Pedro Lobos works in shipping for Raj Manufacturing at 850 S. Broadway, and he’s putting in plenty of hours these days because the label is providing a steady stream of stylish dresses, scarves, and other women’s apparel to customers throughout the U.S. Lobos came to the U.S. from his native land of Guatemala in 2004, and he’s been working for Raj Manufacturing for the past three years. He worked as a sewer in the garment industry in Guatemala, but now he’s busy loading trucks and getting goods out to department stores and specialty retailers. Lobos says he likes the job—mostly because it’s so busy. That’s especially good to hear these days, and another reminder that economic downturns are tough, but they don’t wash away all the skills and energy of the entrepreneurs who make businesses work (see related story, home page; photo and caption; Commentary, home page).
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The Los Angeles Garment & Citizen is the community newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Arts District, Chinatown, Echo Park, Little Tokyo, Pico-Union, Silver Lake and Westlake.The Garment & Citizen reaches more than 20,000 readers weekly, an audience that spans the demographic makeup of the city and serves as the leading edge of statewide and national trends.
