American Apparel has skeezed its way into oblivion
Remember American Apparel? The formerly trendy basics brand had an attention-getting split personality. It prided itself on the benefits and wages of its factory workers but was known for staffing its stores based on looks and style rather than retail experience. (As a result, it was the place to shoplift in the late 2000s.) It became notorious for its faux-bedroom-candid ads while running campaigns in support of immigration amnesty and same-sex marriage. Its profoundly unlikeable self-styled lothario CEO was ousted in a blaze of sexual harassment lawsuits. It was grossly mismanaged, a death spiral of outwardly liberal business practices, prick ego, and hipster sleaze. At one point, it had to pay Woody Allen $5 million for using a still from Annie Hall on a billboard without permission. It is now gone.