Imelda Rodriguez (left), daughter Maria Hernandez, and son Oscar Cerezo work together at Sew Rights Fashion Inc. at 939 S. Broadway. Rodriguez came to Los Angeles from Morelos, Mexico, in 1968. She worked as a sewer, and earned promotions into management before starting her own business in 1980. She and her children have kept their machines running and employees working ever since. Oscar says that Los Angeles fashion designers who remain committed to local production shops have been a great help, citing ABS by Allen Schwartz and Bianca Nero as prime examples. Times are tough, but the folks at Sew Rights Fashion are hopeful that more designers will see the value of maintaining a base of local production in the future (see related story, “Immigrants Carry 1/3 of Economy,” home page).
Local Hero - 02/19/2010
Alfonso Chacon works at the Fashion Design Center at 117 W. 9th Street, where handles a variety of daily maintenance tasks ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 02/05/2010
Kurt Bier decided not to pass the offices of the Working People’s Law Center during a bicycle ride around the Echo Park di ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 01/22/2010
Business is slow for Downtown retailers these days, but Marcos Moreno still finds plenty of good as he works the counter a ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 01/08/2010
Richard Smith is a longtime resident of the Skid Row district of Downtown, where he does his best to look out for the comm ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 12/18/2009
Lydia Choi is one of the business owners who make Broadway special. Choi owns Mikado, a restaurant located at the southwes ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 11/06/2009
Memories are more than old facts—they’re also a matter of feelings and perspective. El Centro Del Pueblo, a non-profit soc ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 10/23/2009
Hector Peralta likes life in Los Angeles just fine. The native of Mexico City says that he is happy with his work handling ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 10/09/2009
Max Azria, famed designer and founder of the BCBG fashion label, shares a moment with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigo ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 09/11/2009
Hilda Gomez Quiros has helped a lot of brides get ready for their big days, offering specially designed dresses and all th ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 08/28/2009
Sarice Brudet traces her ancestry to Holland, Indonesia, and the South American country of Surinam, and she lives in Germa ... [ Full Story ]
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.
