Fashion sales were a casualty of lower shopper numbers on high streets in July as consumers increased their spend on home items and at out-of-town locations, new figures show.

A group of Philippine trade unions has launched a campaign aimed at achieving a living wage for the country’s textile and garment workers.

Sustainable supply chain campaigner Solidaridad has teamed up with risk management company QuizRR on a project to offer digital training on workers’ rights in global supply chains.

Jake Owen is a master at creating a party atmosphere in concert.

Country music’s Prince of Surf ‘n’ Sand Vibes learned from the best: his first big tour was spent as an opener for Kenny Chesney in 2006. Owen proved to be the perfect choice to close out the 2017 Summer Concert Series at the OC Fair (this season’s slate also offered up top-notch country talent like the Band Perry, Kenny Rogers and Justin Moore).

Before the show began, a bunch of excited female fans were overheard raving about Owen’s headlining spot last spring at Coastal Country Jam in Huntington Beach. Several males in attendance here wore American flag attire – some with profane slogans. A pink flamingo curtain covered all the onstage gear and the crew laid carpeting for the headliner, who performs barefoot.

The 80-minute, 17-song set in Costa Mesa kicked off with – appropriately enough – “Beachin’”, the first of half a dozen country chart toppers. Owen, casually clad in pink shorts and t-shirt, happily traversed the two-tiered, faux palm tree-lined stage as the three-man horn section added a bright sheen.

A breezy “Good Company,” the latest single off 2016’s “American Love,” which was partially recorded in Pomona, describes living it up on the weekends with friends. It got a rousing response. Owen looked out into the packed Pacific Amphitheatre crowd and marveled at a crutch being hoisted in time to the tunes, then said, “I appreciated playing fairs. It’s not every day you get to see a big (stuffed) Papa Smurf.”

“If He Ain’t Gonna Love You,” an R&B-fueled song co-written by Chris Stapleton, sizzled, especially with some tasty slide guitar, a swelling organ buildup and excellent brass accompaniment.

Having too much fun can be detrimental though. A truncated cover of Johnny Cash hit “Ring of Fire” started with Owen sounding like he was imitating the Man in Black and one musician played a keytar as if it was new wave. Later, the singer delivered sensual ballad “Alone with You” a bit too nonchalantly. The same attitude gave short shrift to “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” which would’ve benefitted from more dramatic heft (the swelling organ and sax work were great though).

Owen’s take on Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon” was just average (unfortunately OC didn’t get Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” done live last week and to fine effect for Owen’s Facebook followers). Turning serious, the singer explained the low-key ballad “LAX,” one of his favorites from “American Love” and co-written by a friend who passed away (Andrew Dorff) has lyrics “no one seems to get unless you’re from here.”

Late set highlights “Anywhere with You” and “The One That Got Away” and first encore “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” (with an odd nod to “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” TV theme) all rocked with abandon to massive singalongs. Owen capped the evening with more recent No. 1 hit, “American Country Love Song.”

Honey County opened the proceedings with a pleasant, if unremarkable half-hour performance. The ladies’ glossy pop take on country music boasted plenty of group harmonies, especially during “High on the Radio.” Guitarist Katie Stump, an OC native, took over lead vocals on a feisty cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.”

Earlier on Sunday, I caught Dan Krikorian’s last performance of the afternoon inside the fair’s Baja Blues Restaurant. Playing with a full band, the Costa Mesa singer/songwriter’s 45-minute pop/rock set definitely made a strong impression. Highlights included the appealingly upbeat “New York City Day” and well-crafted “Maggie” (both from “Windsor Blue,” one of my favorite local releases of ’11), an exquisite “Words,” the Ben Harper-ish “Something Good” – on which his family and friends danced around – and the beautifully soulful “Need You Bad.”

Jake Owen

With: Honey County

When: Sunday, Aug. 13

Where: Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa

AUG. 13

Elderly abuse: 6:50 p.m. 0 block of Windham Lane.

Drunk driving: 4:23 p.m. Cabot Road and Crown Valley Parkway.

Disturbance: 2:32 p.m. 24900 block of Los Alamos.

Burglary report: 11:01 a.m. 28500 block of El Sur.

Disturbance: 9:16 a.m. 30000 block of Tessier.

Patrol check: 1:58 a.m. 30100 block of Town Center Drive.

AUG. 12

Disturbance: 7:50 p.m. 28000 block of Via Luis.

Suspicious person/circumstance: 4:07 p.m. 200 block of Chandon.

Burglary report: 2:15 p.m. 30600 block of Paseo del Niguel.

Disturbance: 9:41 a.m. 24200 block of Juanita Drive.

ID theft: 8:00 a.m. 29700 block of Niguel Road.

AUG. 11

Disturbance: 9:21 p.m. Via Cynthia and Via Kristina.

Reckless driving: 8:18 p.m. Niguel Road and Camino del Avion.

Disturbance: 7:56 p.m. 28600 block of Murrelet Drive.

Petty theft report: 4:04 p.m. 30500 block of Mirandela Lane.

Drunk driving: 2:24 p.m. Niguel Road and Club House Drive.

Welfare check: 12:44 p.m. 30200 block of Pacific Island Drive.

Drunk driving: 12:09 p.m. Aliso Creek and La Paz roads.

Fraud report: 9:04 a.m. 25200 block of Del Rio.

Disturbance: 8:14 a.m. 28100 block of Via Fierro.

AUG. 10

Burglary in progress: 6:36 p.m. 25100 block of Hidden Hills Road.

Drunk driving: 6:24 p.m. Aliso Creek Road and Alicia Parkway

Petty theft: 4:38 p.m. 0 block of Star Drive.

Suspicious person/circumstance: 3:31 p.m. Crown Valley Parkway and Greenfield Drive.

Vandalism report: 1:19 p.m. 29900 block of Alicia Parkway.

Burglary in progress: 10:31 a.m. Beacon Hill Way and Taywood Court.

Suspicious person/circumstance: 8:01 a.m. Greenfield Drive and Crown Valley Parkway

Disturbance: 4:20 a.m. Camino Capistrano and Avery Parkway.

Suspicious person in vehicle: 12:47 a.m. 0 block of Calella.

Suspicious person/circumstance: 12:36 a.m. 30900 block of Club House Drive.

AUG. 9

Welfare check: 9:27 p.m. 28100 block of Moulton Parkway.

Drunk driving: 9:11 p.m. Kite Hill Drive and Alicia Parkway.

Drunk in public: 6:13 p.m. Cabot Road and Crown Valley Parkway.

Suspicious person in vehicle: 5:54 p.m. La Paz Road and Pacific Park Drive.

Disturbance: 2:52 p.m. Alicia Parkway and Aliso Creek Road.

Burglary report: 2:42 p.m. 24800 block of Vista Rancho.

Keeping the peace: 1:27 p.m. 0 block of Mykonos.

Grand theft report: 11:23 a.m. 30100 block of Crown Valley Parkway.

Welfare check: 8:32 a.m. 24300 block of Avenida de Los Ninos.

Disturbance: 6:40 a.m. Niguel Road and Crown Valley Parkway.

Drunk driving: 1:38 a.m. Golden Lantern and St. Christopher.

AUG. 8

Firework violation: 11:33 p.m. 24200 block of Las Naranjas Drive.

Reckless driving: 7:00 p.m. Golden Lantern and Crown Valley Parkway.

Disturbance: 6:18 p.m. 27100 block of Camino Airen.

Welfare check: 5:43 p.m. La Paz and Aliso Creek roads.

Vandalism report: 3:56 p.m. 0 block of Windcrest.

Welfare check: 3:44 p.m. 27900 block of Cabot Road.

Drunk driving: 1:16 p.m. Golden Lantern and Sardina.

Vandalism report: 10:06 a.m. 29700 block of Niguel Road.

Welfare check: 9:19 a.m. 0 block of Pearl.

AUG. 7

Disturbance: 8:45 p.m. 30000 block of Tessier.

Burglary report: 8:25 p.m. 0 block of Jencourt.

Battery report: 6:59 p.m. 25600 block of Weston Drive.

Fraud report: 2:56 p.m. 27900 block of Cabot Road.

Suspicious person in vehicle: 1:00 p.m. 23900 block of Ironhead Lane.

Disturbance: 12:11 p.m. 27000 block of Alicia Parkway.

Disturbance: 10:41 a.m. 24900 block of Los Alamos.

Petty theft report: 8:32 a.m. 25000 block of Calle Playa.

Welfare check: 6:09 a.m. Nueva Vista Drive and Via San Sebastian.

The start of the high school football season is just around the corner, so we’re ready to reveal the Orange County Preseason Top 25.

NO. 1 MATER DEI
2016: 13-1 overall, 5-0 league
The Monarchs, who won the Trinity League championship and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship game in 2016, have 10 of 11 starters returning on offense, including junior quarterback JT Daniels, who recently committed to USC. On defense, the linebacker corps looks terrific. The only concern, if there is one, would be the defensive backfield where all four starters are newcomers. The depth on the defensive line also is not the greatest, although the starters are formidable.

Catch highlights of the OCVarsity Top 10 teams below in this Jonathan Khamis video:

NO. 2 MISSION VIEJO
2016: 11-1, 4-0
Coach Bob Johnson kept saying “if we stay healthy” when talking about his team. If the Diablos do stay healthy, this could be another outstanding season for the defending South Coast League champions. They have an outstanding group of receivers, including All-County returnee Austin Osborne and Olaijah Griffin, who has committed to UCLA as a defensive back. Throwing to that group will likely be Joey Yellen, a junior who transferred from St. John Bosco. Yellen has little varsity experience, but he looked sharp enough during the summer. The defense features fast, hard-hitting linebacker Christian LaValle, who committed to Arizona State.

NO. 3 EDISON
2016: 13-2, 5-0
This will be the Chargers’ first season in more than 30 years without Dave White as head coach – and it should be a good season for them. Edison’s new coach, Jeff Grady, a former Edison quarterback, inherits a team with several returning standouts who helped win the CIF-SS Division 3 championship in 2016. Senior quarterback Griffin O’Connor was last season’s Sunset League MVP and is a UNLV commit. Three returning starters on defense, lineman Parker Thomas, linebacker Mateo Gallego and linebacker Luke Hoggard, were all-league first team in 2016. The Chargers are in Division 2 for the playoffs this season.

COMING THURSDAY: O.C. Hot 150

NO. 4 SANTA MARGARITA
2016: 7-5, 2-3
Eagles coach Rich Fisher joked that the Trinity League race Mater Dei, St. John Bosco … and then a separate four-team league. In that group of teams that seem to be a lap or so behind Bosco and Mater Dei, Santa Margarita might be the best of a very good bunch. The Eagles have a good corps of offensive skill players led by all-league running back Chad Magyar and receiver Malone Mataele. Mataele, who committed to Utah, also is a standout cornerback. There is a quarterback competition that includes Josiah Norwood, a transfer from Troy. The Eagles should be fine at linebacker and defensive tackle.

NO. 5 SAN CLEMENTE
2016: 13-3, 3-1
The Tritons, who were the CIF-SS and CIF State champions last year, have enjoyed a great run of offensive skill position players. That’s especially been so at quarterback, where Sam Darnold and then Jack Sears, now both at USC, drove the offense in recent seasons. San Clemente has returning All-South Coast League players at running back (Austin Whitsett), receiver (Keith Jones) and tight end (Chris Kane). Numerous holes on the offensive and defensive lines will be filled by players with little or no varsity experience. The Tritons, who are in Division 1 for the playoffs this season, also don’t have a sure-thing at quarterback for the first time in a few years.

NO. 6 ORANGE LUTHERAN
2016: 5-6, 2-3
The team’s new coach, JP Presley, has installed the spread offense. He thinks it will fully utilize the skills of the team’s quarterback, junior Ryan Hilinski, an All-Trinity League second-team pick last year, and a talented group of receivers that includes Kyle Ford, a transfer from Servite. The Lancers have six returning starters on defense, but many key positions on the unit will be filled by sophomores.

NO. 7 LOS ALAMITOS
2016: 9-4, 4-1
When asked about any potential weaknesses on his team, Griffins coach Ray Fenton said, “I’m not sure if we have a punter yet.” If that’s his largest concern, then Los Alamitos should be OK. Los Alamitos will be tough up front on both sides of the ball. The Griffins won a couple of linemen competitions during the offseason. Super-quick junior running back Keanu Norman was a Sunset League offensive back of the year in 2016. The deep linebacking unit is led by Arizona commit Issaiah Johnson.

NO. 8 SERVITE
2016: 4-7, 1-4
The Friars went backwards in recent years. This could be a revival season. Servite looked good in summer passing leagues, and more than held its own in the stacked Battle of the Beach 7-on-7 tournament. Coach Scott Meyer said Servite should be improved at offensive and defensive line, which is essential to compete in the Trinity League. Servite also underwent some coaching staff changes, bringing in former Centennial of Corona assistant Mike Bass to be the Friars’ offensive coordinator.

NO. 9 JSERRA
2016: 5-6, 1-4
Pat Harlow has been promoted from assistant coach to head coach to replace Jim Hartigan, who was fired. It is tough to win in the loaded Trinity League. If the Lions do win some games, Harlow figures defense and a top-gun quarterback will lead the charge. Abdul-Malik McClain, a UCLA commit who transferred from Santa Margarita after an all-league season in 2016, is quite the pass rusher coming off the edge. Senior quarterback Matt Robinson, who committed to Montana, was all-league last season and had a splendid summer.

NO.10 LA HABRA
2016: 8-5, 4-1
The Highlanders’ long run of Freeway League titles ended last season, but they look ready to take back the crown this season. The offensive line should be outstanding, bolstered by the addition of Tyler Casados, a transfer from La Mirada who has a scholarship offer from Colorado. We’ll learn how good La Habra is on Sept. 8 when the Highlanders play host to Mission Viejo.

11. VILLA PARK
2016: 9-2, 3-0
The perennial Crestview League champion again looks like one of the county’s better public school teams. Multi-position senior Hunter Ancich, son of Spartans coach Dusan Ancich, was all-league first team last season, as was senior offensive tackle Malik Banks, who also was All-CIF.

12. CAPISTRANO VALLEY
2016: 12-2, 4-0
The Cougars played in a CIF-SS championship game last year and can build on that momentum. Last season’s Sea View League MVP, quarterback Kevin Brown, graduated, but Capo might have a fine replacement in junior Nathan Manning.

13. CORONA DEL MAR
2016: 12-2, 5-0
The Sea Kings, by far the best team in the Pacific Coast League, have six returning starters on offense from a team that reached the 2016 CIF-SS Division 4 final. Among them are All-CIF running back J.T. Murphy and All-CIF receiver Tae Le.

14. YORBA LINDA
2016: 11-2, 2-1
The Mustangs, who won a CIF-SS title in ’16, have a strong list of returnees that includes CIF-SS Division 8 player of the year Jaydyn Webb at running back, all-league first-team quarterback Luke Wilson and All-CIF receiver/defensive back Ricky Lane.

15. EL TORO
2016: 4-7, 3-1
The Chargers should be stronger on defense and their offense, which averaged 30 points a game a year ago, will be led by all-league quarterback Cooper Jones. El Toro will be Capistrano Valley’s top challenger for the Sea View League title.

16. SAN JUAN HILLS
2016: 7-4, 2-2
The Stallions might finish last in the tough South Coast League, but they are probably good enough to win the championship of a few other Orange County leagues.

17. TESORO
2016: 5-6, 1-3
The Titans might be better in 2018 than ’17. If the young group finishes third in the South Coast League, that would be a significant accomplishment and set the table for bigger and better things in the near future.

18. NEWPORT HARBOR
2016: 5-5, 3-2
The Sailors won’t be as good as their Sunset League rivals Edison and Los Alamitos. But third place in the Sunset seems like the destination, as usual, for Newport Harbor. And third place in that league is not bad at all.

19. EL MODENA
2016: 11-2, 3-0
Senior all-league quarterback AJ Esperanza leads the Vanguards, who have played in the CIF-SS semifinals the past two years. El Modena is 19-7 over those two seasons after going 7-16 over 2013 and ’14.

20. TUSTIN
2016: 9-3, 4-1
It looks like the Tillers have the backfield needed to score their usual large number of points. But do they have the offensive line to make that happen – and the defense to keep the opponents from scoring as much?

21. CYPRESS
2016: 6-5, 2-3
Returning All-Empire League first-team quarterback Alex Ashcraft leads a team that will be among favorites for the league championship if last year’s underclassmen become this year’s senior leaders.

22. HUNTINGTON BEACH
2016: 4-7, 2-3
Edison and Los Alamitos clearly make up the top tier of the Sunset League. Huntington Beach can challenge Newport Harbor for the league’s third guaranteed playoff berth if the Oilers’ young, solid nucleus of 2016 kicks it into a higher gear for 2017.

23. GARDEN GROVE
2016: 9-3, 5-0
Everybody knows the Argonauts are the team to beat in the Garden Grove League. Team speed is plentiful, and defensive back Brandon Coleman might warrant All-County consideration. A young group of linemen must progress if Grove is to make a deep run in the Division 8 playoffs.

24. LAGUNA HILLS
2016: 6-5, 2-2
The Hawks probably are again the Sea View League’s third-best team, behind Capistrano Valley and El Toro. They lost to those two by 37 and 21 points, respectively, last season. Maybe they close that gap this season.

25. FOOTHILL
2016: 5-6, 0-3
The Knights’ record in the Crestview League has been 2-1 in 2014, 1-2 in 2015 and 0-3 in 2016. That’s not a good trend for them, and the league looks like it will be a good one again in 2017.

ON THE BUBBLE: These teams could pop into the top 25 this season – Aliso Niguel, Beckman, Brea Olinda, Dana Hills, El Dorado, Katella, Marina, St. Margaret’s, Santa Ana, Trabuco Hills.

Did you see this?
The O.C. Preseason All-County team

By JANIE HAR

SAN FRANCISCO  — The state of California and city of San Francisco said Monday that they are suing the U.S. Department of Justice over President Donald Trump’s sanctuary city restrictions on public safety grants.

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra and City Attorney Dennis Herrera, both Democrats, made

the announcement, turning California into the first state to challenge the administration on its policy of denying some public safety funds to sanctuary cities and counties that limit cooperation with enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

San Francisco also filed its own federal lawsuit Friday regarding federal restrictions on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants, which both men said provide for a range of crime fighting and crime prevention programs. They said California could lose $28 million and San Francisco could lose $1.5 million in annual funding.

“It’s a low blow to our men and women who wear the badge, for the federal government to threaten their crime fighting resources in order to force them to do the work of the federal government when it comes to immigration enforcement,” Becerra said.

Chicago filed a similar lawsuit last week, arguing that the Trump administration’s bid to withhold public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities is illegal.

In response, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the Trump administration “will not simply give away grant dollars to city governments that proudly violate the rule of law and protect criminal aliens.”

Jim Brulte, chairman of the California GOP, criticized the lawsuits, saying that “allowing felons, allowing repeat felons to roam free for political purposes is bad public policy.”

Supporters have said the sanctuary protections promote overall public safety by allowing immigrants who are in the country illegally to report crimes without fear of federal deportation.
Becerra and Herrera are strong supporters of sanctuary protections, which largely prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Opponents have said people who are in the country illegally do not deserve the protections because they should not be in the U.S.

The California Legislature is considering a measure nicknamed the “sanctuary state bill” that would limit state and local police from cooperating with federal immigration agents. Supporters of the legislation, SB54, have said it rebukes the president for his crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Senate passed the measure earlier this year, sending it to the Assembly where it still requires a vote. It would also need approval from Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who has said the bill needs changes but has declined to specify what he wants altered.

San Francisco sued the Trump administration in January over the president’s move to cut funding to immigrant-protecting “sanctuary cities” via executive order. A federal judge temporarily halted the executive order as the lawsuit progresses.

Becerra said he was filing the state’s lawsuit on behalf of smaller California cities and counties that may not have the resources to challenge the U.S. administration.

The latest Orange County homebuying data shows prices are up and sales are rising as deal making speeds up.

Here are 16 real estate trends you should know:

CoreLogic tracks patterns from public records of closed sales. For the 22 business days ending July 14 …

1. Orange County’s median selling price for all residences was $698,000 — up 8.2 percent compared to a year ago, CoreLogic reported.

2. There were 3,756 Orange County residences sold in the period, up 3.1 percent from a year ago.

3. At the neighborhood level, prices were up in 66 of 83 Orange County ZIP codes compared to the previous year.

4. Sales rose in 39 of 83 Orange County ZIPs compared to the year-ago period.

5. Resales of existing homes totaled 3,429 — up 5.5 percent from a year ago.

6. Builder sales were 327 — down 16.6 percent from a year ago.

7. In the 27 least expensive ZIPs — median sales price at $632,500 and below — 938 homes sold. That’s down 8.4 percent compared to a year ago.

8. In the 27 priciest ZIPs — median of $760,000 and above — 1,246 homes sold. That’s up 8.3 percent vs. a year ago.

9. By the way, in the 10 Orange County ZIP codes with median selling prices above $1 million, sales totaled 294 homes, up 7.30 percent compared to a year ago.

ReportsOnHousing tracks the supply of homes existing homes for sale and residences entering escrow from broker listing networks. As of July 27 …

10. Countywide, 5,967 listed for sale and 2,835 homes entered escrow in past 30 days.

11. Tracking speed of selling by comparing inventory to escrows, “market time” is 63 days now vs. 77 a year ago and 79 two years earlier.

12. By price slices, listings under $500,000: 830 listings and 704 new escrows for market time of 35 days.

13. From $500,000 to $750,000: 1,523 listings; 1,059 escrows; market time 43 days.

14. From $750,000 to $999,999: 1,079 listings; 546 escrows; market time 59 days.

15. $1 million-plus: 2,574 listings; 536 escrows; market time 144 days.

COPENHAGEN — Bigger, better and stronger-than-ever was the take-away from Copenhagen Fashion Week, which concluded Aug. 12.
An air of optimism floated on the city, thanks to clement weather but also to the positive figures published by the Dansk Fashion & Textile trade association. Despite a continued post-Brexit slump and lackluster performance of the Scandinavian region, the domestic market experienced 12.3 percent growth in the first quarter of the year, while exports, notably to Germany, Italy and Belgium, were flirting with double digits.
“The indicators in the Danish industry are on an upward swing. One example is that buyers are ordering more styles in larger quantities,” said Copenhagen Fashion Week chief executive officer Camilla Frank for whom this positive outlook was the perfect mind-set to kick off profound change for the organization.
To strengthen the Danish capital’s signature, a meatier five-day schedule was streamlined and enriched to include graduate shows, showrooms and the fashion prize organized by heavyweight department store Magasin du Nord; the notion of off-schedule was made redundant, with presentations and other fashion events scheduled in equal footing with runway shows through a new vetting process; talks and round-tables opened to the public, and also host brands hailing from other Scandinavian

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PARTY PIECES: Blood Brother has teamed with Selfridges on a capsule range for the retailer’s Music Matters initiative, which opened in-store this week.
Launched in 2011 by Nicholas Biela and James Waller, the label is known for its smart casualwear and relaxed formalwear. Waller noted that the range was inspired by the duo’s history of throwing parties. For example, rave and nightclub flyers have become graphics on T-shirts and hoodies.
“We used to put on nights where we would get our mates to DJ and get down with everyone — friends, family, colleagues,” said Waller. “It was a great way of bringing people together, which is what Blood Brother is all about.”
The 11-piece men’s wear range consists of T-shirts, hoodies and bags in hues of acid green, bright pink, blue, white and black. Prices range from 55 pounds for a T-shirt to 160 pounds for a bag.

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