History

Brand History

American Apparel Inc. is an online-only retailer and former brick-and-mortar stores operator based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Canadian businessman Dov Charney in 1989, it was a vertically integrated company that ranked as one of the largest apparel manufacturers and marketers in North America. American Apparel advertising campaigns have become as synonymous with the brand name as the signature natural beauty and individuality that first put us on the map.

The production system of American Apparel centralizes most of its employees in a single location. By not outsourcing, Charney believes that he knows his workers better and that it ties them directly to the brand. A banner on top of the downtown factory states “American Apparel is an Industrial Revolution.” Charney has stated that American Apparel hires its creatives by their sense of culture and fashion, not their resume. Conversely, the company has also been accused of focusing on personal style and outward appearance in its hiring practices for retail positions. According to Charney, the unconventional corporate culture at American Apparel is responsible for the company’s creativity and rapid growth. In October 2015, American Apparel filed for bankruptcy, weighed down by debt, and the latest and current phase of American Apparel’s life began in January 2017, when Gildan Activewear acquired the brand’s intellectual property out of bankruptcy proceedings for $88 million.