Confession: The Top 10 Reasons I Hate American Apparel

Our contributor Abby Spector, who is majoring in Feminine/Gender/Sexuality Studies at Wesleyan University, has a confession to make:

Here are the top 10 reasons I love to hate (and hate to love) American Apparel:

The newest line looks like something out of my grandmother’s closet.
The models, sales people, and those who frequent the store do not smile. Ever.
Are they selling nipples? That is the impression I get from their booby-slipping ads. And what about Woody Allen? They placed the iconic actor on a New York billboard without his permission. I didn’t know I could buy my very own Woody.
Dear Trust Fund Yuppies, American Apparel is the Ralph Lauren of your generation. Deal with it.
News Flash: You can get five V-Neck Tees in a bag from Hanes for the price of one from American Apparel.
Their products may be American-made, but that doesn’t mean the company is ethical. AA has dubious hiring/firing practices involving photo shoots of potential and current employees (with many saying you can be rejected for not being attractive enough). AA has also been sued multiple times and accused of sexual harassment and cooking the books.
Two words: Don Dov Charney.
In New York, American Apparel is giving Starbucks a run for their money in terms of the number of branches.
Dudes, you are corporate America. Stop thinking that you are better then every other chain store. It makes you look like a douche.
Despite all these reasons, I still shop there, get their magazine and once asked about a job position when I saw a Help Wanted sign. (But I quickly left once I learned body piercings and tattoos were not permitted. The manager said they were going for a “preppier look”.)