Los Angeles Times - 08.09.2019

As an animal lover and fashion
fan, Rivers Eight founder Amanda
Schuon had an of-the-moment
style dilemma. “I have exotic-skin
pieces that I got years ago,” she
said, “but it started to make me feel
a little uncomfortable.”
That feeling motivated Schuon
to create Rivers Eight, an eco-chic
travel accessories brand that offers
faux versions of exotic skins includ-
ing python, stingray, caiman, liz-
ard and alligator belly in the form of
crossbody bags, coin purses, cos-
metic cases, waist packs, clutches,
computer sleeves and decorative
trays.
“We’re part of this important
and exciting wave of designers and
fashion houses that are starting to
eliminate exotic skins,” said
Schuon, who launched Rivers
Eight last fall. (Originally launched
under the name Artifact Eight, the
label was rechristened and re-
launched under its new name in
August after facing a trademark
problem.)
At the end of 2018, Chanel an-
nounced that it would no longer
use exotic animal skins for its
forthcoming collections, and in
February Victoria Beckham publi-
cly stated her label would abandon
exotic skins. (California has
banned the sale of python skin
since 1970.)
Schuon said she sees these
moves by brands not as trends but
as the future of fashion. “We can re-
place that same look with a materi-
al that is completely cruelty-free,”
she said during a phone interview.
“I felt that this was an opportunity
to develop an alternative material

that could still be beautiful and

wearable but that eliminated the

use of any animal.”

Using rubber molds, the syn-

thetic pieces are handmade locally

and range from $18 (for a keychain)

to $450 (for a crossbody bag). “I

wanted to create something that

looked and felt genuine but that

was durable and not precious,” she

said of the pieces, which are avail-

able at Roseark in West Hollywood

and online at riverseight.com.

Schuon also designed Rivers

Eight’s bags so they could be worn

day to night. “I’m an incredibly effi-

cient packer, so I loved the idea of

designing a travel accessories col-

lection that could do double duty,”

she said, explaining that the make-

up bag is stylish enough to be worn

as a clutch and that the

waist pack can be used

for hikes by day and

then “slung over your

shoulder and worn

out in the evening.”

A native Angeleno,

Schuon often considers

the city she loves when

designing.

“Los Angeles is all about be-

ing outdoors,” she said. “There are

so many beautiful hiking trails.

That was the inspiration for the

waist pack, which has been our

best seller.”

It was also important to her to

keep production local. “We have an

incredibly talented workforce

here,” she said. “It is more expen-

sive to work in L.A. As a point of

comparison, we priced out produc-

tion costs for a few different styles

in China, and it was significantly

less. But it became important to

me as I moved through this process

to have production in my back-

yard.”

As a mother of two daughters,

Schuon said she also wanted to

find a way to give back with her

company, which led her to team up

with the organization This Is

About Humanity to create a spe-

cial-edition black faux python toi-

letry case that retails for $225; half

of the proceeds from its sale benefit

the Casa Cornelia Law Center’s

work with victims of human- and

civil-rights violations.

Rivers Eight is a second act for

Schuon, who has spent 17 years

working with stylish brands such

as Jennifer Meyer (jewelry) and

Serena & Lily (home goods)

through her public relations and

marketing agency, Truth Be Told

PR.

“I was ready for a new adventure

and a new challenge,” she said,

sharing that her brand will release

backpacks in the near future. “I’d

always dreamed of being on the

creative side.”

A MODEL

holds the

small

clutch.

SARAH ST

CLAIR

RENARD

Hides without

a hair of guilt

A CROSSBODY BAG is made of

rubber molded to mimic the texture

and symmetry of python skin.

Rivers Eight

L.A.’s Amanda Schuon

found a way to mimic

exotic skins for chic bags

without the animal.

By Lindzi Scharf

A WAIST PACK, available in a

rainbow of colors, makes hands-

free chic.

Rivers Eight

P2 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 LATIMES.COM/IMAGE

{ SHOPPING }

Everlane adds a Venice presence

Everlane, the San Francisco-based fashion brand
known for casual classics and its commitment to sustain-
ability, opened its first Los Angeles outpost in August.
The 2,000-square-foot store in Venice joins others in New
York and the brand’s hometown.
“L.A. is the place we call home,” said Michael
Preysman, the brand’s founder and chief executive offi-
cer. “We made our first T-shirt in a factory here. We had
an office here for more than five years. It was the begin-
ning of Everlane and has one of our largest consumer
bases.”
Visitors to the new store will walk through “a gorgeous
tunnel” to the fitting-room area, which was designed to be
a “beautiful escape,” Preysman said.
“All our stores have great fitting rooms, but this is
taking it to the next level,” he said.
The offerings for men and women will include the
affordable essentials the brand is known for. Hero
products continue to be the brand’s high-rise denims,
cotton T-shirts and basic sneakers. Prices range from $18
(and up) for tees to about $68 for denim.
“Our roots are in transparency in an industry lacking
it,” Preysman said. “We are transparent about our prices.
We show the factories that we make our products in, and
we are focused on the environment and sustainability.”
Also, the brand has pledged to no longer use virgin plas-
tic, including for its packaging, by 2021.

Everlane,1101 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice,everlane.com

Italian luxury at the Palisades

Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli quietly opened its
third Southern California location in May, setting up
shop at Palisades Village shopping center in Pacific Pali-
sades. Brand officials celebrated the occasion during a
grand-opening event last week.
The label, which is worn by stars including Michael B.
Jordan, Jennifer Lopez and Sterling K. Brown, is known
for its whisper-quiet elegance for men and women.
(Think a floor-length silk sable crepe dress with shim-
mering silver straps, priced at about $5,000.) It’s also
known for its support of educational and artistic endeav-
ors. Founder Brunello Cucinelli is a noted philanthropist.
“The brand is based on the principles of humanistic
capitalism where its people are at the core,” Cucinelli
said, adding that the assortment of merchandise in the
new store in the Palisades would be “more casual and
representative of the West Coast lifestyle,” although
top-selling items continue to be cashmere and knits.
Prices for luxe items from the Brunello Cucinelli label
range from $250 to $20,000.

Brunello Cucinelli,Palisades Village, 1020 Swarthmore
Ave., Pacific Palisades, brunellocucinelli.com

Television’s artistry on display

Timed to coincide with the upcoming Creative Arts

Emmy Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards, the “Art of

Television Costume Design” exhibition offers visitors a

chance to see up close the sometimes lavish, often quirky

yet always spot-on costumes worn on top TV shows on

broadcast channels, cable and streaming services.

“I think people are interested in not just watching the

TV shows but in getting to know more about them, in-

cluding the characters and their costumes,” said Nick

Verreos, co-chair of the fashion design program at the

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, in whose

museum the exhibition is on display.

The 100-plus costumes from more than 20 TV shows

(of which nine have been nominated for Emmys) are split

into various categories such as period, fantasy and con-

temporary. Highlights include flamboyant outfits from

FX’s “Pose”; the outlandish ensembles from “The

Masked Singer”; and the pristine frocks plucked from the

wardrobe of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

“Some of the exhibits also are from shows that have

had their last season,” said Verreos, referencing HBO’s

fan-favorite series “Veep” and “Game of Thrones.”

The exhibition is free and open Tuesday through

Saturday through Oct. 26.

“Art of Television Costume Design” exhibition,FIDM

Museum, 919 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles,fidmmuseum

.org

Shopping for a worthy Cause

The Cause Collection, a year-old Los Angeles women’s

brand that supports various causes and nonprofit or-

ganizations through the sale of its contemporary fashion,

opened its first freestanding store in late July.

Brand founder Cheryl Najafi said the Cause Collection

distinguishes itself from other brands by offering custom-

ers an opportunity to choose among initiatives support-

ing tolerance, humanitarianism or social justice. Ten

dollars from each sale is earmarked for charities such as

GLSEN, which works to eradicate bullying of LGBTQ

youth; Healthy Housing Foundation, which supports

housing for low-income families; and the American Civil

Liberties Union. “Our mission is to galvanize a communi-

ty of like-minded people to use their purchasing power to

put their money where their heart is,” she said.

Clothing options include silk tops, with details such as

bell sleeves; belted shirtdresses; and wide-legged pants.

Prices range from $200 for a silk top up to $500 for dresses.

“We want women to feel confident and comfortable,”

Najafi said. “The clothing is designed to go from desk to

dinner.”

The Cause Collection,8222 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles,

thecausecollection.com

—Kavita Daswani

RETAIL HAPPENINGS

Major design labels help

Target celebrate 20 years

Rodarte, Thakoon, Missoni, Proenza Schouler and

other major design labels have joined with Target to

rerelease their previous collaborations as part of the

mega-retailer’s 20th Anniversary Collection.

Some 300 limited-edition items from 20 previous de-

sign collaborations — think home goods from Michael

Graves and Philippe Starck, accessories from Hunter,

children’s clothing by Harajuku Mini and women’s fash-

ion from Jason Wu and Zac Posen — will pop up online

and in stores starting Sept. 14.

When these collaborations originally launched, they

often sold out in minutes. (For example, the Missoni for

Target partnership from 2011 had shoppers waiting in

lines outside stores before they opened, and the popu-

larity of the collaboration with the Italian label caused

Target’s website to crash.)

“Target has forever changed the retail landscape while

doing what once was considered impossible — offering

great design at an incredible price,” said Mark Tritton,

Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandis-

ing officer, in a press statement.

With prices ranging from $7 to $160, these offerings will

include Zac Posen for Target’s floor-length magenta

printed dress and Stephen Sprouse for Target’s printed

men’s swim short. The anniversary collection will be

available in all Target stores, but merchandise will range

from store to store. According to Target press materials,

shoppers can purchase up to five identical items in the

same size and color.

Target stores,target.com

Rodarte

BRUNELLOCucinelli’s newest SoCal store is at
the Palisades Village shopping center.

Michael Muraz

COSTUMES from the series “Pose” by Lou Eyrich and

Analucia McGorty are on view at FIDM’s TV exhibit.

Alex J. BerlinerABImages