Change in the Fashion District
by Larissa Puro
At 5 p.m., most shops, showrooms and offices close their doors for the day in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Some closed for good this year, like so many other businesses in the nation. As the feeble rays of monetary hope begin to poke through the gloom, however, the Los Angeles Fashion District has emerged, not unscathed, but posed for a promising future, said Kent Smith, executive director of the Fashion District’s business improvement district—or BID.
“[There is] No question that the economic downturn has impacted many of the businesses in our district,” Smith said. “In particular, the higher end of the market was probably most severely impacted.”
Although the district’s vacancy rates are the highest they’ve been in approximately 20 years, retailers and wholesalers are finding success in changing with the times and responding to their customer’s needs, he said.
“I think what we’re seeing in clothing, [which] isn’t much different from other businesses or industry, is the return to value,” he said. “People are looking for affordable, quality merchandise.” The juniors department—which involves retailers like Forever 21 and Aeropostale— is faring the best, while higher-end places like Bloomingdales and Saks are struggling more, he said.
As retail sales recover, the L.A. Fashion District has shown it’s value to the inexpensive, but fashion-forward women’s clothing market. “In L.A., we really excel at the modestly priced contemporary women’s fashion,” Smith said. With this kind of clothing in high demand now, the district’s businesses could see some real opportunities within the next few years, he added, saying that the city is poised to do better than other market centers like New York and Paris.
"I think what we're seeing now...
is a return to value"
The BID, a management organization that was formed by the property owners in the district, has transformed the area since its 1996 formation. Smith became the executive director in 1999.
The district, once 56 blocks, now spans 100 blocks in downtown Los Angeles, making it the largest fashion district “anywhere,” Smith said. Part of its success as a fashion hub is due to its textile area, which helps attract fashion designers.
The district started off as mainly family dwellings and vineyards, as the 20th century arrived, it was home to printing and automotive businesses, Smith said. Garments became the major business after World War II, when many of the G.I.s arrived in Los Angeles, bringing their knowledge of the apparel business with them from New York. The district used to be largely focused on beachwear but has since expanded to all niches of the fashion industry.
Today, the BID is focused on making the area inviting to shoppers in the area.
“We continue to see the area become more and more a mixed use area and despite the difficult times we had [the ability to launch several new projects],” Smith said, calling the district “a real emerging neighborhood.”
“I think as Downtown becomes much more of a real community, we're going to se more and more of our retail...move towards serving the local population,” he said.
Contact Larissa Puro: puro@usc.edu