WHAT'S IN STYLE

Philadelphia-based Bodek and Rhodes released the fourth issue of BRANDS, its quarterly magalog that spotlights premium collections of apparel products. The new work-and-play-themed edition focuses on a wide array of hot-selling styles suitable for professional or recreational activities, including the newest addition to the Bodek and Rhodes family, Columbia Sportswear.

Heritage Sportswear + Virginia T's, Hebron, Ohio, has named Jeff Hurl as vice president of finance and promoted Sarah Shifflett to director of merchandising.

A Bangladesh court charged the owners of a garment factory and 11 staff with homicide in connection with the deaths of 112 workers in the country’s worst industrial blaze that took place nearly three years ago.

The court indicted Delwar Hossain and his wife, Mahmuda Akter, the owners of the Tazreen Fashions, and 11 employees, including factory managers and security guards, in connection with the Nov. 24, 2012, fire on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka.

The trial will start on Oct. 1, public prosecutor Khandakar Abdul Mannan told reporters. If convicted, they could face life in prison.

It was nearly 100 degrees outside the theater in Pasadena, Calif., where reporters gathered Wednesday afternoon to hear what it’s really like to work in the local garment industry.

“We feel the heat right now,” said Maria, a middle-aged seamstress sporting a pink cast on her thumb. At least those who had come to listen had the benefit of a breeze.

“Now imagine what that heat might feel like with no ventilation,” said Maria, who did not give her last name for fear of retaliation.

J.C. Penney finally has a horse in the fast fashion races.

The department store earlier this month started piloting its own private label brand, “Belle + Sky,” a line of trendy womenswear it can produce and turn over more quickly, with a view to better competing with the H&Ms, Zaras and Forever 21s of the world—retailers that have stolen away customers from department stores and other clothing chains.

J.C. Penney is currently testing the line, which ranges from dresses to skinny jeans to faux fur vests, online and at 50 of its 1,000 or so stores.

Stepping out in style with logoed apparel from The Antigua Group, Peoria, Ariz., is an option for members of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), now that The Antigua Group has signed on as a new national licensed vendor of EWGA.

S&S Activewear, Bolingbrook, Ill., recently announced the release of its annual Forerunner catalog, which will feature 60 new styles for fall and winter products. It is the first combined catalog for S&S Activewear; Eva Sportswear, Robbinsville, N.J.;and Americana Sportswear, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. The 195-page book includes spirit wear, athletic apparel, fleece, outerwear and wovens.

A garment worker's rescue from the rubble of a Bangladeshi factory collapse in 2013 offered a Hollywood ending to one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

To help prove its case against Lance Armstrong, the federal government is seeking information from Nike that shows the company wouldn’t have sponsored him if it knew he was using performance-enhancing drugs.

While it remains to be seen if "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" lives up to the hype, it’s clear that the seventh installment in the series has the potential to set a new box office record.

Since the film opens Dec. 18, there’s a good chance you might have to endure some pretty cold weather while you’re waiting in line at the theater this winter. Well, have no fear my young Padawan—just because you’re going to see a Star Wars movie in winter doesn’t mean that you have to freeze to death like a tauntaun on a cold Hoth night.