Attendees at last week’s apparel industry sourcing show in Las Vegas saw a first: a pavilion devoted to L.A.-area apparel manufacturers.
The pavilion in the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center hosted 11 local companies, mostly textile manufacturers and apparel technology firms. The show, Sourcing at Magic, is part of a huge annual apparel trade show in Las Vegas called Magic. The sourcing show focuses on the apparel manufacturing supply chain.
The aim of the Made in L.A. pavilion was to boost the area’s reputation as a center for apparel manufacturing. The $13 billion local apparel industry includes roughly 10,000 firms and supports about 50,000 manufacturing jobs, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
“L.A. style is casual and low-key, but our manufacturing muscle is anything but,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a press conference announcing the pavilion.
In a separate announcement, Villaraigosa said last week that the city will help put together an online directory of apparel suppliers and manufacturers in Los Angeles.
At least one local apparel manufacturer welcomed the higher profile being given to L.A. companies.
“The pavilion is helping spread the word, not just from the conventiongoers, but also with media attention,” said Daniela Zeltzer, spokeswoman for XCVI LLC in downtown Los Angeles. XCVI’s Trend Chasers subsidiary, which provides design and manufacturing for private labels, was one of the exhibitors. Trend Chaser partner Chris Myers manned the booth.
The first-ever city pavilion comes at a time of increasing public debate over where clothes are produced and under what conditions.
“Customers are starting to ask questions about where clothes are being made, especially older customers,” said Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Association.
But Metchek said the pavilion at the sourcing show was only a step.
“The real goal should be getting a Made in L.A. pavilion on the main floor (at Magic), the one aimed at fashion retailers, and then go on to the trade shows in New York, London and Paris,” she said.
