By Daily Editor
Documentary looking at the rise and fall of the US clothing brand
Certificate: 15
Provocative, youth-orientated and fiercely unafraid to take risks, American Apparel was one of the fashion success stories of the early 2000s, with the growth of its brand of clothes and its dedicated stores combining to make it one of the biggest players in the clothing world.
A lot of that was attributed to the unconventional business tactics and management style of its founder Dov Charney, who ran the company like a freewheeling cult boss. Beneath the acclaimed and controversial ad campaigns and the shiny, happy success story, though, was a darker reality that came to light as the firm spiralled towards eventual bankruptcy in 2015.
This fascinating documentary looks into how the charismatic Charney’s maverick approach failed to address flaws in the firm’s business model and how he fell from grace amid a welter of sexual harassment suits from former employees. (54 minutes)