Company Showcase: American Apparel (collection, buy, sell, companies)

[chuck22b]

Who said we can't make "clothes" in America?

In a world where the major brands continue to seek out the cheapest production costs and labor, American Apparel bucks this long established trend.

Starting with only 3 stores in Southern California's garment district in 2004, American Apparel now has 263 stores world-wide in 19 different countries (2008).

Pride in vertical integration from design, production, to delivery, American Apparel pays the highest wages ($12/hr for garment workers) and provides the most benefits (medical clinic, massages, etc.) for every employee from garment workers to the CEO. They even have a policy to pay at least US minimum wages to Chinese Sales Associates - (ie, way above local wages).

And who says it can't be profitable? American Apparel has quadrupled its' net sales revenue from 133.8 million in 2004 to 545 million in 2008 with a gross margin of 55%.

Archived Films - Video Collections - Gallery - American Apparel

Made in Los Angeles, providing sustainable wages and growth, embodying the diversity, creativity, and innovation of America. A good example of The REAL American way.

If we can be profitable and socially responsible manufacturing and producing textiles in the US, we can produce anything.

http://investors.americanapparel.net/financials.cfm

-chuck22b

[HeyHolliday!]

American Apparel makes very comfortable clothes. They do charge ridiculous prices however. $22 for a t-shirt? $45 for a sweatshirt? I still think thrift clothing is the way to go.

[azoria]

Never been in one.

I don't care what country they come from, T-shirts and hoodies are ratty and sloppy and I won't be buying any.

Surely America is capable of better than sweats and T's?

[chuck22b]

Originally Posted by azoria

Never been in one.

I don't care what country they come from, T-shirts and hoodies are ratty and sloppy and I won't be buying any.

Surely America is capable of better than sweats and T's?

My commentary isn't that the US can only produce t-shirts and hoodies but that the US can engage in manufacturing in an industry dominated by outsourcing and finding the cheapest common denominator.

What they chose to produce depends on the demographic they are targeting and the current trends, and not necessarily that the US can only produce t-shirts and hoodies.

I'm not really into fashion and such, but from what I see of teens and young adults these days, what's in style is ratty and sloppy. Abercrombie and such stores sell jeans that look used, and have holes in them and also cost an arm and a leg. The difference between them and American Apparel, is one is made in the USA, while the other is probably made in Vietnam or Thailand.

My case in point is that American companies can still manufacture and hire people in America and still wring out a profit. Why can't we manufacture and excel in producing other goods?

-chuck22b

[Woof Woof Woof!]

The ceo of that company is an absolute sexist pig and an idiot. Can't stand him and would never buy those clothes!