A Small Glimpse into the Wild Success of L.A. Sweatshops

As American as apple pie and embarrassment, sweatshop-made clothing has been a reality in the City of Angels for decades.

- What is a sweatshop?
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, a sweatshop is “a shop or factory in which employees work for long hours at low wages and under unhealthy conditions.”

The Garment Worker Center in Los Angeles more specifically defines a sweatshop as “a workplace where workers are subject to extreme exploitation, including the absence of a living wage or benefits, poor working conditions, such as health and safety hazards, and arbitrary discipline.”

- How many sweatshops are really in L.A.?
In a 1995 New York Times article titled “Los Angeles Sweatshops are Thriving”, The Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles reported that out of 120,000 garment industry workers, up to 20,000 worked in sweatshop conditions.

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There are many reasons us LA gals throw on flip flops year round. They’re easy and comfy and we’re a casual city. Our weather is so good that we can sport Havaianas eleven months out of the year. So, why shouldn’t we?

Well, aside from the fact that non-stop flip flop wearing is boring and tired, new studies show that constantly wearing your flops can cause health problems. According to LiveScience.com, researchers at Auburn University found that the motion of walking in flip flops “stretches the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs from heel to toe, causing inflammation, pain along the sole, heel spurs and tired feet in general.” The researchers also found that flip flop wearers “altered their gait, taking shorter strides and turning their ankles inward, likely to keep the flip-flop from falling off.” This can cause long-term ankle and hip problems. ABC news quotes, Dr Rock Positano, podiatrist at New York’s hospital for special surgery, as saying that “flip-flops have single-handedly caused more problems with people’s feet in the last couple of years than probably any other type of shoe.” The doctor equated the wearing of flip-flops as being “no better than walking on a rubber band.” Teva wearers everywhere are saying “I told you so.” Noooooo!

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Nichole Palumbo
The best-dressed restaurant hostess in the west by day, Professional Dancer and Choreographer by night

- What is L.A. street fashion to you?
Combining different elements of the city (music, grafitti, the rich & the famous, grunge) and creating a style all your own. Mixing genres, sharing ideas, making it by hand, and making it your own.

- How has this city changed your style?
I think it’s changed anyone who lives in Cali’s style. If you lived in Hicksville you wouldn’t really care about fashion. We live near L.A. We’re obligated to have some kind of style. This city has influenced my style by its sheer versatility. You like to people-watch? Go to L.A. You’ll see bums strung out on coke, millionaires in their Rolls Royces, entire families J-walking to catch the bus, starving artists and musicians, hole-in-the wall coffee shops, and mile high corporate buildings. What more inspiration do you want, right?

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It’s been a while since I’ve seen some magic shopping dust your way. I do apologize, so for this week, I’ve compiled quite a list this week to make up!

First, and most importantly, as this sale is ALREADY occurring:

1. “The (emphasis added) Sample Sale” is located on Melrose, this sale, complete with clothes, shoes and accessories, will feature tons of brands, it seems. “Blumarine, Lela Rose, Martin Grant, Narcisco Rodriguez, Milly, Tory Butch, Easton Pearson, Ferretti, Chloe, and more” will be discounted 50-80%. (topbutton)

• When: NOW (Saturday June 28) and Sunday, June 29. Sat. 11am – 7pm. and Sun. 12pm – 5pm.
• Where: 7967 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 90046. (213) 840-1664

2. Secondly, an equally high end sale for the sale-lovers, but not necessarily the bargain searchers:2. The Blast Boutqiue Summer Sale will happen THIS Saturday (June 28). To qualify my meaning of “high end”, here’s who will be featured: Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, Chloe, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, and Fendi. To name a few.

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It’s time for summer and it’s time for some new clothes, which means it’s time for sales baby. Instead of buying clothes that will fall apart in two weeks, why not get some nice clothes that normally run for over $100 for only $15? LF has a huge warehouse sale twice a year for two days only, and the time is now. Today June 27th from 11am to 7pm and Saturday June 28th from 7am-3pm all hell breaks loots. Everything in the story is AT LEAST 80%.

Normally their stuff is a bit too pricey for me, but at 80% off, they’re right in my target range. Jeans (reg. $130 - $280) now $24, knit tees (reg. $36 - $88) now $8, shoes (reg. $80 - $196) now only $15. And they got it all. Accessories, belts, shores, jeans, skirts, the whole lot.

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“In L.A. they call me Boston. In Boston, they call me bossy…”
Sahra Nguyen (UCLA student, activist, artist, mover, and shaker)

Sahra Nguyen hailing from Boston, residing in Santa Monica, and shot-calling worldwide, took some time out of her hectic schedule to tell LA.CityZine what’s good with street fashion in the City of Angels.

What is L.A. street fashion?

To me, L.A. street fashion means, “I don’t give a fuck” about what anybody else thinks. The beautiful thing about L.A. is that it’s the biggest conglomerate of culture within a city I’ve ever seen, and culture is defined by the distinctiveness of individuals. So individualism really is timeless. From what I’ve seen, L.A. street fashion is more than just a trend…it’s a fucking lifestyle! You wear what you do because you rock it with confidence. Coordinating—not matching—is so key. I hate it when people wear red on red on red and think they’re the shit. That kind of matching requires no creative eye. So, coordinating means being creative with how different colors, patterns, shapes and accessories match, contrast or compliment each other. And if we’re talking about street fashion, I also believe it’s about complimenting your environment. How are you gonna stand out as an individual from everyone around you? How do you wanna make yourself pop out against the concrete jungle?

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We Los Angelenos are now blessed with enough H&Ms to satisfy our thirst for cute, cheap fashion. I’m not gonna lie, for years there I was feeling pretty gypped. I’d travel to Amsterdam or San Francisco and buy up as much stuff as I could fit in my suitcase, secretly cursing the local women that could drop by weekly, or daily if they felt like it. Now, we have an H&M in the Beverly Center, on Colorado in Old Town Pasadena and at the new shopping center, Americana in Glendale. After doing much research at each location, I proclaim the new Americana location to be the winner. Here’s why:

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Okay, so maybe you don’t necessarily want to dress your pooch up in a skull hoodie like the pug to the right. But, sometimes you might want to treat your dog to a new fly collar or a hip bed. Dog Boutiques are fun for the whole family. You can shop, bring your dog and get cool things you would never find at Petco. Win-win, right?

There are tons of frou-frou boutiques in LA to choose from. Here are my top 3:

• Tails of Santa Monica This place rocks. It’s right on Main Street, near Holy Guacamole and across the street from The Library Ale House. Just think, you can go get a buzz on and then shop for a new collar for your dog. There are hemp collars, plastic collars, leather skull collars and jewel-encrusted collars. You’ll definitely find something you haven’t already seen on every other canine at the dog park. This place also has quite a selection of dog beds you won’t be embarrassed to have in your living room. The owner is usually there. She’s sweet, helpful and she loves dogs. Cool place. Oh, and they have cat stuff too.
  • 2912 Main St
    Santa Monica, CA 90405 map
    phone: 310.392.4300

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If you thought it was creepy that your 13 year old niece wanted Manolo Blahniks for her birthday, wait until you read this! There is a line of high heels for babies out. Yes, babies. As in, can’t walk. As in, shouldn’t be wearing anything suggesting sexuality. Am I right?

The line of shoes, called ‘Heelarious‘ is not so funny. I know they’re probably meant to be silly and fun, kind of like baby Pumas but I find this trend a little disturbing. As an aunt and as a girl who loves her heels, I find it creepy that lil’ girls are tromping around the halls of their junior highs in stilettos. Save them for prom, children. A friend recently told me about a 9-year-old who wears a full face of makeup to 3rd grade everyday, dyes her hair and straightens in with a flat iron and freaks out about wearing designer jeans to school. And we’re not talking 7’s here, we’re talking crystal encrusted Rich & Skinny jeans. Where do we draw the line?

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LA is a diverse city, and here lies the headquarters of a very memorable company; Suicidegirls. The Suicidegirls are a group of alternative pin-up girls who model on the website; www.suicidegirls.com. The site has expanded by leaps and bounds over the past few years. You’ll often catch glimpses of the girls at tattoo conventions, and some girls have starred in a Marilyn Manson music video and in TV shows.

The ethos of the website is a group of unconventionally gorgeous pin-up girls devoted to changing people’s ideas of what makes a woman beautiful. Women are all sizes, from worryingly thin to plus-size, and everything in-between. Most of the women are emo, goth, skaters, indie kids… The site is an appealing visual fest of alternative lifestyles.

The system the girls have to go through to model as full Suicidegirls - to ‘go pink’ as they call it, is very difficult. The majority of girls are responsible for finding their own photographers and setting up the shoots themselves. The ’sets’ as they’re called, are little pieces of art in themselves. The girls often explore elaborate fashion and make up set into a theme or a storyline. There are several thousands sets and models on the site, and you can waste a whole day on there. The site is very inspiring for photographers, artists and the fashion-savvy.

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Oh to dress like a celebrity. Many of us have dreamed of it, or watched it walk past us on the streets. If you ever wonder who the person is behind the looks you crave, than look no further. Recently, we were able to talk fashion with Diane Merrick, L.A. fashion guru. She has helped to design looks for celebs like Kristin Cavalleri, Jessica Simpson, and Hayden Panettiere. Thanks to Fabcrush we had a chance to catch up with Diane and find out more about the L.A. shop, her plans for the future, and, of course, some top picks for you!

Please tell us more about how Diane Merrick became so representative of West Coast style.

Being a Los Angelino by default, I take pride in eating, breathing, and sleeping all things L.A. Keeping current with Fashion, Television, Internet and street wear inspires me to create my own look, and in doing so has inspired me to create specialty tee shirts, leggings, cashmere sweaters, shawls, and jewelry all within my private label.

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This week’s America’s Next Top Model started off with a bang. Nothing like a girl fight to get the show going. It all started when Dominique pissed everyone off with a rogue alarm clock that kept going off early and waking the models from their beauty sleep. Claire yelled at Dominique and girls came out of nowhere to join the verbal bashing. No one likes Dominique, myself included, but these chics just went off. I would’ve felt bad for the poor girl but it was just too funny. Anya, the Hawaiian girl with the accent so heavy she should have an interpreter, told Dominique she needed to communicate better. At least I think that’s what she said. Freaking hysterical. Then, Lauren screamed at her and said she had “verbal diarrhea”. Ahhhh, awesomeness abounds on Top Model, folks.

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