NEWSPAPER 2ND CLASS $2.99 VOLUME 74, NUMBER 9 MARCH 2–8, 2018 THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY FOR 73 YEARS The Big Issue of Microfibers in AB 2379 By Dorothy Crouch Associate Editor Last month, state Assembly member Richard Bloom intro- duced Assembly Bill 2379 to the California State Legislature. The bill would require manufacturers of clothing that comprises more than 50 percent polyester to include a label recommend- ing consumers bypass the washing machine and handwash these items instead. It is Bloom’s hope that spelling out these instructions will lead to increased consumer awareness of the potential environ- mental threats he says occur from synthetic microfiber shed- ding. “Some of the [bill] advocates think that we should be mov- ing toward more draconian solutions, like banning synthetic clothing. Those would have greater consequences that don’t make sense,” said the Democrat, whose district office is head- quartered in Santa Monica. “We need to become more aware, continue the research and take reasonable steps to reduce the amount of microfibers in our aquifers and go where the re- ➥ Assembly Bill 2379 page 3 New Owners of American Apparel Set Goal to Double Sales This Year By Deborah Belgum Executive Editor It has only been a little more than one year since Gil- dan Activewear acquired the intellectual-property rights of American Apparel, the decades-old Los Angeles apparel company that twice declared bankruptcy in a little more than one year. At its peak, American Apparel’s revenues climbed to nearly $634 million in 2013 before the long descent of the company founded by Dov Charney in 1989. Gildan took formal control of American Apparel in Feb- ruary 2017 and had a little more than one month to ramp up new production and then get the label in front of wholesalers and consumers again. In that first year, Gildan took in $50 million in sales. This year, the goal is to double sales to $100 million. Key to boosting revenues is the marketing team, which is located in Los Angeles even though Gildan is headquartered MEDIEVAL TIMES ➥ American Apparel page 3 7 INSIDE: Fernando Alberto was one of several Where fashion gets down to business SM designers who showed during New York Fashion Week. For more looks, see page 6. 7 8 Agenda names new executive ... p. 2 Bachrach stores close ... p. 3 Gap earnings up ... p. 4 MR Magazine sold ... p. 9 Resource Guide ... p. 9 ARUN NEVADER/GETTY IMAGES www.apparelnews.net 01,3.cover.indd 1 3/1/18 5:31 PM NEWS Agenda Names Former Nike Executive to Helm the Show Reed Exhibitions named Ron Walden most recently worked the perfect person to carry my vision and leg- the prominent West Coast trade show for Walden as its group vice presi- as a Los Angeles–headquartered acy alongside our talented team,” Levant said. action-sports brands to exhibit. Agenda runs dent and head of the trade-show senior sales director for Nike. He “Ron has been both a friend and colleague. biannual shows in Long Beach, Calif., and giant’s fashion and festival port- also worked as a vice president I’m honored to have him continue to lead the Las Vegas. folio. of sales for the MAGIC trade group I’ve built at [Reed] with his deep under- In 2016, Levant got into the consumer Walden will run five of Reed show, according to his LinkedIn standing of culture, brands and retail.” business when he introduced ComplexCon. Exhibitions’ events, which in- profile. He is scheduled to start Walden said he planned to continue Agen- The show produced pop-up style retail from clude Agenda, Agenda Festival his new job on March 19 at the da’s spirit of innovation. “I’m excited for the high-end sneaker brands such as Adidas and and ComplexCon. Agenda offices located in the opportunity to connect the dots, building pro- Nike as well as from emerging brands. The announcement comes California Market Center in gressive platforms, pushing boundaries and Levant said that 50,000 people attended more than a month after Agenda downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion disrupting our industry’s norm,” he said. ComplexCon’s sophomore event in 2017 founder Aaron Levant announced Ron Walden District. Agenda started in 2003 as a small, inde- at the Long Beach Convention Center in he was leaving to pursue other In a statement, Levant said pendent trade show for streetwear brands. Long Beach, Calif. In July 2017, he produced entrepreneurial ventures. Levant ran his last that Walden will bring a smooth transition to The trade show grew as the popularity of a consumer day at Agenda, called Agenda Agenda show in February in Las Vegas. Reed an organization that Levant has led since its streetwear expanded. Festival, which offered hip-hop and rock acts Exhibitions said Levant will serve as a consul- founding 13 years ago. “I’ve known Ron for When Agenda’s chief rival, Action Sports along with art galleries, food trucks and pop- tant to the Agenda show. more than 10 years, and I’m confident he is Retailer, shuttered in 2010, Agenda became up-style retail.—Andrew Asch New Logo for Los Angeles Fashion District Times are no doubt changing in the Los An- “We spent the last six to eight months creating and architectural history. All those things went into the logo.” geles Fashion District, and with this shift the a brand and communication strategy for the “They [the designers] really captured Developing a new look for the logo wasn’t LA Fashion District Business Improvement district. What we wanted to pinpoint and high- what you see and feel when you walk into only a decision by a few people within the or- District (BID) has changed its logo. As the light is that the district is changing.” this district—colors and vibrancy,” Masten ganization’s office. The new logo was an effort neighborhood continues to de- Redesigning the logo Leddy explained. “The historical nature of among the district’s stakeholders, who are the velop into an area accommo- wasn’t simply a matter of what is in the neighborhood and culture. The property owners in the area and who fund the dating new hotel properties, developing a new design for architectural historic buildings in the area. operations.—Dorothy Crouch providing modern residential the organization. Considering spaces to prospective tenants all the characteristics found and offering an extensive, en- within Los Angeles’ Fashion viable selection of culinary op- District, the designers fo- Boardriders Chief to Be Eulogized tions, the organization sought cused on the impressions that to refresh its own image to bet- are felt when visitors travel With Three Paddle-Outs ter serve the area it represents. into the area. Though the new The life of Pierre Agnes, chief executive coast guard and his friends combed the seas “We’ve been talking about developments are an exciting officer of surfwear company Boardriders for the 54-year-old executive, but the search it for a while,” said Rena Masten Leddy, execu- sign of the area’s future, it was also impor- Inc., will be memorialized with a number of was called off a few days later. Dave Tanner, tive director of the LA Fashion District BID. tant to think about the community’s cultural paddle-outs at sea. the new chief executive officer of Boardrid- In a paddle-out, surfers ers Inc., encouraged surf- remember friends by pad- ers to join the paddle-out. dling out into the ocean, “Pierre loved the beauty straddling their boards and of the ocean and lived his linking hands to honor a life on the water as a surfer friend’s memory. and waterman. There is Agnes will be remem- no more fitting way for bered by paddle-outs on us to celebrate and honor three continents. A paddle- Pierre’s life than with a out near the Quiksilver STEELE paddle-out. We welcome Pro Gold Coast event off Pierre Agnes, left, with Quiksilver all who knew and loved founder Bob McKnight at Surf of Queensland, Australia, Summit convention in Los Cabos, Pierre to join us and re- is scheduled for March 13. Mexico, in 2016 member a man taken too Another paddle-out by the soon,” Tanner said in a Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, statement. Calif., is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on March 16. Tanner helped guide Boardriders’ prede- A third paddle-out off the southwest coast of cessor, Quiksilver Inc., through Chapter 11 France, where Agnes was lost at sea, is sched- bankruptcy filed in 2015. In March 2017, a uled for later this spring. year after emerging from bankruptcy, Quiksil- Agnes is believed to have disappeared ver officially changed its moniker to Boardrid- after his boat was found washed up near ers Inc. It is the parent company of the brands Hossegor, France, on Jan. 30. The French Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes.—A.A. Tax Survey Finds More Consumers Will Save Their Refund The savings from the recently passed fed- holiday seasons.” eral tax relief bill won’t necessarily turn into For those spending their refund money, retail sales this year. 22 percent will finance “everyday expenses.” According to an annual tax-refund survey About 12 percent will use their money for by the National Retail Federation and Pros- a vacation; 10 percent will use it for dining per Insights & Analytics, 49 percent of those out, spa trips or for shopping for fashion; 9 getting a tax refund will place that money into percent will spend for home improvements; their savings accounts.