Commercial success is not normally associated with concepts such as "youth-driven," "sweatshop-free" or "environmental commitment." In the big, bad world of manufacturing, integrating politically correct philosophies means higher production costs, ergo lower profit margin.
Enter American Apparel, a company whose leaders like to think of themselves as next-generation capitalists who prioritize ideas like American-made, being kind to employees and practicing environmental responsibility.
Assembly-line workers are assigned to teams. Each team is provided with the necessary technology to manufacture T-shirts and other apparel in-house. Everything from weaving and dyeing to cutting, sewing and shipping is done in-house. Employees are paid an average of $12.50 an hour, have access to health insurance, free English classes, massage therapy, subsidized lunches and bus passes, and are allowed to use their cell phones while on the job.
It seems to be working. American Apparel creates some of the best T-shirts in the business. Every product is 100 percent cotton—quality-spun, high-thread-count cotton. There are hundreds of styles and weaves in every color. We're talking everything from fine, jersey-knit onesies and thick, jersey-knit, single-pocket T-shirts to sheer, jersey cotton scoop-necks. It doesn't stop at tops; look for great skirts, shorts and pants. If you can't find the T-shirt style you are looking for, you just aren't shopping hard enough.
Recently, American Apparel introduced a new line of T-shirts aptly dubbed Sustainable Edition, a line of six products manufactured from certified all-organic cotton in its natural color. According to sources, 10 percent of global pesticide use and 25 percent of insecticide use occurs during cotton cultivation. The Sustainable Edition is part of American Apparel's grand plan calling for 80 percent of its cotton to be organically certified within the next four years.
Sure, American Apparel products, organically certified or not, cost a little more than their counterparts, but the quality is there, and so is that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from buying something from those bleeding-heart, next-generation capitalists we all wish we could be.
American Apparel, Boca Park, 740 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 6. 851-7474.
Anne Kellogg is a native Las Vegan with a thing for purchasing stuff. E-mail her at
[email protected]