A year after the fires that devastated Los Angeles, Vogue Business examines fashion’s recovery and rebuilding efforts as part of our series, Refashioning LA, which assesses where the city’s fashion and apparel industry is headed in 2026.

Carolina Crespo, founder of Everybody.World, never used to lock the gates at her office and factory space in Vernon, Los Angeles. Members of the local manufacturing community would come and go daily.

That changed in June, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids spread throughout LA—including in the garment industry. “All of our gates were closed. Unless you had an appointment, you couldn’t come in,” she says. One manufacturer described it as having a “manhunt feel.” Crespo notes that while raids have slowed since the summer’s peak, she doesn’t expect the local industry to relax fully anytime soon. “You never know when it’s going to spike.”

Last year, the LA manufacturing industry was thrown into chaos when the raids began. ICE agents swarmed the city, targeting areas known to have large numbers of immigrants. This led to hundreds of arrests, and a number of detainees were later deported. At the time, Daisy Gonzalez, campaigns director at the LA-based nonprofit Garment Worker Center, told Vogue Business that some families of detained garment workers were unable to locate their relatives. That summer, protests followed, and in response, President Donald Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without state consent.

This stoked fear and uncertainty in an industry already undergoing a transformative year. The raids occurred just as “Made in LA” was gaining momentum as part of the broader “Made in America” movement, with brands exploring reshoring production due to fears over tariff regulations. “What’s happening in international manufacturing right now—a lot of retailers and wholesalers are challenged with the tariff situation; it’s super volatile,” says Mari Popovics, VP of production at LA-based activewear label Set Active. “It’s really difficult to place overseas orders; we have to place them six to eight months in advance.”

The raids also came six months after the wildfires that rocked the city. Although the Palisades and Eaton fires didn’t reach downtown or further south, where most LA manufacturing takes place, they added to the strain. “It’s as if production wasn’t hard enough,” says Nina Garduno, founder of local basics brand Free City, who also operates several small sewing factories. With tariffs, the fires, and the ICE raids, she’s impressed by the industry’s resilience. “It’s really something to watch these people get through all of these challenges with this much courage.”

Now, with growing interest from brands and corporations outside LA, the industry is navigating how to meet the demand for domestic manufacturing while protecting its workers and community.

State of the Industry

Many LA-founded luxury brands have long committed to producing at least some of their items locally. Chrome Hearts manufactures most of its products in the city. Amiri, founded by Mike Amiri in LA in 2014, still makes jeans and basics locally, while Dôen also produces a portion of its line in LA. Other LA-based brands like Everybody.World and Free City, which specialize in basics, make everything close to home. Chris Black’s new brand Hanover is also entirely made in LA.

Those in the industry agree it has changed dramatically since the 1980s, when local manufacturing was less focused on basic apparel like cotton and denim. “My dad was making coats,” Crespo says. Over the past 20 years, the LA manufacturing industry has been shrinking, according to Pasha Farmanara, who runs the cut-and-sew factory Pasha California. “The people who have been…”From his father. “He’s a bit of a computer nerd,” Farmanara says, adding that he created a backend system to automate workflow.

Because the industry was shrinking for so long, it was survival of the fittest—meaning old-school talent, Farmanara explains. Now, however, some fresh blood is coming in. “There’s a bit of a clash between the old people who are used to doing it their way and these young people who are approaching it from a completely new angle,” he says. While Farmanara feels lucky to have both perspectives, things often get lost in translation. “There might be a talented young person with a good idea, but because they don’t know how to talk with the established people, they don’t get taken seriously. Meanwhile, they could have an amazing digital marketing strategy and be able to move more goods than anybody.”

This shift is positioning the industry well for an increase in brand interest—even if it’s a slow process. One company Farmanara spoke with about producing hoodies said it made them in Pakistan for $16 per item. That would be just the cost of the materials in LA, he notes. “There’s a lot of sticker shock. People forget that the minimum wage in those countries is less than a dollar. Here, it’s $17.87.”

Though brands are showing interest, Farmanara isn’t convinced this will necessarily bring a huge wave of manufacturing back to LA; they’ve heard it before, he says, and he’ll believe it when he sees it. If more brands do get involved in local production, Farmanara hopes they’ll do so in a way that benefits the community. “Are you going to buy the fabric from the fabric suppliers we know? Or is it going to be some isolated operation that doesn’t do much for the community?” he asks. “That doesn’t help the LA manufacturer much.”

Popovics, however, is expecting an uptick. She says it will be the luxury market that moves into the city. “The pricing is tough if you’re not a luxury or high-moderate brand; it’s really challenging,” she says. “But I think the small window that’s open now will get much bigger.” She points to a mix of the tariff situation, a desire to control order quantities, and the advantage of faster turnaround times as factors driving brands to LA. “It all aligned ahead of 2026.”

Despite some reservations, Farmanara is optimistic. “We’re not a shrinking industry anymore; we’re a stable industry. And if you’re adjusted to the new way of business, there’s nothing but opportunity,” he says. “You’re not going through that constant downsizing with people closing all around you. That had been happening for a very long time. It’s pretty much over.”

More on this topic:
How LA Fashion Is Rebuilding Post-Fires
What Does the Hollywood Exodus Mean for Fashion?
What Does Building a Brand in LA Look Like in 2026?

Frequently Asked Questions
The Future of Manufacturing in Los Angeles FAQs

Beginner General Questions

Whats the current state of manufacturing in LA
Its evolving While traditional largescale production has declined LA remains a national leader in specialized highvalue manufacturing especially in aerospace apparel medical devices and food production Its a hub for innovation and smallbatch designfocused goods

Is manufacturing in LA dying
No its transforming Its shifting from lowcost highvolume assembly to advanced technologydriven manufacturing that emphasizes customization sustainability and speedtomarket The sector is becoming more specialized and integrated with tech and design

What are the biggest advantages of manufacturing in LA
Key advantages include proximity to a massive consumer market a worldclass design and engineering talent pool major ports for global trade a culture of innovation and strong industry clusters

What are the biggest challenges
High costs complex regulations global competition and an aging infrastructure are significant hurdles Finding skilled workers for new technologies is also a constant challenge

Advanced FutureFocused Questions

How is technology like AI and robotics changing LA manufacturing
These technologies are making local manufacturing more competitive Robotics automate repetitive tasks while AI optimizes supply chains predicts maintenance and enables mass customization This allows smaller LA factories to produce goods efficiently without moving overseas

What is advanced manufacturing and why is it important for LAs future
Advanced manufacturing uses cuttingedge tech to create highvalue products Its crucial for LA because it relies on brainpower over cheap labor aligning with the regions strengths in tech design and RD particularly in sectors like biotech and aerospace

Will automation eliminate manufacturing jobs in LA
It will change them While some routine jobs may decrease new roles are being created in robot maintenance programming data analysis and digital design The future workforce will need more technical and problemsolving skills

Can LA manufacturing become more sustainable
Absolutely and its a major trend Theres a big push for circular economy practices using cleaner energy reducing water waste and producing locally to cut down on transportation emissions Sustainable fashion and green tech manufacturing are