Premium Denim Takes Spotlight at L.A. Fashion Week

Premium Denim Takes Spotlight at LA Fashion Week
Forget satin, silk and cashmere. Denim took center stage at this year's Los Angeles Fashion Week in a reminder to fashion watchers that premium jeans mean big business.

"Why is it we should have runway shows for denim?" asked 30-year jeans veteran Paul Guez rhetorically.

"They do more business than most other brands, than most (apparel) companies in Europe... This is the new generation of runway businesses that are alive and well, profitable -- and very cute."

Guez is chief executive of Blue Holdings Inc., whose brands Antik Denim, Taverniti and Yanuk all took center stage at the shows.

Black denim was prevalent on the runway, with accents including military styling and distressed fabrics.

Guez described his portfolio and other rival premium jeans brands such as 7 For All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity as "high fashion, high-end denim that are not just denim."

Fern Mallis, vice president of IMG Fashion, which produces the week of fashion shows, said denim's spot on the runway is deserved.

"People come to L.A. and want to see the denim lines," said Mallis, "We could turn this into denim week."