Fashion and retail weren’t the only ones reeling Thursday as Los Angeles, the heart of Hollywood and countless fashion dreams, faced yet another day of out-of-control fires and devastating loss. In just a few days, nearly 30,000 acres have been engulfed, over 2,000 buildings have been lost, and about 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. New fires continue to break out, with the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills burning 43 acres and triggering evacuations in Laurel Canyon and along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards.
The full scope of the damages, both physical and emotional, is still hard to grasp. The initial estimate suggests economic losses could reach as high as INR 4.9 lakh crore ($57 billion). Even when the fires are finally contained, the ripple effects will likely be felt for months.


Los Angeles has always been a city where fashion and culture come together—from the dazzling red carpets and celebrities to the high-end shopping districts. In the wake of this devastation, the fashion world has reacted with a mix of disbelief and resilience. On social media and in interviews, people have shared their stories of loss and strength. Paris Hilton, for example, saw her home go up in flames on the news.
Frustration has also been brewing, as gridlock slowed evacuations and firefighters, already stretched thin, faced shortages of water in some areas. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana when the fires began, has since returned to the city.
The Pacific Palisades area has felt the full force of the Palisades Fire, which has burned through 17,000 acres in just three days and remains uncontrolled. Palisades Village, home to stores like ALC, Alo Yoga, Bottega Veneta, Veronica Beard, Cult Gaia, Favorite Daughter, Brandy Melville, Lululemon, Paige and Vince, has been temporarily closed. The once-bustling village, known for its fashion, jewellery and beauty boutiques, is now off-limits, with police keeping everyone out. The fire has also put a halt to the expansion plans of others, at least for the time being.
Though the fires are raging near the heart of Los Angeles, many parts of the county have managed to avoid the worst of the destruction. Some stores in Beverly Hills stayed open, offering a sense of normalcy, while others, like Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills, had to close their doors on Thursday, caught in the chaos that was unfolding just a few miles away.