American Apparel Exposed?

Published 22 Aug 2006, 9:19 am - 3 Comments -
Filed under Feature Stories

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Clamor MagazineGUESTS: Jen Angel, publisher at Clamor Magazine, Keely Savoie, freelance journalist

Known as “one of America’s most progressive T-shirt companies,” American Apparel is a corporation that brands itself as “vertically integrated.” This means that in an era of outsourcing and Third World sweat shops, American Apparel keeps every stage of production in one downtown Los Angeles location. The company claims that it treats it workers quite well, paying them higher-than-average wages, benefits, and even offering free massages onsite. But “vertical integration” also means that the company handles its own advertising - yes, those sleazy semi-pornographic photos of nubile nearly naked young women plastered on LA billboards are actually mostly employees of American Apparel, not professional models. Now, according to a series of articles in the September issue of Clamor Magazine, American Apparel uses “paternalistic management techniques,” and utilizes a “sexploitation ad campaign.” But before the magazine has even hit news stands, the series entitled “American Apparel Exposed,” has already gotten the attention of American Apparel. A letter from the Media Relations Director demands that the online version of the article be removed immediately or else, “we will be forced to seek legal action in light of such gross, blatant, negligent and irresponsible journalism.”

Read the Clamor Magazine article online here:
http://www.clamormagazine.org/temp/ClamorAAsection2006.pdf

Clamor Magazine can be found online at www.clamormagazine.org.

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3 Comments to ‘American Apparel Exposed?’:

  1. WIMN’s Voices: A Group Blog on Women, Media, AND… » Blog Archive » Radio interview: Indy press stands strong against censorious, sexist “progressive” corporation on 22 Aug 2006 at 12:26 pm: 1

    [...] Tune in (or log on) Tuesday morning to KPFK’s Uprising Radio to hear host (and WIMN’s Voices blogger) Sonali Kolhatkar interview freelance journalist (and WIMN’s Voices blogger) Keely Savoie and Clamor magazine publisher Jen Angel in what will likely be a lively discussion of sexism, commercialism, union-busting, and “sweatshop-free” clothing co. American Apparel’s attempts to control independent media content critical of AA’s official and unofficial corporate policies. [...]

  2. Magic Madness on 24 Aug 2006 at 3:48 pm: 2

    While the PR dogs at AA are busy slandering Clamor’s journalism (which is anything but irresponsible) and trying to put a stop to free speech, they REFUSE to actually say what it is they

    Specifically, American Apparel says nothing of its sexism, nothing of Dov Charney’s sexual harassment of his employees, and nothing of its blatant union-busting.

    An article came out in 2005 from In These Times, and still American Apparel never bothered to actually address the issues.

    http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2270

  3. Weronika Cwir on 29 Aug 2006 at 8:30 am: 3

    Hey Magic Madness, an AA PR dog barkning at you here.

    It seems you don’t know the facts behind the union drive at AA or behind the sexual harrasment cases by the company’s former employees. That wouldn’t be surprising if you got your information from Clamor’s “investigative report.” Either that, or you have a peculiar understanding what constitutes responsible journalism and what slander means.

    Nevermind. Why don’t you just go to Knowmore.org and read their report on AA, in which all the issues you care about are addressed? Please.

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