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company Juan Carlos Obando |
Juan Carlos Obando, designer An amazing storyteller with brand vision, commercial sensibility, and a genuine love for fashion, Juan Carlos Obando credits the iconic images of the late photographic legend Helmut Newton and the air of mystery created by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock as the two major influences in his creative career.A native of Baranquilla, Colombia, Obando began his professional visual communications journey in Miami. Obando quickly transformed himself from a design student at the University of Miami into one of the most highly sought-after creative directors. Obando worked with advertising powerhouses such as Bates Worldwide, Young & Rubicam, and Saatchi & Saatchi, creating "modern eye candy" for global brands such as BMW, Perrier, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal Paris and entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. As part of his innate ability to sell the idea of beauty and make it desirable, Obando created the "Let imagination run your life," ad campaign for Toyota, which aired to much acclaim during Super Bowl XXXVI. In the fall of 2004, Juan Carlos Obando launched his privately-held fashion company, Bureau Beauté, Inc., which houses the Juan Carlos Obando Label, debuting to much acclaim during L.A Fashion Week. "The creation of the Juan Carlos Obando label - from conceptualization, image, business development, garment design to material selection ˆ is the culmination of all the skills I have acquired throughout my career. The Juan Carlos Obando collection will channel all my ideas through the concept of a single brand." |
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company Jasmin Shokrian |
Jasmin Shokrian, designer From an early age, Jasmin Shokrian has been immersed in the pleasures of handcrafted clothing and in the gratification inherent in the philosophy of fashion as art. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she counts her mother, an impeccable tailor trained in Iran, as an initial and major influence. Traveling and living in various countries as a child, Shokrian eventually channeled the gift of her artistic and culturally rich upbringing into a career in various creative medias. Forgoing an invitation to RISD for a fashion degree, she opted instead for The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating with a BFA in film, painting and sculpture. Soon after, Shokrian founded a collective with several other Chicago artists, exploring three-dimensional sculpture, often using fabric as a medium. Shokrian’s fascination with fashion, however, persisted. Her passion would find a fertile outlet in a burgeoning career as a sought after stylist working in both fashion and interiors. Finding herself overwhelmed with personal requests for one of-a-kind pieces, she finally decided to turn her full focus to Jasmin Shokrian, The Collection. Shokrian envisions her clothes relative to the environment and styles them from a photographic point of view — silhouettes of muted colors on architectural structures and sophisticated design concepts fused with simplicity. |
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company Rami Kashou |
Rami Kashou, designer In 1996 Rami Kashou left his hometown of Ramallah for the U.S. in pursuit of his childhood dream to one day become a fashion designer. Studies in fashion and work in retail eventually lead him to a buying and merchandising position at a well known boutique in Los Angeles. Buying trips to Europe and rigorous de-construction and recreation of vintage pieces provided the educational foundation for his later design work. Now a seasoned veteran of runway presentations, Rami Kashou has staged some of the most memorable shows of LA Fashion Week. In addition to several seasons at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, Rami was honored with the GenArt Alumni sponsorship to showcase his collection in the tents of Bryant Park for Spring 2003. With rave reviews and covers of WWD and the Los Angeles Times, Rami Kashou has shown his devotion and passion for innovative design and as a result has become one of the most coveted runway shows to attend in Los Angeles. Known for his dramatic red carpet gowns, Rami Kashou has draped the silhouettes of celebrities and trendsetters such as Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, Portia De Rossi, Fergie, Amy Smart, Lucy Lui, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Penelope Cruz and Shiva Rose, to name a few. His designs have been seen on the pages of In Style, Flaunt, Vogue, Lucky, Elle, Angeleno, Interview, People and Us Weekly. |
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company BCBGMAXAZRIA |
Max Azria, CEO; Kristen Dykstra, SVP Marketing Continuously reinforcing its position in the market, BCBGMAXAZRIA creates a critically acclaimed, highly sophisticated advertising campaign each season using top models, fashion photographers, and stylists. The innovative campaigns grace the pages of major fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment magazines throughout the world, as well as billboards and bus shelters in major cities across the globe. Perpetually gaining recognition for outstanding style, the collections are consistently awarded editorial support from major fashion publications worldwide. They can also be spotted regularly on top television shows including "The OC," "Desperate Housewives," and "Entourage” while celebrities including Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rachel Bilson and Hillary Duff have claimed that BCBGMAXAZRIA and MaxAzria are staples in their wardrobe. Always at the forefront of modern marketing, BCBGMAXAZRIA launched www.bcbg.com, a state-of-the-art fashion website, in Spring 1997, followed by www.maxazria.com in 2006 featuring the higher end MaxAzria collection. |
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company GUESS by Marciano |
Paul Marciano, co-founder & chief marketing officer “We at GUESS are committed to being a worldwide leader in the fashion industry. We will deliver products and services of uncompromised quality and integrity consistent with our brand and our image. We are committed to listening and responding to the needs of our Customers, Associates and Business Partners and honor their individual value. We are dedicated to personal and professional enrichment through an environment of Open Communication, Creativity, Teamwork, Trust and Respect. We continue to give back to the community, support humanity and protect the environment as part of our responsibility. We remain committed to an entrepreneurial spirit that fuels the growth of our Company and achieves increased shareholder value. Through principled leadership, we will embrace diversity, cultivate strength, pride and passion to align our personal life and our professional life.” |
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company Kitson |
Fraser Ross, owner Kitson, on hip Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, may be only 6 years old but it has already become the favorite stop for many celebrities and the who's who in Hollywood. Kitson believes that shopping should be fun!! Our team of buyers are always on the hunt to find the hottest and newest trends. Don't try to call them as they are always on the go - traveling constantly between New York, Los Angeles and Europe to stay one step ahead of the competition.One trip to Kitson and you will be hooked. Looking for the hottest handbag? It's here. Got to have that necklace you saw in US Magazine? It's here. Where did Britney get that t-shirt? Yep at Kitson.The store has become so busy that we have expanded to help serve you better. With double the space we will be able to give you more of the great stuff you have come to expect from Kitson. Kitson has just opened Kitson Kids across the street and the store is filled with all the hottest new lines for babies and toddlers.Our website can only show you a few of the great things for sale at Kitson. For the full experience you will have to come in and visit the next time you are in La La Land. |
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company l.a.Eyeworks |
Gai Gherardi & Barbara McReynolds, owners & designers l.a.Eyeworks has been creating original, invigorating eyeglasses since 1979. Completely designed by co-owners Gai Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds, l.a.Eyeworks iconoclastic glasses have changed the way people think about eyewear. The designers have also redefined those perceptions with trademark humor, and politically charged messages that encourage clients to select frames that enhance the individual. l.a.Eyeworks frames and company culture infiltrate the popular culture landscape in seminal imagery from a gigantic Chuck Close self-portrait to appearing in “Blade Runner.” From championing modern architecture for their retail stores, creating marketing imagery ranging from the iconic “Great Face” campaign to subversive window displays, l.a.Eyeworks always seeks to challenge and provoke. |
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company American Rag Compagnie |
Mark Werts, founder & CEO American Rag Compagnie is a mainstay of California culture, and it has been recognized as one if the most innovative and trend setting retailers in the United States. Founder, Mark Werts, and his buying team travel the the world in pursuit of unique and exclusive merchandise to fill the American Rag stores. American Rag Compagnie first opened its doors in San Francisco in 1984, followed in 1985 by the opening of the Los Angeles store. In 2006 American Rag Compagnie opened its third store in Newport Beach and the World Denim Bar adjacent to the original Los Angeles store. For 23 years American Rag Compagnie has been the favored shopping destination of musicians, actors, designers, and anyone who loves style. An eclectic mix of top designer clothing and rare vintage pieces make the American Rag Compagnie stores stand out amongst the rest. |
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company Fred Segal |
Fred Segal, founder; Michael Segal, CEO FRED SEGAL is a lifestyle. FRED SEGAL is a philosophy. FRED SEGAL is a reconstruction of the art and economics of retailing. FRED SEGAL is synonymous with what’s hip, trendy and essential in fashion. It’s founder, Fred Segal, provided inspiration for the creation of the fashion jeans industry and is a successful entrepreneur whose personal and professional history mirrors the bold emergence of Los Angeles as a world capital over the last four decades. In 1958, Fred Segal began operations in a 700 sq. ft. retail space on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. As the owner, designer, merchandiser, window trimmer and buyer, he had a vision of updated casual sportswear for men and women that coincided with the unprecedented demands of the new and revolutionary decade that was about to happen. Before long, the wild success of his line of fashionable denim casual wear led him to the creation of a more specialized concept. Taking a 300 sq ft. space at the corner of Melrose and Crescent Heights, Fred Segal initiated the retail phenomenon we know today. Based on the concept of specialization and ownership empowerment, he invited key employees to purchase Fred Segal stores in their area of expertise, eventually amassing a home grown emporium of progressive West Coast style with more than 40 individual store owners. Ron Herman, winner of the the Fashion Retailer of the Year Award at the LA Fashion Awards in 2005, is among them. The Melrose location has grown to 28,000 sq ft. The 58,000 sq ft Santa Monica location opened in 1985 in a former ice-skating rink. |
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company Lisa Kline |
Lisa Kline, owner In August 1995, Lisa Kline opened her first eponymous women’s boutique in Los Angeles at the young age of 25. At that time, 136 South Robertson Boulevard was surrounded by carpet and kitchen stores, yet Kline’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to set up shop there, single-handedly establishing what would become the ultimate Los Angeles shopping and fashion destination. This year she celebrates eleven years of continued success as a retail pioneer, cultivator of emerging designers and ahead-of-the-trends style expert. Throughout her life, Lisa Kline was the girl friends and strangers alike were always stopping and asking, “What are you wearing? Where did you get that? I have to have it too!” It is a surprise to no one then that today Lisa Kline’s company extends beyond the women’s boutique to include two men’s stores, a thriving online business and Fall 2006 expansion plans for a Beverly Hills women’s location as well as a children’s haven on Robertson. In 2008 the Lisa Kline retail empire will head South, with men’s, women’s and children’s stores slated to open in Newport Beach. |
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company The Way We Wore |
Doris Raymond, owner The world's leading fashion and accessory designers share one priceless trade secret - Doris Raymond. For almost two decades, this vintage fashion specialist has been available to insiders by private appointment, quietly providing superb clothing, accessories and inspiration from her warehouse in San Francisco. After many successful years in Northern California, Doris moved her operation to Los Angeles with her La Brea store, The Way We Wore. Raymond feels that Los Angeles, with its spirited designers, eclectic styles and Hollywood glamour, is the center of the universe for fashion and style trends. Her new boutique has served to feed L.A.'s fashion appetite, including numerous stylists and celebrities. The boutique features treasures spanning the entire 20th century and includes racks of rare European couture pieces, including Chanel, Vionnet, Fortuny and a hat/scarf by the artist Sonia Delaunay. American designers Bill Blass, Bonnie Cashin, Claire McCardell, Norman Norell, Rudi Gernreich and Pauline Trigere are just a few of the labels among the vast and important collection. Next door is a designer's inspiration hideaway with a costume reference library filled with 17th to 20th century swatch books, textiles, trims and accessories. Lucky visitors would be guided through an archival treasure trove spanning decades, including ethnic costumes. Over the years, her inventory has been exhibited in museums throughout the country. Currently a Poiret opera coat is on exhibit at the Met. |
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company 7 for all mankind |
Tim Kaeding, 7 for all mankind The mastermind behind luxury denim company 7 for all Mankind, Tim Kaeding is deeply rooted in the growth of premium denim. Raised in the “Windy City” of Chicago, Tim headed north to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his BS in Design then headed to New York City’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology to continue studies in fashion. In 1995, Tim ventured out on his own and started the “Timothy Kaeding” label for women. Specializing in hand-tailored shirts, pants, and jackets, Tim quickly made a name for himself in the New York fashion scene. After building a small business from the bottom up, Tim wanted to try his hand at one of the largest denim companies in the world. Beginning in 1996, Tim headed up the women’s denim division of The Gap. This allowed him to travel the world working with the best laundries, the finest mills, and paramount fabrics. Not only had Tim built a name for himself in design, he was rapidly becoming known throughout the fashion world as a true player in denim. In the winter of 2002, Los Angeles based luxury denim brand 7 for all Mankind began looking for a Design Director. After hearing the buzz on Tim’s work, owner Peter Koral brought him on board and the rest, as they say, is history. |
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company GoldSign |
Adrian Goldschmied, GoldSign It all began in 1970 in the Dolomites region of the Italian Alps with the opening of Adriano Goldschmied’s “The King Shop” in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the most stylish and luxurious ski resort in Europe. News spread quickly of the innovative designs and unique treatment of denim, and soon retailers were visiting Cortina for the sole purpose of procuring Adriano’s distinctive clothing. Within two years Adriano launched King Jeans, which changed the way denim was viewed by the elitist citizens of the fashion world. Famous for using elaborate fabrics, wild colors, and a modern slim fit, King Jeans quickly spread to stores all over the world. Adriano followed with the launch of Daily Blue, thus crafting the first pair of custom designer jeans. From the late 70’s until 1986 Adriano led “The Genius Group,” a think tank known for creating successful brands and partnerships such as Diesel, Replay, Goldie, Martin Guy, Bobo Kaminski, and Ten Big Boys. The Genius Group evolved into Team Kit in 1986, where Adriano and his team packaged design and marketing programs for clients including GAP, Mavi, DKNY Jeans, Big Star, Esprit, Pepe Jeans, and Trussardi Jeans. Based on the exceptional results Adriano shared with his clients, he chose to return to his roots as an inventor and entrepreneur. He shifted his attention to the American market, to tackle volume potential without sacrificing quality. Through a partnership with Ron Herman, “A Gold E” was launched in Los Angeles in 1993. Many consider this the start of premium denim in America. Three years later, the Adriano Golschmied Women’s Collection was beta–tested in Japan. Limited U.S. and European rollouts followed. The potential for growth was undeniable, and all indicators pointed to the American market. So Adriano, his wife, and three daughters left Italy and relocated permanently to Los Angeles. Distribution and brand recognition grew rapidly, and a men’s line was launched in the spring of 2002. In 2005, fusing his high fashion, glamour, and streetwear knowledge, Adriano created GoldSign — a collection where luxury meets detail. Reaching and surpassing the expectations of today’s most sophisticated consumers, GoldSign’s collections are sold in high-end designer boutiques such as Biffi Milan, Dover Street Market London, Estnation Tokyo, and Podium Moscow, as well as in top tier U.S. retailers such as Barney’s Los Angeles and Jeffrey’s New York. |
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company J Brand |
Jeff Rudes & Susie Crippen, J Brand Co-founded by denim manufacturer Jeff Rudes and stylist Susie Crippen, J Brand has earned the position as a top fashion jean in premium denim. The two set out to create classic and sophisticated jeans with the emphasis on fit, while holding to one mandate: no excess hardware or embellishments. Paying careful attention to details and clean, dark finishes, together they have created a combination of sexiness, style and comfort in women’s jeans. “It’s all about a woman looking beautiful in her jeans, not the jeans drawing attention to her,” says Susie. |
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company Oligo Tissew |
Kristopher & Amy Enuke, Oligo Tissew Nigerian born, English educated, and raised in Los Angeles, Kristopher Enuke has an eclectic background that he and his wife Amy interpret through the line Oligo Tissew or “refined cloth.” Held by the parent company Oliver Twist, Oligo Tissew reflects that multi-cultural mix of Los Angeles in its designs. Kristopher retains “LA cool” in the line while still letting a bit of English eccentricity emerge. And he admits his main intent is to make the wearer of his clothing feel sexy. The result is a celebration of classic elegance and ethnicity that has a distinct Angeleno air to it. Kristopher pays passionate attention to detail and fit while inventing the clothing. Before designing for Oligo Tissew, Kristopher attended Otis Parsons where he earned a BFA in Fashion Design. He has also worked with a variety of companies, from denim to knitwear, which rounded out his education in textiles and production. Oligo Tissew represents Kristopher’s passion for design and is also his way of giving back. He has set up a scholarship fund in his hometown in Nigeria to help ensure the salaries of school teachers, so that village children can improve their futures. |
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company Paige Premium Denim |
Paige Adams-Geller, Paige Premium Denim Paige Adams-Geller established a name for herself as the most requested fit model for the hottest denim brands. After a decade of behind-the-seams experience, she established her name again—this time as brand itself. Paige premium denim debuted in February 2005 and is now a top-selling denim line that represents the ideology, insight, and innovation of the designer. Since the launch of her brand, Paige has been named “Most Influential” in fashion by Los Angeles magazine, Glamour magazine named her one of “24 Women to Watch”, InStyle magazine named Paige jeans “Best All Around”, and Cosmopolitan magazine is honoring Paige with their “Fun, Fearless, Female” award this fall. Paige designs ultra-feminine pieces that are tailor-fit to elongate the legs, lift the derriere, and slenderize hips and thighs. When conceiving the line, each detail was designed with sophistication and purpose — such as the credit-card-sized pocket discreetly sewn into the five-pocket classic. Paige now channels her insight into Paige premium denim, Paige Maternity, Paige jeans for men, Paige Petites, Paige Kids, and the recently launched line of Paige tops. Most of Adams-Geller’s designs are available at her Robertson Boulevard flagship store, which attracts a host of Hollywood’s top fashionistas. |
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