NEWSPAPER 2ND CLASS $2.99 VOLUME 69, NUMBER 17 April 19–25, 2013 THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY FOR 68 YEARS MADE IN THE AMERICAS New Fashion Incubator Arriving in Downtown Los Angeles By Deborah Belgum Senior Editor Leah Garvin calls herself a fashion anthropologist, but these days she is sounding more like a fashion entrepreneur. After years of working in marketing, sales, video journal- ism and sustainable projects, Garvin is starting a new endeav- or she hopes brings more apparel manufacturing jobs to Los Angeles. In mid-June, the 26-year-old native of Colorado will for- mally launch FactoryLA, a for-profit fashion incubator that will try to help emerging contemporary brands expand while making their clothes in Los Angeles factories where legally documented workers earn a fair wage. “We will be a full-service agency, from concept to custom- er,” said Garvin, who has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Boston University and studied apparel manufacturing ➥ FactoryLA page 3 Company Profile Trashy Lingerie: Making Specialty Lingerie in LA for 40 Years By N. Jayne Seward Fashion Editor Trashy Lingerie is one of Hollywood’s iconic retail destinations—and this year the specialty lingerie store is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The company has dressed everyone from Hollywood’s leading ladies to playmates at the Playboy mansion and provided countless costumes for Halloween soirees. Known for its “members-only” policy, kitschy valet- parking sign, themed window displays and pink storefront on La Cienega Boulevard, Trashy Lingerie has made its mark in more than 500 movies and in the closets of wom- en around the world. “We’ve been here so long, and we’re famous for what we do,” said co-founder Mitch Shrier. “If you know our stuff, it really shows up. You can tell,” Coachella Style ➥ Trashy Lingerie page 6 Coachella Music Festival, the multi-day event that now INSIDE: stretches across two weekends, draws a fashionable Where fashion gets down to business SM crowd to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. For highlights from the scene, page 5. 4 7 Gap’s global plan ... p. 2 LA designers behind the music ... p. 4 Technology ... p. 8 Made in the Americas Resource Guide ... p. 9 TIM REGAS www.apparelnews.net 01,3,6,7.cover.indd 1 4/18/13 6:13:18 PM MADE IN THE AMERICAS Sourcing at MAGIC Adds More American Sourcing Exhibitors, Services Manufacturers, retailers and designers to think domestic first and will be showcas- Russia and the European Union. the show’s matchmaking and personal con- looking to source in America—or in the ing their services at Sourcing at MAGIC in On Aug. 19, Apparel magazine will pres- cierge service. Attendees using the app can Western Hemisphere—will have more re- August,” Sprouse said. ent its seventh annual summit at MAGIC, search exhibitors by product or country and sources at the upcoming Aug. 18–21 run of Sprouse said she is expecting 1,600 ap- which will address issues such as sourcing plan their visit in advance, as well as follow Sourcing at MAGIC in Las Vegas. parel and footwear resources at the show, best practices and supply-chain technology. up after the show. Once again, the U.S. Department of which will be co-located with Sourcing & Last season, Sourcing at MAGIC For more information, visit www.magi- Commerce will partner with the trade show WSA for the first time. launched a mobile app as an added tool to conline.com.—Alison A. Nieder giant for the Americas Pavilion, which will “We’re focused on what the buyers are feature 150 companies from the U.S., Mex- looking for,” Sprouse said, adding that the ico, and Central and South America, includ- co-location of Sourcing@WSA and Sourc- NEWS ing Peru and Colombia, that will increase ing at MAGIC means a 40 percent increase their presence at the show, said Karalynn in footwear resources at the show. The new Sprouse, vice president of MAGIC, Sourc- Home section launched last season for buy- ing at MAGIC/Sourcing@WSA. ers looking for home textiles and décor. Gap Unveils Global Strategies Resources will include contract manufac- In August, the show will also feature a turers, original design manufacturers, and Global Artisan Showcase, featuring gifts Gap Inc. is serious about becoming the top globe, particularly in opening Gap stores in suppliers of fabrics and components. and handicrafts available for sale in small apparel company in the world. China and Old Navy stores in Japan. It also “We are continuing to see demand from quantities. Gap Chairman and Chief Executive Offi- will open two Gap stores in São Paulo later this many U.S. brands and retailers for products And in addition to the Americas Pavilion, cer Glenn Murphy and the retailer’s other top year and is scouting opportunities for stores in ‘Made in the USA’ and for sourcing in the this year’s focus country is India, which will executives gave presentations on Gap’s plans India. Also on the horizon are more interna- Western Hemisphere,” said Kim Glas, dep- feature more than 150 resources for apparel, to extend its reach around the globe. The pre- tional outlet stores. uty assistant secretary for textiles and ap- footwear, accessories and home textiles, sentation was given to Wall Street analysts at Gap Inc. also guaranteed that it will of- parel. “We are pleased to say that the num- Sprouse said. the company’s San Francisco headquarters on fer omnichannel shopping around the world. ber of manufacturing facilities in operation For the first time, Sourcing at MAGIC April 17. Omnichannel bundles and blends all shopping within the United States continues to grow. will launch a special invitation-only seminar Murphy stated the company is emerging channels, ranging from traditional bricks and In addition, our Western Hemisphere part- series called Executive Suite. Among the from its pre-2007 strategy, in which it was pri- mortar to increasingly popular mobile shop- ners continue to build their expertise, mak- seminar topics is retailing in China, “which, marily concerned with its domestic business. ping. ing it a perfect fit for fast-fashion retailers of course, everyone is talking about,” Murphy joined Gap as the retail giant’s “Over the next five years, key to our contin- and brands.” Sprouse said. leader in 2007, and in the past five years, Gap ued success will be pushing the envelope fur- In addition to returning exhibitors—in- Sponsored by Price Waterhouse Coo- Inc. built the infrastructure to be a nimble com- ther to make shopping seamless to customers cluding American Apparel, Trend Chas- pers and presented by Damon Paling, the petitor around the globe. “We are entering a through our digital strategy,” Murphy said. ers and Brooks Brothers—the show will “Retailing in China” seminar will address period of global growth,” Murphy said. Gap Inc. also owns emerging brands such feature new exhibitor Maker’s Row, an on- issues such as “benchmarking your cross- Gap Inc. recently reorganized its sales chan- as women’s activewear retailer Athleta, con- line marketplace for American manufactur- border supply-chain efficiency” and the nels and divisions so there will be one global temporary online boutique Piperlime and ing and small businesses looking to produce regulatory outlook for China. leader each for Gap as well as Banana Re- contemporary boutique chain Intermix. It will domestically. The NPD Group’s Marshal Cohen will public and Old Navy, its other brands, which, continue to look for ways to develop North “They will be a great resource partner also present a seminar on globalism and Murphy said, are considered classic American American business for its emerging brands, with their established business members, consumer behavior. And the Otto Group fashion lines around the world. Responsibili- according to a Gap Inc. statement. and, by equal importance, they are inspiring will present a seminar for brands looking ties for sales outside of the United States were Gap is not the only retailer to set its sights the next generation of American businesses to expand internationally in markets such as formerly handled by a division called Interna- on world domination. In February, Tadashi tional. Yanai, the chairman, president and chief ex- Gap will increase its commitment to build ecutive officer of Fast Retailing, the parent franchise stores with retail partners across the company to Japanese retailer Uniqlo and Los Angeles denim line J Brand, announced ag- gressive expansion plans. “We will also create a framework to facilitate the opening of 200 to 300 large-format stores worldwide each year,” New VP for he said.—Andrew Asch Arden B Tamara Chamberlain started her new job, leading Wet Seal Inc.’s long-suffering Arden Quiksilver Names B division, on April 15. Chamberlain’s new title will be vice presi- New Retail Exec dent, general merchandise manager for Ar- den B. She previously worked as the general Another former Disney executive was hired merchandise manager for contemporary mall by surf giant Quiksilver Inc. retailer Bebe Stores Inc. since October 2012 Steve Finney joined Quiksilver as senior and also worked as divisional merchandise vice president and general manager of con- manager for Bebe since February 2011, ac- sumer direct for its Americas division. Finney cording to Chamberlain’s LinkedIn entry. formerly served as senior vice president of Chamberlain replaced Sharon Hughes, who global business development for retail at Dis- worked as president and chief merchandise of- ney Consumer Products. ficer for Arden B since November 2009, ac- He follows Andy Mooney, former Dis- cording to media reports. Hughes resigned to ney Consumer Products chairman, who was pursue other opportunities, a Wet Seal state- named president and chief executive of the ment said.