BRONCO BONUS
LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Martin knows how to throw a party in true L.A. style.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the veteran dress and sportswear resource took over Rex Ristorante in downtown Los Angeles and provided the requisite free food, drinks and dancing. But, this being Los Angeles, there were a few extras: movie stars stumbling in by accident and an O.J. connection.
For many retailers who attended, the party was a homecoming. Jonathan Martin often throws parties for buyers during markets, because — in the words of one company executive — buyers’ per diem travel budgets often leave little money for food. Uri Harkham, Jonathan Martin’s founder and chairman, said some have ordered from him since the mid-Seventies, when the firm began as a blouse resource.
“We’re the survivors,” Harkham said, smiling and looking around the room. “Yesterday’s assistant is today’s divisional. We’ve grown with these people.”
Priscilla Mell, a fashion director at May Co. who spent much of the evening on the dance floor, said the company is successful because “[Harkham] is always ahead of the pack in fashion, which is important.”
As the evening’s mariachi band concluded and a rock band took the floor, the mood at the party became more festive. Actors Billy Zane and Treat Williams walked in, saying they were visiting as research for an upcoming film. Although they were there to soak up the Forties, Art Deco feel of Rex, they were soon right at home, chatting with buyers and drinking from the open bar.
But the real attention-getter of the night was A.C. Cowlings, the Bronco-driving ex-football player who is also a friend of Harkham. By the end of the evening, a line of buyers formed near Cowlings to have photos taken with the O.J. pal.
“Uri has the tenacity to survive in this business for 20 years,” Cowlings said. “And he’ll probably be around for 40 more.”