American Apparel STRIKES AGAIN RANT!

Hey kids!

Guess what? I survived an earthquake yesterday! A hurricane is on it’s way, and Nick Ashford died, all within 72 hours!

I love living in NYC, but some days, it can just kick your ass.

I lived in Hollywood, CA for five years, and experienced earthquakes of bigger magnitude, but yesterday also made me think about TERRORISTS! I knew what was going on – but also thought, “Oh shit, did a bomb drop somewhere?” But I’m okay!

And speaking of crazy things, I heard earlier in the week that American Apparel will be going out of business soon!

I’ve been hearing rumors since April about the lawsuits, and how the company has suffered, investors have fled. In the last 12 months, the retailer’s stock has fallen by nearly 70 percent to less than $1.

IT IS NOW TRADING AS A PENNY STOCK!

Now I used to REALLY LOVE that company. They made great products, they were sweatshop free, they were charitable, dealt with illegal immigrants in a positive and uplifting way, championed Gay rights, and other good stuff.

But, the company’s founder and CEO, Dov Charney, is a pig.

And his piggy ways have made the company look bad (The Woody Allen lawsiut in which he paid out 5 million in damages, and he’s got several sexual harassment suits against him), which is one reason why they lost a lot of customers, and new kids on the block, like UNIQLO are taking a big bite outta their market share.

Look at him.

This, believe it or not, is a current photo.

And I must say, Americal Apparel’s last line looked odd – lots of khaki, pearls, oxford shirts, and strange takes on the “preppy” look – it was very 70’s, and not relevant in any way to what’s going on in fashion. Being different is GREAT, but not when it’s ugly and won’t sell.

Oh, they still have their basics, but their stuff in the windows looked horrid.

So I guess that illustrations are not as graphic or offensive because they’re not actual nude women. Is that right? And why don’t they have the same kind of ads with MEN in them?

So yesterday, I saw this

MORE BUSH!

I don’t know people. I’m well aware that “sex sells” – but COME ON ALREADY!

Dov, your company makes great products that are popular and people really like! Why do you have to resort to this? I can’t WAIT to see how those lawsuits pan out. It’s like you’re Larry Flynt with a sewing machine – shit!

But more importantly – WHERE AM I GONNA GET REALLY GOOD T-SHIRT BLANKS FOR SUCH A GREAT PRICE?

I’m guessing that the people at Hanes are licking their chops right about now…

Love,
Crystal