2008 FRIEND OF TALA 

MOSHE TSABAG is a true fashion entrepreneur living out the American dream.  He was both raised and schooled in Israel and then moved to New York City where he was involved in the record industry from 1970 to 1975.  Relocating to Los Angeles in 1975, he launched his apparel career as a multi-line sales representative and was immediately successful.  Moshe met his future wife, Gabrielle, in New York in the early 1970’s.  By 1975 the two were married and had relocated to Long Beach, California, a move that would direct Moshe’s future.  In 1982, Moshe and co-worker George Randall bought into a junior sportswear manufacturing company in a three-way partnership with the company’s existing owner and principal.  The same year, Moshe and George had bought out their third partner and changed the company’s name to Yes Clothing Co.  

YES began as a junior sportswear and dress company selling hip styles in Lycra stretch and novelty fabrics.  Moshe expanded the YES junior label by adding other divisions, YES man and YES kids.  In his capacity as president and chief operating officer, Tsabag grew YES to $50 million in volume and went public in 1989.  After 13 years as owner and president, Moshe sold the company.  Following a brief leave of absence from the industry, Moshe returned in 1996 and launched Hot Kiss, a junior lifestyle brand which features sportswear, denim and dresses and licenses in the following categories: swimwear, footwear, handbags, outerwear, intimate apparel, hosiery and children’s wear.  Additionally, the brand has global distribution and licenses in Japan.  In the past years, Hot Kiss has become recognized as one of the premier brands in the industry.
  
A leader in his industry, Moshe profoundly recognizes the need to give back to the community. His generous work with the Adopt-a-School arts program has made a major difference in many inner city high schools. His significant involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Organization led to the honor of Father of the Year in 1993. For six years he served on the board of Israel Bond Fashion Industries Division and also served on the executive board of the Inner City Art. His company Hot Kiss makes a generous clothing donation each December to Los Angeles Youth Network, an organization that offers shelter to countless homeless children.  For the past six years, Hot Kiss has been involved with Project Angel Food’s Divine Design charity event, in which designer clothing is sold at discounted prices and all of the money raised is used for food and supplies for home-bound AIDS patients.  In 2001, Moshe and his wife, Gabrielle, were honored by the California Counseling Center with the Wallis Anneberg Founder’s Award, the highest honor the center assigns.  The Southern California Counseling Center offers high quality psychological counseling to those of limited income and develops and maintains programs that respond to the psychological needs of our multi-cultural community.  And in further recognition of his standing in our community, Moshe was selected by the Fashion Industries Guild to be their 2006 Man of the Year.

Moshe and his wife, Gabrielle, have two children, Hallie and Jordan, both of whom are proud to follow in their father’s footsteps, working with him at Hot Kiss.