The True Meaning of "Made in LA" for Modern Fashion Labels Today
In the heart of California, Los Angeles (LA) has emerged as a leading fashion capital, blending creativity, innovation, and sustainability to create a unique fashion ecosystem. This transformation is due to several interconnected factors that have placed LA at the forefront of the global fashion industry.
First and foremost, the city's historic Garment District remains a central hub for garment manufacturing. Known for its recent leadership in inclusivity movements, such as plus-size fashion, the district supports innovative patternmaking and production processes that cater to underserved markets. This commitment to inclusivity reinforces LA's reputation as a cutting-edge, inclusive fashion center[1].
LA's fashion scene benefits from a broad mix of cultural influences. Areas like Fairfax Boulevard have become global trendsetting destinations, especially for streetwear. The rise of influential streetwear brands such as Supreme, The Hundreds, and Crooks & Castles helped turn LA into a worldwide street fashion epicenter. This mix of skate, hip-hop, and urban cultures shapes a unique and widely embraced style aesthetic[3].
Despite challenges such as declining employment in manufacturing and wholesale, rising wages, and housing issues, LA continues to have a concentrated fashion economy including designers, manufacturers, and retailers. These layers allow for quick production turnaround and the ability to respond fast to trends, a factor crucial for global fashion relevance[5].
LA's fashion influence extends beyond style to include sustainability and ethical manufacturing, appealing to a modern consumer base looking for environmental and social responsibility in fashion products[2]. The Evans Group, a company that helps fashion brands turn their ideas into tangible collections, operates under the Made in LA umbrella. By handling every part of the fashion production cycle in-house, The Evans Group is committed to the highest standards of quality, ethics, and collaboration[4].
Choosing to manufacture in Los Angeles is often a values-driven decision, supporting ethical fashion, reinvesting in the local economy, and embracing a more responsible way to build a brand. This commitment to sustainability is reflected in the small batch manufacturing approach, which allows brands to test, refine, and iterate without compromising quality. Sustainability is also a key aspect of manufacturing in Los Angeles, reducing the environmental footprint through local production, closer oversight, and reduced waste[6].
Brands working with manufacturers like The Evans Group can launch with low minimums and scale production gradually, providing them with the flexibility they need to grow. This approach has earned positive feedback from emerging designers who've launched their brands with their help[7]. At The Evans Group, we create year-round jobs for skilled garment workers and provide a supportive, stable environment.
In conclusion, Los Angeles's status as a global fashion hub is grounded in its historic and ongoing garment manufacturing capabilities, innovative approach to inclusive fashion, dynamic cultural fashion scenes (notably streetwear), and a complex but resilient economic fashion ecosystem. This combination makes LA both a place of fashion production and cultural trendsetting on the world stage, attracting talent across the fashion spectrum, from streetwear icons to luxury designers.
- The historic Garment District in Los Angeles, known for its inclusive pattern making and production processes, continues to serve as a central hub for manufacturing, particularly with a focus on underserved markets like plus-size fashion.
- Ethical manufacturing and sustainability are integral to Los Angeles's fashion scene, catering to the growing number of consumers who prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their fashion choices.
- Companies, such as The Evans Group, handle every aspect of the fashion production cycle in-house, adhering to the highest standards of quality, ethics, and collaboration, all while operating under the Made in LA umbrella.
- By employing a small batch manufacturing approach, fashion brands can test, refine, and iterate without compromising quality, allowing them to grow their brands while minimizing their environmental footprint.
- The fashion industry in Los Angeles consists of various layers, including designers, manufacturers, and retailers, enabling quick production turnaround and the ability to respond efficiently to changing trends.
- Los Angeles also benefits from a diverse cultural mix, with global trendsetting destinations like Fairfax Boulevard, contributing to the city's unique and widely embraced streetwear style.
- The Evans Group's commitment to sustainability goes beyond the fashion products they help create, providing year-round jobs for skilled garment workers in a supportive and stable environment, contributing positively to the local economy.
