American Apparel was an Indie CULT

In the 2000s, American Apparel wasn’t just a clothing brand, it was a cultural moment. With its provocative ads, made-in-LA ethos, and promise of effortless cool, it captured the hearts (and wardrobes) of a generation. But behind the glossy sheen of disco panties and deep-V tees was a much darker story. In this episode, we dive into the rise and fall of American Apparel and the disturbing behavior of its founder, Dov Charney. From workplace allegations and hypersexual marketing to the brand’s implosion, we explore how a so-called progressive fashion empire masked a toxic power structure, and why we were all so quick to buy into it.

Hey Alexa, play "Passion Pit" by sleepy head.

Our full episode is on our premium channel for $7.99 here for THREE bonus eps a month. Please support podcasts without influencer or celebrity status and help us get paid for our work!

Go here to see our socials and updates

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices