It’s time for Fall 2019 at the LA Apparel Market. Both the California Market Center and The New Mart opened their doors to buyers, brands and press, hungry for the latest looks and trends.
First stop was the CMC and their relatively new conglomeration of brands they call Label Array. There was a large presence of both showrooms and single brands looking for luck on the 13th floor. This made one-stop shopping for activewear, bags, belts and bikinis. One corner stashed an array of sun-drenched choices including Aloha and their splash proof, tropical print bags, With Love From Paradise activewear, Sail On Honey swimwear, the very well known entity surf brand O’Neil and then DB Imports and their selection of retail lighting fixtures.
There was also a very large number of young and new brands spread across the now pleasantly crowded floor. Vintage 7 is a new shoe brand, launching their spring line in all leather. Lazybones came over from Australia. Famous for their jersey cotton quilts, they now also carry bedding, clothing and accessories in organic cotton. Meanwhile, Sur la Cote brought some pretty items to their second show here.
American Jewel stood out like a bright pink, sweet smelling zeppelin. With a target audience of young and young-at-heart girls (and boys, too), their scented backpacks were so popular that they now make sunglasses, electronic equipment including little audio speakers and even athleisure.
The busy, energized show has also added in-show seminars covering topics such as advice for buyers, how to reach new consumers and running your business smarter.
Across the street and up the stairs to Designers & Agents and the show’s familiar, open arms environment. There, Uniq’uity brought sumptuous Belgian linen, Alpaca throws, pillows and blankets. Artisanal cashmere from Andraab is produced in the northern most reaches of India, in Kashmir. Where else? Employing a weaving process that is over 600 years old on just 60 looms. The company says that once you wear their scarves, you’ll feel the difference immediately. This appears to be quite true.
Fortress of India was and still is at the forefront of sustainable fashion, producing classic silhouettes and paying fair wages to their craftspeople in Peru. They sat close to another Peruvian seller, Huma Blanca. Circolo 1901 creates insanely soft, washable tailored jackets. B Belt is a German family company that’s been making intricately beautiful leather belts since 1899.
The artisanal feel continued with JP and Mattie and their beetroot dyed, dried in the sun, recycled, bohemian clothing. They brought a large quantity of dresses, hand-embroidered shirts, silk scarves from Bali and indigo pieces. At-Choo might be a line that makes only dark black pieces, but the owner and designer is all sunlight. With a good deal of energy and monies flowing to help abandoned dogs in Tijuana, the casual comfy hoodies and tees also include soft and hard elements and stitched on hopeful expressions in Braille. And fan favorite Melissa shoes brought their adorable offerings in PVC including heeled boot styles and Chanel-inspired floral sandals.
All aboard next week for the LA Men’s Market, sweeping into LA to keep the momentum going.
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