American Apparel Leads All-Star Award Winners
Los Angeles–based American Apparel led a group of California companies that received awards for leadership and performance during Apparel’s All-Star Awards, held Nov. 11 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
Every year, Apparel magazine honors 10 companies that demonstrate innovation in technology, excellence in management, strong growth and corporate goodwill.
This year’s winners also included Ventura, Calif.–based outerwear maker Patagonia, Anaheim, Calif.–based retailer Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. and Los Angeles–based fashion brand Hot Kiss.
American Apparel, which produces blank tops and bottoms from its downtown Los Angeles factory, received the Grand All-Star Award and was singled out for its commitment to providing positive working conditions for its employees. The company was also recognized for its strong growth in manufacturing and retailing. American Apparel is expected to top $150 million in revenue this year, again doubling its volume. The company will open two new Los Angeles stores—one at Hollywood & Highland and another in Westwood—by the end of the year.
When accepting the award, Principal Dov Charney said he appreciated that the company had been nominated by an out-of-state organization, the Columbia, S.C.–based National Association of the Sewn Products Industry.
PacSun was recognized for its booming growth, which has outpaced Wall Street’s estimates again and again. The company has grown from a small surf shop in Newport Beach, Calif., to a 900-unit chain that is one of the country’s main sources for outfitting teens and 20-somethings. The company was also honored for being a leader in implementing new technologies to streamline its operations. C. Joseph Harris, vice president of sourcing and production, accepted the award for the company.
Moshe Tsabag and his Hot Kiss label received an award for striking gold twice. The founder of YES is repeating his success with Hot Kiss, a young women’s lifestyle brand that has grown an international presence and has expanded into licensing.
Patagonia was honored for its ongoing commitment to ethical manufacturing and the environment. The outerwear company uses many organic fabrics and regularly takes political stands on issues affecting Earth’s natural resources. Product Development Manager Carolyn Ebers accepted the award.
Other companies picking up All-Star awards were the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. of Burlington N.J., New York–based Brooks Brothers, New York–based Elie Tahari Ltd., University of Tennessee retail science professor Dr. Ann Fairhurst, Bristol, Tenn.–based L.C. King Manufacturing Co. and team-sports apparel maker Vital Apparel Group of Huntington Station, N.Y.
The California Fashion Association helped sponsor the event. —Robert McAllister
