I love that they sell sweatshop free items, they're up for promoting immigrant rights and they also promote environmentally friendly practices ...but...I'm kind of miffed about those raunchy ads. Whenever I see them, the word 'exploitation' comes to mind. Also their women's sizes are really too small which kind of makes some average sized women feel too fat. they score high in some points but not on others (especially women's rights and empowerment). What are your thoughts?
I'm torn on this one as well. I like that they're sweat-free, and how they have brought sweat-free into the mainstream through creative innovation with their fashionable designs and provocative (and yes, at times distastefully raunchy) marketing.
However, as much as I want to support the factory workers in L.A. with my purchases, I cringe to think that I am also supporting their unapologetically sleazy CEO as well. Just GoodSearch Dov Charney and you'll know what I'm talking about. Gag.
Is it OK to support a company with that is people- and eco-positive in its operating practices but promotes a people-negative message? What's the net impact of such a decision?
Another topic to bring into the discussion is whether their practices are that people-positive to begin with. I have heard that they do not allow their workers to unionize. But if they are paying above-average wages and providing good benefits and secure employment, is unionization necessary?
While I am a World of Good, Inc. employee, these opinions are my own.
h1. NOT :p
Well, Dov Charney is a bit of a sick cookie. He's obsessed with sex and has no boundaries...bad combo. He's created an incredible company though, sans the sexual harassment. American Apparel is the largest clothing manufacturer left in th US. Believe it people. I live in LA, so I think about AA fairly regularly. The MADE IN THE USA gear, the revival of US clothing manufacturing, the superior treatment of factory workers, the solar panels, the recycled plastic content in their bags, and the fact that they place women in upper management consistently is all incredible.
And the ads are gross... Are you mad at Calvin Klein too? Diesel? Or is that "artistic?"
And he has sex with tons of his young employees and they try to take him to court and he pays them off.
Along with many things in this world, American Apparel isn't 100% hot or 100% not, but I'd say they're at least luke warm.
And lastly I have to say, as an alternative, check out the undies and t-shirts from Perfectly Imperfect on theGreenloop.com...made by a group of empowered young women right here in the US of A.
Jenn@TheGreenloop.com
I commend and like to see companies that can appeal to the mainstream like AA and convert consumers to more eco and socially conscious choices....but the CEO and company culture is troublesome and so I choose other organic clothing vendors for my ZenVibration store and for myself.