ve always<br />

been inspired by women leaders. The line honors women who stood up for what they believed<br />

in, in every aspect of their lives, especially through their style of dress. Each dress is<br />

named after a great woman, a woman who changed the world.”<br />

Retro looks are modernized with ultra-comfy fabrics and contemporary details. Launched<br />

for the Spring 2006 season, Teresse’s <strong>California</strong>-made label has garnered the attention of<br />

Barneys New York, ShopBop, Diavolina, Nordstrom and Intermix, among others. A<br />

former costume designer, Teresse studied fashion design at Parsons in Paris and Otis in<br />

Los Angeles before launching her line.<br />

Teresse said the A-line body is the signature silhouette in the line, and she incorporates<br />

the shape into every collection with modifications and new details. Specializing in “loose,<br />

drapey, free-flowing” silhouettes, Teresse said she is drawn by the rebelliousness of such<br />

cuts. “They represent a kind of femininity that defies confinement and celebrates freedom,”<br />

she said. “The free-flowing silhouettes rebel against the constraining, binding fashions that,<br />

I feel, are exhausted in contemporary style.”<br />

For Spring 2008, Teresse expanded on her formula of muted tones and flowing fabrics<br />

with more dresses with lots of movement and a retro modern aesthetic. Working with cotton<br />

gauze, cotton Modal and silk charmeuse, Teresse used prints that “are reminiscent of<br />

the floral patterns from the ’70s” for the latest collection. “I feel like the soul of the line is<br />

still the same, and I’m still expressing the same very personal aesthetic, but I think the line<br />

has more depth and character now than a year ago,” she said. “I’m able to use a wider range<br />

of fabrics, and I’ve introduced a broader color palette. It is still a line that is based on having<br />

a strong sense of individuality.”<br />

As for her personal favorites from the Spring 2008 line, she said: “I live in the ‘Jessica<br />

Benjamin,’ ‘Gloria Steinem’ and ‘Mary E. Walker.’ I wear the ‘Ingrid Newkirk’ to cocktail<br />

parties and the ‘Eve Ensler’ to formal events.”<br />

Wholesale prices range from $55 to $140.<br />

For more information, contact the Em Productions showroom, located in suite 402 of<br />

the Cooper Design Space, or visit www.kateandkass.com.—D.S.<br />

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OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 23<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 23


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24 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Eco Notes<br />

Fashion Week Goes Green<br />

Eco-fashion shows were all the rage<br />

for the recent Mercedes-Benz Fashion<br />

Week at Smashbox Studios. But it remains<br />

to be seen whether green will be<br />

more than a trend for this glamorous biannual<br />

industry showcase.<br />

Mikey Koffman produced The Green<br />

Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show<br />

on Oct. 17 at Smashbox Studios in Culver<br />

City, Calif. It was the debut Green Initiative<br />

runway show, and Koffman judged it a success<br />

because an overflow crowd of more than<br />

400 people attended the event, held at Smashbox’s<br />

Stage One theater, which typically seats<br />

248 people, according to Koffman.<br />

The show cost over $50,000 to produce<br />

and featured the work of Rene Geneva Design,<br />

Peligrosa<br />

and Wet Cement.<br />

While she did not<br />

break even, Koffman<br />

was bullish<br />

enough on the<br />

environmental<br />

movement’s burgeoning<br />

fashion<br />

scene that she<br />

wanted to do it<br />

again.<br />

The next step<br />

for Koffman,<br />

who also is the<br />

owner of fashion<br />

showroom The<br />

Gallery Los<br />

Angeles, will<br />

be producing<br />

the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion<br />

Show in New York around the time of the<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New<br />

York in February 2008.<br />

It could be a very busy period for her, because<br />

in March 2008, she plans to stage another<br />

Green Initiative show to coincide with<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Culver<br />

City. But Koffman said she might not stage<br />

the show at Smashbox because she might<br />

need a bigger venue.<br />

Arts organizations EcoNouveau and<br />

BoxEight co-produced a show of eco-fashion<br />

on Oct. 13 at the former Catholic church St.<br />

Vibiana’s. While they were confident in the<br />

future of eco-fashion, they had no plans to<br />

work with each other for upcoming fashion<br />

weeks, according to BoxEight executives and<br />

EcoNouveau co-producer Sarah Shewey.<br />

At EcoNouveau and BoxEight’s show,<br />

London-based Gary Harvey Creative<br />

showed ball gowns made out of discarded<br />

items including newspapers. Brooklyn,<br />

N.Y.–based Bahar Shahpar and Los Angeles–based<br />

Avita showed contemporary<br />

fashions constructed out of sustainable materials<br />

such as organic cotton and bamboo.<br />

More than an estimated 1,700 people<br />

visited the EcoNouveau-BoxEight event on<br />

Oct. 13. The six-hour concert, art and fash-<br />

ion party featured entertainment including<br />

DJs and a dance troupe. It cost an estimated<br />

$150,000 to produce, according to Hillary<br />

Coe, the group’s executive director.<br />

While BoxEight plans to build another<br />

fashion event next March to coincide with<br />

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, there might<br />

not be a specific eco-fashion event in the lineup,<br />

according to Coe. She said that the group<br />

did not want to pigeonhole itself as an environmental<br />

organization, even though it worked to<br />

limit waste generated by the event by using<br />

bio-diesel generators for energy needs, not<br />

gas generators, which reportedly produce<br />

more carbon emissions.<br />

Both Coe and BoxEight founder and President<br />

Peter Gurnz confirmed that they will include<br />

eco-fashions<br />

in their upcoming<br />

events, but they<br />

did not know if it<br />

was wise to place<br />

these styles in<br />

a green ghetto.<br />

“To feature just<br />

a single night for<br />

eco-fashions is not<br />

an answer,” Gurnz<br />

said. “We’d like all<br />

designers to take<br />

a look at how they<br />

do things.”<br />

Green will be<br />

a continuing obsession<br />

with Mercedes-BenzFashion<br />

Week producer<br />

IMG. The New York–based organization will<br />

co-produce a Nov. 22 event devoted to sustainable<br />

fashion called ecoStyle FutureFashion<br />

in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Eco-fashion<br />

items will be presented from Oscar de la<br />

Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Proenza<br />

Schouler, Rebecca Taylor, Karen Walker,<br />

Halston, Derek Lam, Heatherette, Daryl<br />

K, Habitual, Project Alabama, United<br />

Bamboo and Imitation of Christ.<br />

IMG also consulted with an environmental<br />

business, Carbon Neutral Co., to measure<br />

and ultimately find ways to limit waste and<br />

carbon emissions generated by Los Angeles<br />

Fashion Week. Carbon Neutral representative<br />

Cate Muller said that the London-headquartered<br />

firm would not finish tallying up<br />

the week’s waste until Nov. 2. There were<br />

also no current plans to consult IMG at the<br />

upcoming fashion weeks.<br />

But if Carbon Neutral’s past experience<br />

can be judged, the week’s carbon emissions<br />

could pack a punch. The group also<br />

did work with the Council of Fashion Designers<br />

of America’s annual CFDA Fashion<br />

Awards gala on June 4. The airplane<br />

and car travel to the event, as well as the<br />

production of the awards show, cost 16.4<br />

metric tons of carbon emissions, according<br />

to Muller.—Andrew Asch<br />

GREEN POWER: Mikey Koffman, center, did not break<br />

even with her debut eco-fashion show. But she is<br />

bullish about the styles, and she plans to produce<br />

more green runway events. Also pictured are Koffman’s<br />

employees Rosalynn Basford, left, and Hope Reiners.<br />

Gap Goes Solar at Distribution Center<br />

San Francisco–based Gap, Inc. will install a one-megawatt solar-power system to help<br />

run its Fresno, Calif., distribution center.<br />

The retailer said the system should be installed some time next year. When installed, it will<br />

generate about 1.9 million kilowatt hours a year, which is enough power to supply 350 homes.<br />

The system will occupy five acres of land adjacent to Gap’s distribution center and will<br />

be financed, owned and operated by Baltimore-based MMA Renewable Ventures LLC, a<br />

subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC. Gap will buy power from MMA for the<br />

next 20 years, shielding the company from rising energy costs.<br />

“This is a key part of our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment and<br />

finding better ways to do business,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, senior director of strategic<br />

planning and environmental affairs for Gap. “The solar installation represents a significant<br />

effort to support the development of additional solar capacity in <strong>California</strong>.”<br />

Developed in part with 3 Phases Energy, MMA Renewable Ventures contracted with<br />

Silicon Valley, Calif.–based SunPower for the system design and construction, which will<br />

incorporate more than 5,000 panels on a mounted track. The SunPower Tracker system to<br />

be used follows the sun across the sky, optimizing efficiency and conversion of sunlight into<br />

power and delivering reliable, low-cost electricity throughout the day.<br />

For more information on Gap’s conservation efforts, visit www.gapinc.com/<br />

socialresponsibilityreport.—Robert McAllister


Los Angeles’ Lingerie Showrooms<br />

Open, Migrate, Relaunch<br />

Lingerie buyers have new ground to cover<br />

during the Oct. 26–30 run of the Los Angeles<br />

Fashion Market. Sales representatives<br />

specializing in the sleepwear, loungewear<br />

and lingerie categories launched new showrooms<br />

and migrated to new locations to offer<br />

buyers the best selection in a comfortable<br />

environment.<br />

Sandra Duchesne’s<br />

showroom,<br />

Mode Studio, located<br />

in suite 609 of The<br />

New Mart, has represented<br />

Los Angeles–<br />

based loungewear<br />

line Wendy Glez<br />

and swimwear line<br />

Vitamin A since she<br />

opened her showroom<br />

in 2002. For the<br />

past five years, Duchesne’s<br />

showroom<br />

also represented a<br />

revolving door of apparel<br />

lines that came<br />

and went, and she<br />

sold to ready-to-wear<br />

buyers that came and went with them.<br />

As for the swimwear and lingerie lines she<br />

represented and their respective specialty<br />

stores, there was loyalty from the beginning.<br />

Duchesne said two of her best accounts have<br />

been Lulu’s in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and<br />

Fred Segal Fun in Santa Monica, Calif.<br />

“They were my first accounts, and they have<br />

been ordering since then,” she said.<br />

It was that loyalty and closer relationship<br />

with niche buyers that persuaded Duchesne<br />

to shift the focus of her showroom to the lingerie<br />

and swimwear categories exclusively.<br />

For this market, Duchesne added the<br />

intimate-apparel lines Pfiff, Belabumbum<br />

and Clo and the swimwear lines Salinas and<br />

Anika to her showroom roster.<br />

“I’m narrowing down my buyers but getting<br />

more [dollars] from each buyer,” Du-<br />

chesne said.<br />

At the <strong>California</strong> Market Center, friends<br />

Noah Walsh and Adnan Jinnah’s male opinion<br />

made them surprising experts in selling<br />

women’s intimates. Many sales representatives<br />

sell apparel that they wear themselves,<br />

but Walsh and Jinnah’s new FFWD lingerie<br />

and swimwear showroom sells brands that<br />

the two would like to see women wear.<br />

“When I see a piece, I go, ‘That would<br />

be really hot on,’ rather than, ‘That’s a cute<br />

piece,” Walsh said. Jinnah elaborates that<br />

women buyers purchase with a women’s<br />

point of view, but, “When men tell women<br />

what they like, it’s another option.”<br />

The pair of friends worked together on<br />

Paige Premium Denim, Johnny Was,<br />

Brighton and Le Top were among the <strong>California</strong><br />

companies picking up prizes at the<br />

32nd Annual Dallas Fashion Awards,<br />

held Oct. 21 at the Dallas Market Center.<br />

The event was attended by more than 700<br />

dignitaries and retail and industry professionals.<br />

Awards were presented in eight categories.<br />

Paige won the casual contemporary<br />

category. Brighton won the jewelry category,<br />

while Johnny Was captured the award for<br />

best contemporary brand. San Francisco–<br />

area resource Le Top won in childrenswear.<br />

Paige Adams-Geller, designer for Paige<br />

Premium Denim, accepted the award for<br />

the company and said she appreciated the<br />

fact that buyers voted for her label.<br />

“Because quality and customer satisfaction<br />

are two of the most important things we<br />

strive for on a daily basis, it makes me smile<br />

ear to ear to know that the buyers who voted<br />

BOY MEETS GIRL: FFWD Showroom owners<br />

Noah Walsh (left) and Adnan Jinnah provide a<br />

male point of view when selling lingerie.<br />

a men’s activewear line from 1999 to 2004.<br />

They were introduced to the women’s underwear<br />

and loungewear market while working<br />

at the Los Angeles–based line Underglam<br />

before it folded earlier this year. Walsh was<br />

director of sales and marketing, and Jinnah<br />

was production manager.<br />

While working at<br />

Underglam, Walsh<br />

observed that “lingerie<br />

is the fastestgrowing<br />

business in<br />

apparel other than<br />

accessories,” and he<br />

joined forces again<br />

with Jinnah to open<br />

the FFWD showroom.<br />

The FFWD showroom<br />

represents the<br />

Italian company IntimaModa,<br />

which<br />

owns the brands<br />

Verde Veronica,<br />

Verdissima, Margherita<br />

Mazzei Cult<br />

and Papete. Los Angeles–based<br />

Fleur’t; Argentina-based Nina<br />

V loungewear; Long Beach, Calif.–based<br />

Booty Parlor lingerie and bedroom accessories;<br />

and the new cami and undie line Little<br />

Hill from New York complete the eclectic<br />

roster.<br />

Showroom owner Lois Evans moved from<br />

her 5-year-old post in the Gerry Building to<br />

a modern loft space at 8314 W. Beverly Blvd.,<br />

suite 202, in West Hollywood, Calif. Evans<br />

added that the move west made it more convenient<br />

to meet with her high-end stores located<br />

on Los Angeles’ West Side, including<br />

Fred Segal Silk in Santa Monica, Calif., and<br />

Madison stores, located in Los Angeles and<br />

in Houston. Out-of-town buyers enjoy the<br />

ample retail and restaurant offerings available<br />

in the area.<br />

Evans represents German luxury knits<br />

and hosiery company Falke, British lingerie<br />

companies Fleur T England and Myla<br />

London, San Francisco–based Karen Luu<br />

Home Couture, New York–based Glam<br />

Cashmere, Caron Joy Los Angeles cashmere<br />

robes, New York–based Polkadot<br />

USA, and The Pink Room fragrance and<br />

beauty collection.<br />

“My customer is really a high-end customer,”<br />

she said. “She’s someone who is looking for<br />

luxury and knows fine quality. They’re someone<br />

who wants fashion but something that’s classy<br />

as well. They want it to be timeless.” Wholesale<br />

price points on lines such as Myla, Fleur T England<br />

and Karen Luu Home Couture range from<br />

$80 to $200.—Rhea Cortado<br />

Paige Denim, Johnny Was Lead Dallas Awards<br />

for us recognize that we are delivering on<br />

what we promise,” she said. “My goal has always<br />

been to make women feel good about<br />

themselves, and to win this award means<br />

my message is getting through to customers<br />

on an emotional level.”<br />

Other winners included Francesco Biasia<br />

for accessories, Nicole Miller for afterfive<br />

wear, Tyler Boe for modernwear and<br />

Lafayette 148 for bridge/designer.<br />

As previously announced, the evening’s<br />

main “Fashion Excellence Award” was<br />

presented to Neiman Marcus by Pamela<br />

Fiori, editor in chief of Town & Country.<br />

The “Rising Star Award” was awarded to designer<br />

Phillip Lim by Ken Downing, senior<br />

vice president and fashion director of Neiman<br />

Marcus. Both Neiman Marcus and Lim<br />

were honored with video tributes during the<br />

event, and a runway show highlighted Lim’s<br />

2008 resort collection.—Robert McAllister<br />

COMPLETE<br />

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OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 25


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26 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

Playboy Next Generation<br />

A new partnership between Playboy magazine<br />

and Los Angeles–based licensing and graphics<br />

company Giant Merchandising Inc. recently<br />

bowed at select retailers with the goal of conveying<br />

the cachet of the magazine’s 50-year-old history<br />

in an apparel line aimed at modern men.<br />

Playboy City Nights is geared toward young<br />

men between the ages of 17 and 30, and it aspires<br />

to put Playboy icons in a new light.<br />

In the past year, the company placed the line<br />

at specialty stores such as Metropark and department<br />

stores such as select Bloomingdale’s.<br />

On Oct. 17, it participated in the Bloomingdale’s<br />

“Guys’ Night Out” menswear promotion at the<br />

Bloomingdale’s in Century City, Calif.; the Beverly<br />

Center in Los Angeles; and in San Francisco.<br />

Giant used Playboy graphics such as the iconic<br />

rabbit-head logo, the skyline of Manhattan and<br />

even a graphic of a 1971 Playboy model for the<br />

City Nights line. An emphasis was put on giving the rabbit-head icon new, stylish looks.<br />

The line will be composed of polo shirts with the rabbit-head icon, track jackets, hooded<br />

sweaters and slim-fit T-shirts. Retail price points will range from $28 to $60. Giant spokesperson<br />

Trish Tostado said that her company hopes to appeal to a wide audience by distancing<br />

the iconography from the libertine magazine. “You can see the rabbit’s head, but you<br />

don’t always have to associate it with nudity and sex,” Tostado said.—Andrew Asch<br />

Dollar<br />

Continued from page 1<br />

“No one bats a lash at our prices.”<br />

That’s because in 2002, nearly one U.S.<br />

dollar bought one euro. Most recently,<br />

it took $1.43 to purchase that same euro.<br />

That 43 percent slide in the dollar’s value<br />

has transformed overseas consumers into<br />

shoppers gone wild. The same holds true<br />

for the Canadian dollar. In 2005, one U.S.<br />

dollar translated into $1.58 Canadian dollars.<br />

Now, one U.S. dollar translates into 97<br />

Canadian cents, nearly a 40 percent decline<br />

in value.<br />

As a result, exporters of all kinds across<br />

the United States are reaping major benefits.<br />

In August, U.S. exports jumped a<br />

robust 12.8 percent, compared with one<br />

year ago, while imports inched up only 3<br />

percent.<br />

While retail sales in the United States<br />

are stuck in the mud, foreign sales keep<br />

blossoming.<br />

Levi Strauss & Co., the $4.1 billion<br />

blue-jeans giant based in San Francisco,<br />

noted that overseas sales kept its economic<br />

boat afloat during the third quarter of this<br />

year.<br />

Levi’s, in its third-quarter earnings report,<br />

said U.S. sales for its pants and other<br />

clothing, particularly its Signature and<br />

Dockers labels, were disappointing. But<br />

blue-jeans sales took off in Europe and<br />

Asia, aided by better exchange rates.<br />

Net revenues for the third quarter totaled<br />

$1.051 billion, up 2 percent from last<br />

year’s $1.028 billion for the same period.<br />

“If it were not for the benefit of foreign<br />

currency, revenues would have been flat,”<br />

said Levi’s spokesperson Jeff Beckman.<br />

Helping the middleman<br />

The weak dollar, however, doesn’t always<br />

translate into lower prices for foreign<br />

shoppers flipping through clothing at their<br />

local department store.<br />

Many of the people riding the currency<br />

wave are overseas distributors who buy<br />

large quantities of clothing from U.S. manufacturers<br />

and then resell them to stores in<br />

their native country.<br />

That has been the experience for J<br />

Brand, a young fashion-forward brand of<br />

premium jeans started in late 2005 in Los<br />

Angeles. Jeff Rudes, the company’s president<br />

and chief executive, said his distributors<br />

are the ones benefiting from a fluctuation<br />

in exchange rates.<br />

“Overall, I don’t see there being a reduction<br />

of price [of our jeans overseas],”<br />

he said, noting the retail price of his jeans<br />

varies from $158 to $250. “What is happening<br />

is our distributors are stepping out and<br />

NEW ANIMAL: Playboy’s City Lights line<br />

aims to offer new looks for the magazine’s<br />

rabbit icon.<br />

buying deeper. They are willing to have<br />

their inventory levels higher than normal.<br />

They are taking a little more risk because<br />

they have the cushion to do so.”<br />

With higher margins, he said, his distributors<br />

have more money to advertise and<br />

promote his blue jeans, which are made in<br />

Los Angeles and are expected to help his<br />

company reach $30 million in revenues this<br />

year and $40 million next year.<br />

For designer Galina Sobolev, business in<br />

Britain has quadrupled in the last year and<br />

grown threefold in Europe for her Single<br />

label of dresses, sportswear and other highend<br />

garb. Now, England and other countries<br />

in Europe are major spots on her retail<br />

map, accounting for 25 percent of sales.<br />

Again, buyers aren’t balking at her<br />

wholesale prices of $138 to $152.<br />

Local retailers selling to international<br />

tourists make up one market sector that<br />

is really going to town with the currency<br />

swing.<br />

The stores on Robertson Boulevard, one<br />

of the trendy shopping areas in Los Angeles,<br />

have been inundated with foreigners<br />

bent on catching a glimpse of a movie star<br />

while snagging a few pieces of clothing.<br />

“It’s been really noticeable since the beginning<br />

of the summer,” said Alison Muh,<br />

president of Surly Girl, a 2-year-old accessories<br />

shop on Robertson Boulevard.<br />

She calculates her store sales are up 10<br />

percent to 15 percent over last year.<br />

“They are spending a lot more,” she<br />

said, “and they even comment about how<br />

they are spending more on things because<br />

it is relatively cheap for them.”<br />

Two-way street<br />

One drawback to the weak dollar, however,<br />

is that the price of fabric and other<br />

raw materials coming from Europe and<br />

Japan, where the yen is relatively strong<br />

against the dollar, is chipping away at profit<br />

margins for U.S. apparel makers.<br />

“If you source domestically, you are<br />

probably feeling pretty good about it,”<br />

said Jeffrey van Sinderen, an analyst with<br />

Los Angeles–based B. Riley & Co. who<br />

watches several publicly traded companies,<br />

including Pacific Sunwear, Bebe, Quiksilver,<br />

Hot Topic, Wet Seal and Charlotte<br />

Russe. “If you’re sourcing product from<br />

Italy, you are going to pay a fortune for it.”<br />

Indeed, Sobolev has seen silk prices rise<br />

30 percent in recent months. And fabric<br />

that was selling for $9 to $9.50 a yard is now<br />

costing as much as $11.50 a yard. “The fact<br />

that our volume has increased is making up<br />

for the difference,” she said.<br />

She is also adjusting her styles by creating<br />

closer-fitting garments and shorter<br />

skirts that use less fabric. ■


Events<br />

From left: Louise Coffey Webb, Elizabeth Stewart and<br />

Doris Raymond<br />

Old Is New at<br />

The Way We Wore<br />

Who: Fashion Group International<br />

What: Vintage Fashion Roadshow II<br />

Where: The Way We Wore vintage-clothing<br />

boutique, Los Angeles<br />

When: Oct. 10<br />

The scene: At Fashion Group International’s<br />

“Vintage Fashion Roadshow II,” designer Meghan<br />

Fabulous had an “Antiques Roadshow” moment<br />

that thrift-store scavengers dream about. The<br />

designer brought in a gold lamé dress by Oscar<br />

de la Renta that she had purchased for around<br />

$75 at a secondhand store to be appraised by<br />

Doris Raymond, owner of The Way We Wore.<br />

Raymond pegged the dress as classic Oscar de<br />

la Renta without looking at the tag, dated it circa<br />

1967 or 1968 and estimated the dress could sell for<br />

$1,500 to $1,600.<br />

Raymond’s historical knowledge and cultural<br />

recognition of such pieces has made The Way We<br />

Wore a destination for designers and costume<br />

designers seeking inspiration. The store was an<br />

apropos backdrop for FGI’s panel discussion on<br />

the topic of the reintroduction and reinterpretation<br />

of vintage fashion in today’s world. Moderating<br />

the panel was Nick Verreos, who is co-designer of<br />

Nikolaki, a former “Project Runway” contestant<br />

and an instructor at the Fashion Institute of<br />

Design & Merchandising.<br />

Verreos started the discussion by defining the<br />

word “vintage.” Louise Coffey Webb, the fashion<br />

historian and curator of the Fashion Study Collection<br />

at Woodbury University, offered the guideline of<br />

“one generation ago,” or older than 20 years ago.<br />

Highlights from the discussion included:<br />

���� ������� �� � ����������� ��� �������<br />

fashion. Elizabeth Stewart, stylist and editor for<br />

The New York Times, noted that three exceptional<br />

vintage retailers in Los Angeles— Cameron<br />

Silver of Decades, Rita Watnick of Lily et Cie<br />

and Raymond—have helped make Los Angeles a<br />

center for vintage fashion. Stylist and Academy<br />

Award–nominated costume designer Arianne<br />

Phillips added: “[Designers] have sent their<br />

minions to costume houses for a long time. There<br />

is this built-in resource that’s really amazing.”<br />

������ �� ��� ���� ���������� �������<br />

knockoffs from vintage inspiration? Raymond<br />

and Phillips described an instance in which<br />

Nicolas Ghesquière, designer for Balenciaga,<br />

duplicated a piece by little-known Bay area<br />

designer Kaisik Wong. Stewart did not condone<br />

Ghesquière’s actions but said, “You have to give<br />

them credit for recognizing it, too. I think part of<br />

it is finding these pieces that are going to hit and<br />

mean something and resurrecting them.” The<br />

Ghesquière story segued into a discussion of the<br />

proposed Design Piracy Prohibition Act, brought<br />

up by <strong>California</strong> Fashion Association Executive<br />

Director Ilsa Metchek. The proposed law, which<br />

Metchek opposes, has the support of the Council<br />

of Fashion Designers. If passed, the law will<br />

extend copyright protection to three-dimensional<br />

apparel designs.—Rhea Cortado<br />

Nick Verreos and Arianne Phillips<br />

EVANS WARD/BEIMAGES.NET<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong> Group<br />

63<br />

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Sixty-three years of news,<br />

fashion<br />

and information<br />

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OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 27


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E-MAIL: ONG@DSLEXTREME.COM<br />

NGLEZ@DSLEXTREME.COM<br />

EFFICIENCY•RELIABILITY•SAVINGS<br />

waitex provides<br />

Complete end-to-end supply chain solutions<br />

• 25 years of experience in the garment industry<br />

• 3 million square feet of modern<br />

distribution facilities in NY, NJ, & LA<br />

• EDI, UCC128, ASN, TMS, scan & pack capability<br />

• Pick, pack & ship by piece or pre-packed carton<br />

• GOH/Flatpack storage by carton/unit/sq.ft<br />

NYC-Candice: (212) 967-8100 • Air/Sea world-wide cargo forwarding<br />

LA-Alfred: (909) 829-9888 • Garment and label sewing<br />

Email: info@waitex.com • Hoffman Press / Steam tunnel<br />

www.waitex.com<br />

• 3000 world-wide service specialists<br />

Yarns & Threads<br />

FABRICS WANTED<br />

HELP!!<br />

WE NEED FABRIC<br />

RAGFINDERS OF CA<br />

213-489-1732<br />

784 S. San Pedro St.<br />

Los Angeles, CA 90014<br />

(Since 1971)<br />

BUY & SELL<br />

748 S. Main St. LA, CA 90014<br />

310-930-4765 Mark<br />

CASH PAID<br />

For linen, wool, silk,<br />

& cotton fabrics.<br />

Call Alex<br />

213-622-0774<br />

ADVERTISE<br />

YOUR FABRICS<br />

HERE<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 29


30 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

www.apparelnews.net<br />

POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

Michael Stars is seeking responsible, creative<br />

& energetic professionals with a sense of<br />

contemporary style to fill the following<br />

open positions:<br />

PR Manager<br />

• Prepares and distributes press releases, direct<br />

mail, email blasts, etc. to media outlets to<br />

garner press coverage<br />

• Coordinates all sample requests for stylists,<br />

celebrities, publicists, costume designers and<br />

socialites to maximize wardrobe opportunities in<br />

TV, film, and print<br />

• Manages all charity requests<br />

• Assist in developing theme, timing and strategy of<br />

special events as well as contacting local press,<br />

arrange for features, arranging for celebrity<br />

attendance, etc<br />

• 4+ years of PR related experience<br />

• Journalism or PR Degree<br />

• Management Experience<br />

• PR Contacts in the Industry<br />

• Strong writing skills<br />

Towne Square Las Vegas, NV Assistant<br />

Manager-Key Holders-Sales Associates<br />

•Provides excellent customer service<br />

•Educates and Sells<br />

•Maintains Store and Stock<br />

• Merchandise presentation that impacts<br />

store sales<br />

• At least 1 yr. prior retail apparel experience<br />

• HS diploma or equivalent required<br />

• Cash handling experience<br />

• POS/ Cash register experience<br />

• Able to work a flexible retail schedule including<br />

evenings, weekends and/or holidays.<br />

Inventory Accountant<br />

•Oversee inventory related internal controls<br />

and project manage operating efficiencies<br />

•Review and analyze inventory related entries to<br />

the G/L to provide accurate inventory<br />

valuation and reporting<br />

• Manage company wide physical inventories<br />

• Monitor inventory purchase orders and receipts;<br />

research and reconcile discrepancies<br />

• Develop a cost accounting process<br />

• Accounting degree or relevant exp. required<br />

•Proficiency in Excel/Word + strong organizational<br />

and communication skills<br />

• Spanish speaking is a PLUS but not required<br />

Marketing Manager<br />

• Develops marketing strategies and promotions to<br />

drive customers to branded stores<br />

• Plans and executes store events to increase<br />

sales and brand awareness<br />

• Develops GWP items seasonally for<br />

promotional purposes<br />

• Direct Mail Campaign-develops strategy for<br />

targeted marketing campaigns<br />

• Creates company messaging and copywriting<br />

that effectively communicates the company's<br />

products and brand<br />

• Assist in planning advertising for regional markets<br />

to support retail stores<br />

• Bachelor's degree required- MBA in marketing<br />

preferred<br />

• 3+ Years of consumer Marketing Experience &<br />

ongoing Brand Management<br />

Excellent Benefits Package Included<br />

Please e-mail your resume to<br />

jobs@michaelstars.com or fax to 310-263-7387<br />

Blue Holdings Inc.<br />

Quality Control Finished Goods<br />

Outside QC for high end denim. Minimum<br />

10 yrs exp. LA based with extensive travel to<br />

Mexico. Requires factory exp. Must be able to do<br />

Quality Assessment / In Line Inspection. Must<br />

know all aspects of apparel manufacturing.<br />

Bilingual necessary.<br />

Resume and cover letter to:<br />

Debbie.eastman@blueholdings.com<br />

San Fernando Valley apparel manufacturer offers<br />

outstanding career opportunities for the following:<br />

TEXTILE DIRECTOR/<br />

TECHNICAL COLORIST<br />

This position requires working knowledge of the<br />

printing process, from final artwork to strike-off's.<br />

Additional responsibilities include overseeing<br />

color-pitching staff and technical write-ups for<br />

strike-off's, approving final strike-off's, and working<br />

with mills on scheduling and re-strike's. Candidate<br />

must have great color/style sense and be<br />

detail-minded and highly organized. Position<br />

requires a minimum of 5-7 years experience.<br />

TEXTILE/CAD ARTIST<br />

Position requires a creative, energetic, and<br />

thorough Textile/CAD Artist for textile print design<br />

work. Key responsibility is for designing and developing<br />

product by interpreting concepts into finished<br />

product. This includes developing themes and<br />

color for the upcoming season. Candidates must<br />

have 3-5 years experience, a great eye for repeat<br />

layouts and colorways, and excellent communication<br />

and organizational skills. Photoshop/Illustrator<br />

a must. Vision/Nedgraphics a plus.<br />

PRODUCTION CAD ARTIST<br />

This position requires expertise in repeats, ability to<br />

proof engraving cads & give technical direction to<br />

the mills. Must have ability to approve strike-offs &<br />

have knowledge of printing processes. Must have<br />

textile computer program exp. Ned Graphics<br />

knowledge a plus. Candidate must be detail oriented<br />

& highly organized. Exp. with Licensed Characters<br />

a +. Position requires a min. of 5-7 yrs exp.<br />

QUALITY ASSURANCE<br />

TECHNICIAN<br />

Central responsibilities include taking color readings<br />

on Datacolor machine and entering results<br />

to appropriate software, submitting fabric and<br />

garments to CTL and following up on applications,<br />

and maintaining spreadsheets in Excel. Applicants<br />

should have excellent color vision, high attention<br />

to detail, solid knowledge of Excel, and ability to<br />

work well in a team environment.<br />

KEY ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT<br />

Central responsibilities include all aspects of key<br />

account follow up, including order entry, monitoring<br />

on-time shipments, and maintaining Excel spreadsheets.<br />

Must have knowledge of Windows, knowledge<br />

of retail based companies, attention to detail,<br />

ability to multitask. Mass merchant knowledge a<br />

plus. Excellent opportunity for growth.<br />

CUSTOMER SERVICE<br />

REPRESENTATIVE<br />

Position requires 1-2 yrs of exp. in a call center environment,<br />

excellent communication skills, strong<br />

customer orientation, ability to work flexible hours,<br />

and computer literacy with knowledge of Word, Excel,<br />

and MS Outlook. Responsibilities include providing<br />

first-rate service to customers via telephone,<br />

fax, and email, entering customer orders into the<br />

computer system, & handling special projects.<br />

Work in an energized and fun environment with<br />

a team of highly talented and creative artists.<br />

Competitive salary and benefits. Email your<br />

resume to: apparelfashions@gmail.com<br />

TEXTILE SALES<br />

A leading Textile company seeking an<br />

energetic In-House Fabric<br />

Sales Person with at least 5 years<br />

experience. We offer excellent<br />

compensation.<br />

Fax resume to 323-234-1577 or<br />

E-mail: majortextile@sbcglobal.net<br />

Established Swimwear Company with excellent<br />

benefits and offering a competitive salary is looking<br />

for qualified personnel to join our team.<br />

Controller<br />

Must have experience managing a team of at least<br />

4 people Must have hands-on experience with all<br />

of the following:<br />

G/L<br />

Financial reports: Budgeting, Gross profit analysis,<br />

Cash Flow analysis,<br />

Forecasting, and other financial reporting &analysis<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong> chargeback<br />

Month end closing<br />

Inventory control<br />

Account Manager<br />

Must have excellent interpersonal skills to interact<br />

with Sales Rep/Buyers<br />

Must be able to multi task and manage multiple<br />

accounts<br />

Have experience fostering/building/growing<br />

accounts<br />

Must have strong retail math; able to calculate<br />

basic gross margin/selling analytics<br />

Analyze sell thru reports and assortment analysis<br />

Must be able to follow and track purchase orders<br />

from inception to completion<br />

Planning/Buying exp. in major retailer is a plus.<br />

Warehouse Manager<br />

Strong leadership and managerial skills<br />

Knowledge of all phases of receiving, shipping and<br />

warehouse functions<br />

Inventory Management Control<br />

Must have 5+ experience in <strong>Apparel</strong> Industry<br />

Major Department Orders experience<br />

Computer literate (Microsoft/Word, Excel and<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong> System)<br />

Please send resume to 323-271-1<strong>18</strong>1 or<br />

e-mail mchung@malibuswim.com<br />

Fast paced Jr. Company looking for the<br />

following positions…<br />

Woven Designer to head up department with<br />

import experience. Must be organized, detail<br />

oriented with strong communication skills. Experience<br />

in wovens with ability to handle multiple projects<br />

under pressure, must be a team player with<br />

the ability to take direction & sense of urgency.<br />

Knit Designer to head up department with import<br />

experience. Candidate must have knowledge of<br />

knits, trims & trends, with strong organization &<br />

communication skills. Must be a team player with<br />

the ability to take direction & sense of urgency.<br />

Design Assistant to work in fast paced design<br />

room. Must be detail oriented with strong communication<br />

& organizational skills. The ability to handle<br />

multiple projects & follow through with a sense of<br />

urgency, must take direction well.<br />

Fabric Sourcer for import & domestic fabrics.<br />

Must have in depth knowledge of yarn, fabric &<br />

printing with contacts.<br />

Trim & Treatment Sourcer to find new trims &<br />

treatments matching current market trends for import<br />

development. Must have knowledge of import<br />

production & contacts.<br />

1st Patternmaker to work with knits & woven<br />

with knowledge of shrinkage. Computer patternmaking<br />

experience required. Strong communication<br />

& organizational skills with a sense of urgency<br />

& ability to work as a team.<br />

Marker/Grader with min 3 years experience on<br />

computer. Must grade from store spec.<br />

Please forward resumes to<br />

Lskinner@Aquablues.com


POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

Recognized as a global leader of women’s contemporary fashion, BCBG Max Azria Group continues to<br />

grow and diversify. With an international vision of Bon Chic, Bon Genre (French for Good Style, Good Attitude),<br />

BCBG Max Azria Group maintains the highest standards in creativity, quality and innovation – in its<br />

product offering, operations and staff. The Group’s vast portfolio of over 15 brands encompasses a retail &<br />

wholesale network of more than 9,000 points of sale in over 45 countries on 5 continents. With more than<br />

10 offices around the globe, our worldwide team is integral to the company's successful expansion. We are<br />

currently seeking creative, talented & dynamic individuals to join our growing workforce of over 10,000<br />

employees. The following exciting opportunity is at our Global Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA.<br />

Technical Designers<br />

Attend fittings and communicate technical changes, formulate corrections and provide solutions<br />

to factories globally. Review garment samples and tech packages to ensure accuracy of<br />

information relayed to factories globally. Work closely with the pattern room and sample room<br />

on development samples, spec development, grading, pattern correction and sample approvals.<br />

Must have 5 yrs. Technical design experience, knowledge of shrinkage, excellent<br />

organizational/communication skills. WebPDM a plus.<br />

Associate Textile Designer<br />

Support the design team for all graphic needs. Create artwork, yarn dyes, plaids and print<br />

designs. Must have 2 years experience in apparel/graphic textile design.<br />

Degree in related field preferred.<br />

To Apply: Qualified candidates, please submit your resume to human.resources@bcbg.com.<br />

BCBG Max Azria Group is an equal opportunity employer. To view all of our current career opportunities,<br />

please visit our company’s career section at www.bcbg.com.<br />

Luxurie by LRG is looking for a highly motivated<br />

Head Designer to lead the trend research and<br />

creative design development process for the<br />

Luxurie by LRG Line/<br />

Key Responsibilities:<br />

1. Be aware and on the forefront of design and<br />

industry trends.<br />

2. Execute, lead, and drive the Luxurie line creatively<br />

3. Ensure sufficient service to product management<br />

and development<br />

4. The ability to put together a cohesive collection by<br />

proving a complete package, including but not<br />

limited to: trend forecasting, story boards, color<br />

stories, mechanical drawing, and anything else to<br />

ensure the finest product.<br />

5. Understand and manage grading and sizing<br />

process.<br />

Talents, Skills, & More:<br />

1. Must have a minimum of 3 years Head Designe<br />

r experience in the clothing industry.<br />

2. Solid experience designing women’s apparel is<br />

required.<br />

3. Knowledge of youth driven lifestyle market, as well<br />

as technical knowledge of materials, fabrications,<br />

garment construction, colors, and design process.<br />

4. Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is<br />

required.<br />

5. Good understanding of international production and<br />

logistics process.<br />

6. Highly driven, flexible, excellent communicator, and<br />

team oriented.<br />

7. Strong Portfolio is necessary.<br />

Email resume to: lux_design_job@l-r-g.com<br />

LEAD TECHNICAL DESIGNER, ROXY YOUTH<br />

Position is responsible for leading of youth<br />

tech team to ensure a consistent & quality fitting<br />

garment is brought to market<br />

Areas of Responsibilities Include:<br />

- Create spec files and block patterns for styles<br />

owned from development through to production<br />

- Communication of seasonal work strategies to<br />

team and peer workgroups<br />

- Addressing all technical inquiries from vendors<br />

Required Experience/Skills:<br />

- Must have 6- 8 yrs of production pattern knowledge<br />

w/ability to ID fit issues quickly & accurately<br />

translated into revised pattern blocks & specs<br />

through written comments to global vendor partners.<br />

- Good communicator w/strong verbal and written<br />

ability.<br />

- Flexible and driven to move product forward<br />

through team collaboration and communication.<br />

- MS Office, Excel and Illustrator a must .<br />

Gerber V8 and PDM experience a plus.<br />

join our team. apply online<br />

www.quiksilver.com<br />

HEAD TECHNICAL DESIGNER, QUIKSILVER<br />

Position responsible for ensuring products are<br />

brought to market meeting company delivery,<br />

fit & quality expectations<br />

Areas of Responsibilities Include:<br />

- Review & management of seasonal workload;<br />

focus on delivering on time w/quality & fit<br />

- Ability to address all technical inquires from<br />

global vendor partners<br />

- Training of new team members on process<br />

and product standards<br />

- Organizing & attending all fittings w/Sourcing &<br />

M&D<br />

- Development & communication of seasonal work<br />

strategies with team & peer workgroups<br />

- Provide technical leadership to team as needed<br />

Required Experience/Skills:<br />

- Must have 10 -12 years of production pattern<br />

knowledge w/ability to ID fit issues quickly and<br />

accurately translate into revised pattern blocks<br />

and specs through written comments to<br />

global vendor partners<br />

- Good communicator w/strong verbal & written<br />

ability.<br />

- Flexible and driven to move product forward<br />

through team collaboration and communication.<br />

- MS Office, Excel and Illustrator a must .Gerber<br />

V8, AS400 and PDM experience a PLUS<br />

- Prior experience managing staff is preferred.<br />

join our team. apply online<br />

www.quiksilver.com<br />

∫<br />

PATTERN MAKERS<br />

Seeking highly skilled 1st and Production<br />

Patternmakers, GERBER system a Plus.<br />

Must have 5-10 years exp. w/couture gowns.<br />

Excellent Salary and Benefits.<br />

MARKER / GRADER<br />

Must know in detail all aspects of marking and<br />

grading on GERBER system. Min. 5 years exp.<br />

SEWER<br />

Couture Designer seeking highly skilled sewer.<br />

Must have exp. w/silk chiffon. Min. 5 years exp.<br />

Call Hector 213.342.3436<br />

Salary based on exp. Fax resume &<br />

salary history to: 213.747.9311 or<br />

email: hr@moniquelhuillier.com<br />

FIRST PATTERNMAKER<br />

Strong 1st patternmaker needed for FAST PACED<br />

Bodywear Division. Must have min. 2 yrs computer<br />

patternmaking exp; Gerber preferred. Knowledge<br />

of sewing construction & detailed sewing<br />

heets a must. Looking for good interpretation<br />

from sketches & great organizational/<br />

communication skills.<br />

Fax Resume: (323) 395-0692<br />

Established Premium multi-branded company<br />

located in Woodland HIlls, is continuing to expand.<br />

We are looking for experienced and committed<br />

professionals to fill the following positions:<br />

Graphic Designers, Mynt, Levis, Karen Neuberger<br />

Minimum of 3 years experience must have<br />

incredible knowledge Adobe Illustrator & Photo<br />

Shop. Experience in creating screen prints, flats,<br />

catalogs and screen prints.<br />

Assistant Designers Y.C./Missy Mynt Levis<br />

Minimum of 2-4 years experience design exp in all<br />

aspects of design including fabric, trim, design and<br />

pattern creation, fit and trend research. Must have<br />

exp w/ Illustrator and Photoshop.<br />

Designer Young Contemporary<br />

5 years experience. Understanding of YC Market,<br />

Knowledge of silhouettes, fabrication, colorways,<br />

and prints. Ability to design around concepts. Must<br />

have exp w/ Illustrator and Photoshop.<br />

Designer Missy<br />

5 years experience. Understanding of Missy Market,<br />

Knowledge of silhouettes, fabrication, colorways,<br />

and prints. Ability to design around concepts.<br />

Must have exp w/ Illustrator and Photoshop.<br />

Independent sales rep - Mynt<br />

Mynt is currently in top Department and specialty<br />

stores. Reps must have established relationships<br />

with Department Stores and Specialty clientele, a<br />

showroom a plus. Available territories: <strong>California</strong>,<br />

Midwest, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Seattle.<br />

We offer competitive salary and benefits,<br />

opportunity to grow, and creative professional<br />

environment. Email your resume & Salary<br />

history for consideration to:<br />

andrew@newportsportswear.com<br />

Lucky Brand Jeans has the following<br />

outstanding opportunity available:<br />

Technical Designer<br />

To facilitate the transition of apparel styles from<br />

design concept / first prototype to a final, production-ready<br />

sample. 3-5 years work experience in<br />

the <strong>Apparel</strong> Industry including technical design and<br />

/ or patternmaking with construction experience<br />

and full knowledge of total production timeline.<br />

Other knowledge should include an understanding<br />

of grading, costing of garments, textiles, garment<br />

testing, draping and fitting. Strong computer<br />

knowledge, including Microsoft Excel, Adobe<br />

Illustrator and Photoshop. Prior experience<br />

with patternmaking required.<br />

For consideration, please email<br />

resume and salary history to:<br />

Dorell_Mitter@luckybrandjeans.com.<br />

Lucky Brand is an Equal Opportunity/<br />

Affirmative Action Employer (M/F/D/V).<br />

1ST PATTERNMAKER<br />

Seeking exp’d Gerber patternmaker for our JR.<br />

Dress Division. Must have dress exp. Must be detailed<br />

oriented, organized, and have strong knowledge<br />

of garment construction. Only patternmakers<br />

with Gerber V8 exp. will be given pattern test.<br />

MARKER MAKER<br />

Seeking individual who has strong marking experience.<br />

Must be extremely detailed, organized, fast,<br />

accurate and able to work in a high paced environment.<br />

Experience with Gerber PDS a must, no<br />

exceptions. Min. of 2-3 years exp. required.<br />

Swat-Fame offers a great working atmosphere,<br />

competitive benefit package. Qualified exp.<br />

candidates fax resumes to 626-934-5201 or<br />

email toHR@swatfame.com<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 31


POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

ABOUT US: We’re a fast-growing import premium<br />

denim co. w/multiple product lines. We offer a<br />

challenging yet fun working env. w/exc. growth potential.<br />

AVAILABLE POSITIONS:<br />

• Operations Manager w/extensive shipping,<br />

EDI, AIMS, import logistics, & tech. exp. Must be<br />

strong critical thinker & problem solver.<br />

• Production Coordinator w/import exp. &<br />

strong tech. knowledge. Mgmt potential for the<br />

right candidate.<br />

• Sales Executive w/boutique & majors<br />

following (New York based position, corporate).<br />

• Independent Sales Representatives<br />

(most regions available).<br />

QUALIFICATIONS: Sharp individuals with a strong<br />

work-ethic, track record of excellence, and a hunger to<br />

succeed are most desired. Additionally, we require:<br />

• Fashion and/or four-year college degree<br />

(highly desired).<br />

• Excellent oral AND written communications skills;<br />

bilingual a plus.<br />

• Team mentality and harmony-focused disposition.<br />

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills<br />

a MUST.<br />

• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook,<br />

and AIMS mandatory. EDI, Adobe suites, or<br />

graphic design knowledge a huge PLUS.<br />

PLEASE EMAIL RESUME W/SALARY HISTORY<br />

TO CAREERS@SAFORTE.COM IN<br />

CONFIDENCE. WWW.SAFORTE.COM<br />

robert rodriguez<br />

West Coast Sales Associate<br />

High energy, self motivated, responsibilities include<br />

a wholesale experience of 3 years minimum with<br />

emphasis on specialty stores and established<br />

relationships. Qualified candidate will have<br />

exceptional written & verbal communication<br />

skills flexibility to travel and computer literate.<br />

Design Assistant<br />

Minimum 3 years – great oppty. for energetic team<br />

player. Will be responsible. for assisting with:<br />

sketching, specs, fabric & colors, management<br />

of sample room.<br />

Import Production &<br />

Pre-Production Director<br />

Highly skilled and motivated individual with extensive<br />

import experience. Must have intense follow<br />

through approach from sourcing to receipt of<br />

goods. 5 years experience with Asia production.<br />

Exceptional communication, negotiation<br />

& garment construction required.<br />

HR@Modanicola-int.com<br />

Or fax 213-629-2828<br />

IMPORT PRODUCTION<br />

COORDINATOR<br />

Baby Phat, a fast paced junior apparel mfg. is<br />

searching for a self motivated individual with high<br />

attention to detail to work in the Import Production<br />

Dept. Duties include: Assisting production<br />

manager, sample processing, sending and receiving<br />

packages, daily correspondence with factories<br />

and many other duties. Candidate must possess<br />

strong initiative, able to work well with other departments<br />

and work independently. Experience with<br />

Excel a must; web PDM a plus. Entry Level<br />

1 - 3 yrs production exp.<br />

Send resumes w/ salary history to:<br />

jobs5@bpjeans.com or Fax: 562-576-0<strong>18</strong>1<br />

Fulltime - w/Benefits<br />

DESIGN ASSISTANT<br />

Designer looking for a team player, creative,<br />

organized and detail oriented, able to work with<br />

vendors, spec garments, follow-up on samples, fit<br />

approvals and able to multi task. Must have Excel,<br />

MS Word, Photoshop and Illustrator knowledge.<br />

Email resumes to bearly5425@aol.com<br />

32 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

MAVERICK J, LLC<br />

Contemporary Menswear We are currently<br />

seeking the following at our Culver City office:<br />

EDI / ALLOCATION SPECIALIST<br />

•Minimum 5 yrs experience in apparel industry<br />

•Extensive knowledge of EDI requirements for major<br />

department stores<br />

•Work closely with distribution warehouse<br />

•Must possess strong verbal & written communication,<br />

organization and follow -up skills.<br />

•Work independently<br />

•Computer literate, proficient in word & excel<br />

CUSTOMER SERVICE<br />

•Minimum 2 yrs exp in apparel industry<br />

•Accurate computer skills<br />

•Duties include order processing, data entry, incoming<br />

calls, order follow-up, general office work.<br />

•Excellent verbal & written communication skills a must.<br />

• Proficient in word & excel<br />

•Ability to multi-task<br />

•Work independently<br />

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/RECEIVABLE<br />

•Minimum 2-3 years experience<br />

•Knowledge Peachtree accounting software a plus<br />

•Proficient in word & excel<br />

Email resume with salary history to<br />

barbara@maverick-j.com or fax to 310-280-3805<br />

Maxstudio.Com a global corporation bringing<br />

leading edge design to today's woman seeks an<br />

Assistant Designer.<br />

ASSISTANT DESIGNER<br />

A rare opportunity to work directly with the<br />

designer. Responsibilities include: sourcing and<br />

developing fabric and trim for first sample lines,<br />

creating detailed tech packages, interacting with<br />

patternmakers, and creating all line sheets and<br />

sales tools required by the sales department.<br />

Candidate must be organized, detail oriented, and<br />

have strong communication and computer skills.<br />

Individual must have 3 years exp. in the industry.<br />

Maxstudio.Com offers a competitive salary and<br />

benefits package.<br />

Please fax resume to Human Resources<br />

@ (626) 797-3251 or email to<br />

daira@maxstudio.com<br />

EOE, M/F/V/D<br />

Playboy <strong>Apparel</strong> is seeking an experienced<br />

Pre-Production Coordinator. Must have<br />

knowledge of garment construction and the entire<br />

production process. Will be responsible for<br />

ensuring the accuracy, consistency and quality<br />

of the fit, construction and specs of the garment.<br />

Must have management/supervisor experience,<br />

good fit skills & ability to lead a fitting.<br />

Knowledge of patternmaking a plus.<br />

Please e-mail resumes to<br />

recuiting@playboyclothingusa.com<br />

LRG Clothing Company is looking for an extremely<br />

detailed, organized, motivated<br />

Technical Designer<br />

Must be extremely competent in Illustrator CS. The ability<br />

to multi-task and fit/spec both Men's garments ranging<br />

from knits, outerwear and denim. The candidate must be<br />

able to create technical packages. Must have good understanding<br />

of screen printing, grading, fit, garment<br />

construction, sewing techniques and industry wording.<br />

Able to work under tight deadlines with the ability to work<br />

extra hours as needed.<br />

6 months - 2 years experience<br />

Detailed oriented is a must<br />

Highly driven, flexible, excellent communicator, and team<br />

oriented<br />

Strong portfolio<br />

A great opportunity to learn and grow with a fun and hard<br />

working team!<br />

Email resume to: lrg_tech_job@l-r-g.com.<br />

PRODUCTION PATTERNMAKER<br />

Leading privately-held Junior, Girls, and<br />

Women’s manufacturer, established 1964,<br />

seeks organized, detail-oriented Production<br />

Patternmaker at our Los Angeles facility.<br />

Ideal candidate would have working knowledge of<br />

Gerber PDS 2000, at least 2-3 yrs. production exp.,<br />

excellent communication skills, construction and fit<br />

knowledge, & basic computer skills in Outlook,<br />

Word and Excel.<br />

Excellent Medical and Dental Benefits,<br />

besides generous Profit Sharing and Pension<br />

Plans that are both fully paid by the company.<br />

Compensation commensurate with qualifications.<br />

LETTY HERNANDEZ<br />

HR Manager – Paquette Mfg.<br />

Fax (323) 780-7792<br />

E-mail: lhernand@byer.com<br />

Rock & Republic is expanding our product<br />

categories and looking for experienced team<br />

players for our fast paced environment.<br />

Technical Designer<br />

Strong fitting and some patternmaking skills.<br />

Will manage import product. Primarily working<br />

knits & wovens—all non denim. Ability to<br />

run fittings and work under tight deadlines.<br />

Bi-lingual in Mandarin or Chinese preferred.<br />

Sr. Designer<br />

Looking for an experienced Sr. Designer with<br />

5-7 years exp. in the luxury market. Must have<br />

strong knowledge of garment construction,<br />

fabrications, technical processes, trend analysis,<br />

and management skills.<br />

Please email resume along with a cover<br />

letter to jobs@rockandrepublic.com.<br />

No phone calls please. Scrapbook, a leading Orange<br />

County based knit manufacturer<br />

is seeking qualified<br />

individuals for the<br />

following positions:<br />

www.apparelnews.net<br />

Import Production Manager<br />

Minimum 3-5 years of experience importing apparel<br />

from China. Duties include negotiating & placing<br />

orders with vendors, and tracking & communicating<br />

progress/changes both within the company and with<br />

vendors. Person must be computer literate, highly<br />

organized, and detail oriented. Excellent follow up<br />

skills' a must. Mandarin speaking preferred.<br />

Customer Service Specialist<br />

Minimum 2-3 years related experience working with<br />

major retailers and boutiques alike. Must be<br />

organized and operate in a fast pace environment.<br />

Knowledge of Microsoft Office required. Clear and<br />

consistent written and verbal communication's a<br />

must. Knowledge of AMS is a plus.<br />

FAX RESUME & SALARY HISTORY to<br />

714.379.4795, or EMAIL jobs@femmeknits.net<br />

Sample Maker - Must be exp’d working with prod.<br />

patternmaker. Knowledgeable of all machinery.<br />

English speaking please.<br />

Prod. patternmaker - Contemp sptwr co needs a<br />

detail oriented professional w/ 5 yrs min exp. capable<br />

of 1st thru production. English speaking please.<br />

Email: art@kymsta.com<br />

GRAPHIC ARTIST<br />

Leading Clothing MFG is looking for an Experienced Artist<br />

for a FAST PACED Dept; w/Expert level proficiency in<br />

MAC OSX, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator CS2. Must<br />

have knowledge of new trends. Team player a must!<br />

Fax Resume: 323-395-0692


POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

ESTABLISHED APPAREL COMPANY SEEKING<br />

INDIVIDUALS TO FILL THE FOLLOWING<br />

POSITION. EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY<br />

AND BENEFITS.<br />

IMPORT PRODUCTION<br />

COORDINATOR<br />

Highly motivated person with 2-3 years exp. in the<br />

junior denim bottoms market needed to assist in<br />

import production. Must have well rounded knowledge<br />

of overseas garment production & construction.<br />

Experience with measuring garments as well<br />

as approving finished garments, lab-dips, fabrics,<br />

etc. Must be a self starter, detail oriented individual<br />

and have strong written & verbal comm. skills.<br />

PRODUCTION PATTERNMAKER<br />

FIRST THROUGH PRODUCTION patternmaker<br />

with 3 to 5 years experience in the junior denim<br />

market. Must have a good understanding of<br />

garment wash and shrinkages. Candidate must be<br />

a self-starter, well organized and have experience<br />

with Patternmaking software.<br />

Email to hrdept6@verizon.net or fax resume<br />

with salary history to (323) 657-5344<br />

<strong>Apparel</strong> Internacional, Inc<br />

Request<br />

Laundry Manager<br />

Qualifications:<br />

Experience in Denim washing and tinting.<br />

Machine and Control<br />

Equipment management.<br />

Availability to reside in Torreon, Mexico.<br />

Excellent in production planning.<br />

Salary: US Compensation.<br />

Qualify candidates send resume to:<br />

scardenas@lajat.com.mx<br />

Blue Holdings Inc.<br />

Denim manufacturer looking for energetic and creative<br />

individuals. We are a publicly traded company offering an<br />

interesting and challenging work environment with great<br />

opportunities for growth.<br />

Production Tech Pak<br />

Tech Pak for denim garments. Fast, accurate, and<br />

dependable. Proficient in Adobe Illustrator / Microsoft<br />

Excel Flat sketching / Pattern familiarity<br />

Import experience required.<br />

Accounts Payable<br />

Prompt payments to Contractors and Suppliers. Dispute<br />

Resolution. Good Excel skills. Highly organized in a fast<br />

paced environment.<br />

Resume and salary history to<br />

debbie.eastman @blueholdings.com<br />

Account Executive<br />

Established O.C. Sportswear Co. has a great<br />

opportunity for a talented, energetic & motivated<br />

Account Executive. Must have 3+ yrs. exp with<br />

established accounts. Ability to maintain existing<br />

accounts as well as open new ones. Strong comm.<br />

skills, detailed oriented & ability to follow up.<br />

Production Pattern Maker<br />

Min 4 yrs exp. as Production Patternmaker working<br />

with knit & woven tops. Will attend fittings and<br />

issue corrections. Work closely with Design team<br />

and production. Must be able work in fast paced<br />

environment. Knowledge of Illustrator a plus.<br />

Fax resume: (714) 898-0904/<br />

email hrd@bodywaves.com<br />

CUSTOMER SERVICE<br />

Located in SFV is looking for Experienced apparel<br />

customer service. Will be dealing with customers<br />

located in Asia & Mexico. Customer and factory<br />

interface a must. Bilingual English/Spanish.<br />

Fax resume: 8<strong>18</strong>-361-3810<br />

Email: dbulluck@earthlink.net<br />

www.apparelnews.net<br />

Pre-production/Production Assistant<br />

Responsibilities include issuing cutting tickets,<br />

detailed tracking of production and related data<br />

entry with emphasis on customer service.<br />

Experience in both domestic and import<br />

production. Position offers opportunity for<br />

growth for highly organized, motivated team<br />

player. Min 3 years experience.<br />

Cutter<br />

First Sample Cutter with minimum two<br />

(2) years experience.<br />

Full Charge Bookkeeper<br />

5 years experience in the garment industry.<br />

Please fax resume to: 323.277.1467<br />

RN CONVERTIBLES is looking for a<br />

DESIGNER<br />

to head the division. A minimum of 5 years of<br />

related experience is required, with at least 2 years<br />

of specialization in cut and sew jersey. Candidates<br />

must be able to take design direction, make<br />

comprehensive, relevant presentations, and have<br />

the ability to follow collections through to<br />

completion. They must be able to work well with<br />

pattern-makers, sewers and pre-production staff,<br />

and must be competent to communicate with<br />

jersey mills, converters, print and dye houses.<br />

Healthy egos are appreciated provided they are<br />

accompanied by a courteous deference to the<br />

established direction. This is a great company,<br />

benefits and environment for the right candidate.<br />

Fax or email resume to 213 489 1615<br />

or marcus@annag.com<br />

Denim Merchandiser:<br />

"Calik Denim a world leader in denim textiles and garment<br />

manufacturing is seeking to add a Denim Merchandiser<br />

based in NYC. This individual will be a key member<br />

of the team and will be responsible for interpreting current<br />

and future market trends and working with existing<br />

customers to identify and fill their fabric needs .This individual<br />

should have a strong relationship with key brands.<br />

The individual we are seeking must have 5 to 10 yrs<br />

in the denim textile arena, have a strong technical/<br />

fashion sense, good presentation skills and be<br />

willing totravel as necessary.<br />

We offer a competitive benefits and compensation.<br />

Please E-mail/Fax resume to<br />

JCafferelli@calikusa.com &<br />

MTopal@calikusa.com<br />

Customer Service:<br />

Downtown based Jr's Manufacturer has an<br />

immediate opening for a Customer Service<br />

Representative. Will be responsible for EDI and<br />

order processing, must have strong follow-through<br />

abilities, good communication skills and basic production<br />

knowledge. Bi-lingual English/Spanish a<br />

plus, must have basic MS Office knowledge and<br />

good 10-key skills, Blue Cherry experience a plus.<br />

Please e-mail resumes to<br />

recruiting@ungerfab.com<br />

KEY ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE<br />

FOR DENIM COMPANY:<br />

Terrific opportunity for a professional individual<br />

ready to move ahead in a great career<br />

Major Retailer Customer Service proficiency<br />

Sales Skills<br />

Responsible for developing and executing<br />

business goals<br />

5 year minimum experience<br />

Salary based on experience<br />

Email: rhaber@peopleslib.com<br />

True Religion Brand Jeans is passionate aboutdenim<br />

and sportswear. If you are on the leading<br />

edge of Graphic Design in the fashion world and<br />

have the following skills, you need to contact us.<br />

-background in both Graphic Design and<br />

Illustration<br />

-Fluent in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Excel<br />

-Strong attention to detail and organization skills<br />

-Knowledge of <strong>Apparel</strong> Printing & Print Advertising<br />

-Understanding of Garment Construction<br />

-Ability to work in a hands-on, fast paced, deadline<br />

driven environment<br />

Please email resumes to<br />

resumes@truereligionbrandjeans.com<br />

Technical Designer<br />

Strong fitting, patternmaking, and spec skills.<br />

Must have domestic & import exp. Primarily<br />

working w/ knits—athletic apparel background<br />

preferred. Ability to work under tight deadlines<br />

and thrive in busy environment.<br />

Sample Sewer<br />

Must know knits and have soft hand.<br />

Athletic apparel exp preferred.<br />

Please send all resumes including<br />

salary history to jobs@rockandrepublic.com<br />

-stoosh-<br />

SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER<br />

Busy and established garment maker is seeking a<br />

highly qualified import technical designer.<br />

• Collaborate with import agents & customers<br />

• Attend all fittings<br />

• Send detailed comments to overseas factories<br />

• Work with production patternmakers<br />

We offer paid vacation, holidays, and<br />

health insurance.<br />

Please only fax resume if qualified:<br />

323.927.1765<br />

DESIGN ASSISTANT<br />

Los Angeles Luxury Goods Company seeks Design<br />

Assistant. 2-4 years experience with a design and or<br />

manufacturing background. The candidate should have<br />

knowledge of garment and fabric construction (knits,<br />

wovens, leather), notions and trims, as well as, sourcing<br />

in and out of the country. Must be very organized, detail<br />

oriented and a team player with great follow-up skills.<br />

Must be able to multi-task in a fast paced environment.<br />

Responsibilities include daily communication with<br />

vendors and members of the team, putting together<br />

packages, swatches and assisting the design team in all<br />

phases of development. Proficient knowledge of all<br />

Microsoft Office applications. Please use job code DA1<br />

in the subject header when sending your<br />

resume/cover letter.<br />

Submit resumes to<br />

submitresume915@gmail.com<br />

Fast growing comp. seeks Finishing Supervisor<br />

w/experience in garment dye. Full time In-house<br />

Patternmaker/Grader/Marker, at least 3 years<br />

experience in garment dye & Gerber software 2007<br />

for contemporary knit line. Competitive salary.<br />

P: 323-231-8988 F: 323-231-8588<br />

Email: info@knitresource.net<br />

Trim Clerk<br />

Needed for fast pace Trim Dept w/knowledge of<br />

pulling trim & working w/contractors, have great<br />

follow through skills, & organized. Min 1 yr exp.<br />

Fax Resume: Angelo (310) 965-7763<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 33


POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

PATTERN MAKER - 1st thru Production<br />

Fast growing “BOTTOMS” company.<br />

Expert in detail & productivity, must<br />

Understand importance of speed & accuracy.<br />

Able to calculate garment dye & wash shrinkages.<br />

Tukatech a must! Team player- NO EGO<br />

Health & profit sharing benefits.<br />

E-mail resume: info@mybillyblues.com<br />

fax: (323) 727-0011<br />

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT<br />

Los Angeles Luxury Goods Company seeking<br />

Production Assistant with 2-3 years experience.<br />

Must be organized, detail oriented, possess strong<br />

follow up skills and be comfortable working in a fast<br />

paced environment. Duties will include PO creation<br />

and management. Creating/updating spreadsheets,<br />

sample management and corresponding<br />

with vendors and team members. Strong computer<br />

skills with emphasis on all Microsoft office applications.<br />

Please use job code PA1 in the subject<br />

header when sending your resume/cover letter.<br />

Submit resumes to<br />

submitresume915@gmail.com<br />

Seeking Exceptional Patternmaker<br />

Requirements:<br />

• 10 Years Experience<br />

• Gerber Knowledge<br />

• Fluent in English<br />

• Fast & Efficient<br />

Offering:<br />

• Good Working Environment<br />

• High Weekly Pay<br />

• Health Insurance<br />

• Paid Vacation Days<br />

Fax: (323) 983 – 0700 Commerce, CA<br />

Denim Sales Representative:<br />

"Calik Denim based in Istanbul Turkey with offices in NY<br />

is a world leader in denim fabric with a capacity of<br />

60 million yds, is seeking a west coast representative.<br />

The territory involved is the western US & Canada<br />

with the exception of SanFrancisco.<br />

We offer basic rigid and stretch fabrics as well as<br />

premium rigid and stretch fabrics at agressive price points<br />

along with excellent customer service,sales support and<br />

on time shipping.The line is compact and relevant to<br />

premium and mid tier customers.<br />

Please E-mail/Fax resume to<br />

JCafferelli@calikusa.com &<br />

MTopal@calikusa.com<br />

Young, urban men’s & women’s wear co. is<br />

seeking team players who can multi-task in a fast<br />

paced environment.<br />

- Graphic Designer (must be proficient in<br />

Illustrator & Photoshop and production knowledge<br />

preferred)<br />

- Pre-production/Assist. Designer (Illustrator/<br />

Excel knowledge preferred)<br />

Email resume to jobs@streetsaint.com<br />

Jacket & Swim Importer seeks:<br />

Asst. Technical Designer<br />

• Must have some knowledge in gmt construction,<br />

specs & sewing.<br />

• Need to know how to quick sketch &<br />

examine details<br />

• Pre-producttion & QA<br />

• Must be quick & respond well to challenges<br />

Fax Resume to 310-538-2462<br />

PRODUCTION MANAGER<br />

Knit Jr Manuf. seeking assertive & motivated<br />

individual familiar with all aspect of production.<br />

Min. 5+ yrs. Well organized, a proven leader with<br />

strong planning , communication & supervisory<br />

skills understanding the urgency of deadlines.<br />

Computer literate, fluent in English/Spanish, will<br />

Supervise QCs, Contractors.<br />

Please e-mail resumes with salary history to:<br />

HRTops@AOL.COM<br />

34 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007<br />

GRAPHIC ARTIST<br />

Needed to develop screen prints for fast growing<br />

MENS and Boys company (est. 1983). Great sense<br />

of trends and color A MUST! MAC fluent in<br />

Photoshop and Illustrator. Portfolio must reflect<br />

mens and boys screen prints.<br />

EXPERIENCED NEED ONLY APPLY!<br />

Fax resume attn:<br />

Dennis/Art dept. 323-234-1038<br />

HEAD PATTERNMAKER<br />

Innovative, established designer collection is seeking a<br />

head production patternmaker to manage the department<br />

and to expedite the pattern/sample making process.<br />

Candidates must possess a thorough understanding of<br />

garment construction, must be comfortable working with<br />

all types of fabrics, and must be able to conduct fittings<br />

effectively and efficiently. Previous designer market<br />

experience is required. This is a great opportunity for a<br />

pro-active individual looking to assume responsibility<br />

for a great product.<br />

Send resume to <strong>California</strong> <strong>Apparel</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />

Box M159, 110 9th St. Suite A-777<br />

Los Angeles, CA 90079<br />

Fast growing Jr. Sportswear Co. seeking two<br />

Full Time Graphic Artist w/ experience textile<br />

prints and/or screen development. Must have<br />

2-3 yrs. experience in Jr. Sportswear.<br />

Please send in sampling of your portfolio and<br />

resume to Staci@misschievousclothing.com<br />

Patternmaker<br />

Premium denim company seeks a First/Production<br />

Patternmaker w/5+yrs min.exp. with denim, washes &<br />

shrinkage. Comp. exp.with Gerber Accumark PDS a plus.<br />

Fax resume to: 213-488-0435 or<br />

email FBjobs@frankieb.com<br />

Customer Service<br />

Fast Paced Junior Textile/ Garment Co. seeks<br />

energetic FASHION oriented individual.<br />

Extensive Follow-up in house & w/ customers<br />

on New Fabric, Lab Dips. Strike-offs, Tech<br />

Packs, Garment Specs. Word / Excel / E-Mail<br />

a must.<br />

Send Cover Sheet / Resume to:<br />

design@livlov.net<br />

DESIGN ASSISTANT<br />

Trixxi Clothing Company is looking for a Design<br />

Assistant to work in our Sportswear Division. Must<br />

be energetic, motivated, be able to handle a fast<br />

paced environment. Min 1 yr exp in a design room.<br />

Fax resume 213-943-1083 or<br />

Email: ron@trixxi.net<br />

LAGUNA FABRICS<br />

IMPORT GARMENT COORDINATOR•<br />

Must have import garment experience<br />

Motivated, responsible & well-organized.<br />

Fax resume to 213-622-5824 or<br />

Email: david@lagunafab.com<br />

PATTERNMAKER<br />

Energetic and self-motivated individual needed to<br />

work in fast paced Private Label company.<br />

5- 7 years experience as a pattern maker(first to<br />

production), high-end denim exp. a must. Must be<br />

a team player, detail oriented and well organized;<br />

willing to follow through on projects with excellent<br />

customer service skills and computer literate.<br />

Gerber software a plus.<br />

Please fax or mail resumes with salary history<br />

to: Human Resources Department<br />

14725 S. Broadway Ave., Gardena, CA 90248<br />

Tel. No. 310-217-9888 ext. 219<br />

Fax Number: 310-366-7889<br />

CORPUS seeks two positions<br />

Associate Designer I (Collection) &<br />

Associate Designer II (Denim)<br />

AD I and AD II will be involved all aspects of design<br />

development and production process in respective<br />

areas. 3-4 years exp. min. Strong skills in Excel,<br />

Photoshop and Illustrator are required, responsible<br />

for illustrations, detailed specs, flats and tech<br />

packs,sourcing fabrics, and working<br />

independently with vendors.<br />

Email resume, cover letter and 2 flat<br />

samples to jobs@corpusclothing.com<br />

PRE-PRODUCTION ASSISTANT<br />

A very successful and rapidly growing dress manufacturer<br />

is seeking an experience, well organized and detail-oriented<br />

person to assist in fabric buying, cutting tickets,<br />

fabric inventory, import purchases and allocation. Must<br />

communicate well, think logically and have good time<br />

management skills. Will work closely with Sales,<br />

Production and Shipping Depts. Knowledge of Blue<br />

Cherry is a plus.<br />

Fax or e-mail cover letter and resume in<br />

confidence to 213-745-4792<br />

PATTERNMAKER<br />

Los Angeles based Premium Brand, seeking<br />

full-time First/Production Patternmaker. Must have<br />

experience with Gerber System/AccuMark 8.0,<br />

construction, shrinkage and fit. Must be detailoriented,<br />

and have good communication skills.<br />

Denim experience a plus!<br />

For consideration please e-mail resumes to:<br />

patternmaker2007@gmail.com<br />

CHARGEBACK/ ACCOUNTING CLERK<br />

Fast paced womens sportswear manufacturer<br />

seeks detailed individual, strong follow up,<br />

sense of urgency and organizational skills<br />

required. Both major dept and specialty<br />

stores. Handling chargebacks / collections a<br />

priority, assist in accounting dept. Must have<br />

at least 3 yrs experience.<br />

Fax resume to: 323-584-1304<br />

Creative Freelance Designer<br />

needed for young men's and urban line to be<br />

marketed to mass merchants, secondary dept<br />

store and specialty. Must be ableto do spec's,<br />

complete tech packs, sewing details and graphics.<br />

Must be experienced in knits, woven and denim.<br />

Please fax resume to 323-233-7600 or<br />

email hotchocolateinc@yahoo.com<br />

Design Assistant/<br />

Technical Designer<br />

Min 5 yrs exp. designing baby/children's<br />

clothing.Must be able to do tech packages,<br />

flat sketching on Photoshop and illustrator.<br />

Must be willing to travel and speaks<br />

Spanish fluently.<br />

Please fax resume & salary history to:<br />

(213) 623-7285<br />

Store Manager<br />

I am searching for an enthusiastic, experienced, manager<br />

to help me run a successful high end women's clothing<br />

store in Westwood <strong>California</strong>. We carry TrinaTurk, Rozae<br />

Nichols, Cynthia Steffe, Alice + Olivia,shoes by<br />

Cynthia Vincent and Calleen Cordero.<br />

Fax resume to: 310-470-2694


POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE POSITION AVAILABLE<br />

EXPERIENCED SAMPLE SEWERS<br />

Children’s wear designer seeks experienced<br />

sample sewers for knits & wovens. Full Time.<br />

Start at once!<br />

Call Sarah @ 213-742-7744<br />

FIRST PATTERNMAKER NEEDED<br />

3-5 years minimum experience in juniors or girls,<br />

dresses and sportswear. Knowledge of garment<br />

construction necessary.<br />

Send resume to fax #213-742-7755<br />

1st Patternmaker<br />

Needed for junior and kids woven and knit tops.<br />

At least 5 years experience necessary.<br />

We are located in Gardena area.<br />

Please contact Patricia at (310)527-6295<br />

Plus Size<br />

Designer Wanted<br />

Lane Bryant, Maurice’s,<br />

Charming Shoppes,<br />

Cato, etc exp a MUST!<br />

Freelance.<br />

Base salary+ comm.<br />

- resumes.sp<br />

@gmail.com<br />

Freelance<br />

Patternmaker<br />

1st thru Production<br />

Patterns<br />

Women’s, Men’s &<br />

Kids<br />

Sportswear, contemporary,<br />

Missy & Jr.<br />

Call: 626-482-4144<br />

SRDESIGNWRKZ<br />

Be a leader not a follower.<br />

Creative talented designer<br />

can show you how.<br />

25 yrs. exp. design/prod.<br />

srdesignwrkz<br />

@hotmail.com<br />

To place your classified<br />

E-MAIL: jeffery@apparelnews.net<br />

or zenny@apparelnews.net<br />

Bee Darlin’ Catalog<br />

Division seeking<br />

Production/<br />

Shipping Assistant.<br />

Must have strong<br />

computer skills. DL &<br />

insurance required.<br />

Send resume to:<br />

pat@beedarlin.com<br />

or fax: 213-689-4574<br />

WAREHOUSE SALE<br />

POSITION WANTED<br />

DESIGNER, PATTERNMAKER, SAMPLEMAKER<br />

FREELANCE<br />

Pattermaker 1st thru<br />

Production - Patterns<br />

marking/grading service<br />

10 yrs of exp. swimwear,<br />

lingerie, sportswear,<br />

Jr, missy<br />

Call Ana 562-413-4673<br />

Freelance<br />

Patternmaker<br />

Over 25 years exp.<br />

1st thru prod.<br />

Grading/Marking<br />

sportswear, junior, missy<br />

call:310-251-2<strong>18</strong>8<br />

coop58@verizon.net<br />

Prime location<br />

DIANE DESPAS<br />

THE BEST FREELANCE<br />

DESIGNS/ PATTERNS/<br />

SAMPLES<br />

(213) 765-0722<br />

1031 S. Broadway<br />

Suite #1150<br />

ddespas2000@yahoo.com<br />

Experienced Sample Sewer needed for High<br />

End Contemporary Collection.<br />

Working with Silk, Knits, and Wovens.<br />

Company is located in the South Bay area.<br />

Good pay.<br />

Please call 310.609.0200 x 136<br />

PRODUCTION MANAGER/<br />

IMPORT MANAGER<br />

Responsible for leading production sourcing efforts in<br />

Asia & related matters. Req. BS & 5 yrs. exp. Excellent<br />

communication & negotiation skills.<br />

Resumes to glennl@bejainc.com<br />

WANTED<br />

PROFESSIONAL<br />

SALES PERSON<br />

For High End Bridal &<br />

Coctail wear fabrics.<br />

Fred<br />

213-6<strong>18</strong>-8614<br />

Soel<br />

310-650-0216<br />

TEXTILE<br />

DESIGNER/CAD<br />

artist 3 yrs exp. in<br />

Nedgraphics, great eye<br />

for color & patterns.<br />

Email to<br />

jk7412369@yahoo.com<br />

or fax to 323-233-8200<br />

call 213-627-3737 x278 or 280<br />

to advertise<br />

FREELANCE<br />

Exp'd 1st/Prod. Computerized<br />

Patterns/Marking/<br />

grading service on PAD<br />

SYSTEM. Import specs &<br />

sample making available.<br />

25 yrs. exp. Fast/reliable<br />

Ph. 626-792-4022<br />

ORANGE COUNTY'S<br />

BEST<br />

Designs/Patterns. 1st thru<br />

Prod., Samples, Fittings<br />

Designs, etc., all areas<br />

contemporary Junior &<br />

Missy. Lynn<br />

714-292-0381<br />

FreelancePatternmaker<br />

15 years experience<br />

In-House Or Out<br />

1st thru Production<br />

Samples, Fittings<br />

Call Margaret<br />

8<strong>18</strong>-679-2007<br />

FREELANCE,<br />

20 yrs. exp’s women and<br />

men’s 1st thru production<br />

pattern, import technical<br />

spec package avail. Fast,<br />

accurate, Reliable.<br />

Excell. Refer.<br />

909-856-6922<br />

Pattern Service<br />

Available<br />

35 yrs. exp. 1st through<br />

production patterns,<br />

samples, evening gowns,<br />

denim, sportswear<br />

David 213-814-6944<br />

1ST THRU PROD. PATTERN<br />

MAKER, FREELANCE<br />

Looking for part-time position<br />

in house, 3 or 4 days a week.<br />

Knowledge of specs. 25 yrs<br />

exp. Lrg. size, Missy, Jrs,.<br />

Dresses, Sportswear<br />

& Bottoms 213-948-7110<br />

SALES REPRESENTATIVE<br />

Unitex Int’l a Textile Company with extensive<br />

experience in design and product development .<br />

Specializing in both domestic and imported prints and<br />

novelty knits is looking for an experienced sales person.<br />

In confidence: fax resumes 323-581-5561<br />

“Making Statement” Clothing Company seeks<br />

Sales Assistants for Men’s and Women’s<br />

product. Must be energetic, dynamic, and want<br />

long term success. Duties include maintaining<br />

existing accts. Hourly wage and possible bonus.<br />

Fax resume to: 213.744.1490<br />

POSITION WANTED<br />

DESIGNER, PATTERNMAKER, SAMPLEMAKER<br />

Pattern design and Tech packages service<br />

*25 years experience in fashion industry<br />

*excellent fit and style<br />

*1st through production with Gerber V8<br />

*Tech package for overseas, domestic specs.<br />

*Tel: 562 802 1949 Fax: 562 802 3283<br />

35 Yrs. Exp.<br />

1st thru prod. patterns,<br />

samples, fitting, grading,<br />

sportswear, menswear,<br />

lingerie, Kids, Jr, Missy &<br />

all area. Sketches &<br />

pictures available.<br />

Christin 213-627-9191<br />

EXECUTIVE MNGMNT.<br />

SENIOR DESIGN<br />

MANAGER<br />

~ 10 yrs of exp.<br />

~ Open, established, direct a<br />

Design office in Hong Kong<br />

for thelast 4y<br />

~ Strong understanding of<br />

Design / Directoin /<br />

Technicality<br />

310 854 2601 / Melanie<br />

www.melch.hk<br />

LINES AVAILABLE<br />

MISSY FIT MODEL<br />

10 YEARS<br />

EXPERIENCE<br />

38" 30" 40"<br />

TERRI SPENCER<br />

714-397-5650<br />

FIT MODELS<br />

CLOSE OUTS<br />

ADVERTISE<br />

YOUR<br />

POSITIONS<br />

HERE<br />

ADVERTISE<br />

YOUR<br />

OPPORTUNITIES<br />

HERE<br />

Fantastic Sales Opportunity<br />

Sales Reps for 100% Organic Cotton Tee Shirts<br />

Stocked Warehouse products,<br />

Private Label Available All Territories Open<br />

E-mail ; genes@ecoapparelinc.com<br />

Call Gene @310-704-0735<br />

APPAREL<br />

CLOSEOUTS<br />

WANTED<br />

We buy it all!!<br />

Call Alex or Peter<br />

213-749-7629<br />

mgwebuy@jps.net<br />

THE GREAT 8<br />

freelance<br />

FIT model<br />

15 yrs. exp. /size 8<br />

323-850-8622<br />

ADVERTISE<br />

FOR YOUR<br />

CLOSE OUTS<br />

HERE<br />

To place your classified call<br />

213-627-3737 x278 or 280<br />

OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 1, 2007 CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS 35

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