Los Angeles Apparel is a manufacturer, designer and distributor of clothing based in South-Central Los Angeles.[2][3] The company was founded in 2016 by Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel.[4][5][6] Los Angeles Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer, and currently employs over 1,500 personnel.[1][7]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, fashion |
| Founded | 2016 Los Angeles, United States |
| Founder | Dov Charney |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dov Charney (CEO) |
| Products | Clothing |
Number of employees | 1,500 (July 2022)[1] |
| Website |
|
History
editLos Angeles Apparel was founded by Dov Charney in 2016 in Los Angeles, California after he was terminated from American Apparel by its board due to numerous allegations including sexual harassment, racism, and sexual assault. Charney rejected a $4.5 million severance package and role as "creative director" in the company[8] and launched Los Angeles Apparel as a wholesale business, similar to American Apparel's origins in 1989.[9]
About 90% of the factory's machinery once belonged to American Apparel.[10][11] Charney bought fabric, computers, sewing machines, and other equipment from American Apparel in the bankruptcy sale.[12] In late 2016, Cincinnati-based TSC Apparel made a multimillion-dollar business deal with Los Angeles Apparel,[13] selling the startup's clothes to concert producer Live Nation Entertainment and screen printers who previously purchased American Apparel.[7][10][14][15]
In an effort to emphasize the importance of the workers who produce the apparel, their names and faces were printed on the labels of shirts back in 2017.[16]
In 2020, public health officials ordered the shut-down of Los Angeles Apparel due to "flagrant violations of mandatory public health infection control orders." Charney was able to sidestep the initial lockdown measures and keep employees from unemployment benefits by reopening as an essential business making and selling masks. 300 workers were infected with COVID-19 and 4 workers died before the factory was ordered to close.[17]
Production
editLos Angeles Apparel was started as a wholesale business.[18] The company is upfront about the fact that its clothing and business model is similar to that of American Apparel.[10][19] Los Angeles Apparel is a manufacturer and distributor of apparel to screen printers, apparel companies, and boutiques. The company focuses on production of T-shirts, sweatshirts, cotton bodysuits and swimwear.[20]
The company is a vertically integrated manufacturer with knitting and dyeing done in Los Angeles.[19]
Similar to the values held by American Apparel, the corporate identity has a commitment to "sweatshop free" manufacturing.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b Deborah, Belgum (July 12, 2022). "Los Angeles' Recent Minimum Wage Hike Challenges Apparel Factories". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Howland, Daphne (June 26, 2016). "Dov Charney's American Dream". Retail Dive. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Quirk, Mary Beth (June 23, 2016). "Ousted American Apparel Founder Dov Charney Tries Again With Los Angeles Apparel". Consumerist. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Asch, Andrew (June 22, 2016). "Charney's Los Angeles Apparel Factory Staffs Up, Looks for Growth". Apparel News. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Abarbanel, Aliza (September 26, 2016). "Dov Charney Is Back With A New Line of Sexualized Basics". Business of Fashion. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Sherman, Lauren (June 27, 2017). "Dov Charney's Next Act". PM Magazine. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Sauer, Abe (June 26, 2017). "American Apparel's Dov Charney Is Back With Los Angeles Apparel". Brandchannel. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Edwards, Jim. "Inside the 'conspiracy' that forced Dov Charney out of American Apparel". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ Tsui, Diana (June 27, 2017). "Can You Distinguish Dov Charney's New Line From His Old One?". The Cut. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Kate (July 13, 2017). "American Apparel's founder seems to be resurrecting his 'dead' brand under a new name". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Kale, Neha (July 12, 2017). "Ex-American Apparel CEO Dov Charney is counting on your amnesia for his fashion comeback". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ Townsend, Matthew (July 12, 2017). "Dov Charney Couldn't Keep American Apparel, So He Restarted It". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Promogram (April 5, 2017). "TSC Apparel Partners With Charney-Run Los Angeles Apparel". Promogram. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Feldman, Ari (July 12, 2017). "Dov Charney Is Remaking American Apparel. Can He Remake Himself?". The Forward. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Caroline (April 6, 2017). "Dov Charney's Los Angeles Apparel Inks Deal with American Apparel Distributor". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Pugh, Ezra; Drost, Ellen A. (2021). "Los Angeles Apparel: Locally Made in a Global Market". Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy. 4 (4): 778–796. doi:10.1177/2515127420982511. S2CID 234452045.
- ^ Gibson, Kate (July 13, 2020). "Los Angeles Apparel's factory shut after 300 workers contract coronavirus". CBS News.
- ^ Rastello, Sandrine (August 3, 2017). "American Apparel Is Ready to Relaunch Its Website". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Belgum, Deborah (February 2, 2017). "Dov Charney: From American Apparel to Los Angeles Apparel". Apparel News. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Rovu, Christopher (June 21, 2017). "American Apparel: End of An Original". ASIcentral. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ Pugh, Ezra; Drost, Ellen A. (2021). "Los Angeles Apparel: Locally Made in a Global Market". Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy. 4 (4): 778–796. doi:10.1177/2515127420982511. S2CID 234452045.