AMERICAN APPAREL
Dov Story
For all his detractors, American Apparel founder Dov Charney still has plenty of supporters. Friends, former coworkers and colleagues have been posting messages of support on a website, called Team Dov.
Charney was suspended from his position at chief executive officer by the company’s board last summer and officially fired in December following a misconduct investigation. Soon after Charney’s ouster, a group of 30 managers and directors wrote a letter saying they wanted the controversial founder to stay on in some capacity but the board named former Speedo and Laundry by Shelli Segal executive Paula Schneider to take Charney’s place. Since then, Schneider and the board have been doing damage control.
“American Apparel is about youth, fun, freedom and social commentary,” Schneider told investors and reporters in a Jan. 20 conference call. “Over the next several months, we will focus on improving our business fundamentals to compete in the marketplace and position ourselves for long-term success. The foundation of this company is solid, and we’re starting with a great platform.”
But British buyout firm Lion Capital, a former lender to the 17-year-old clothing label, has urged the board to look at “strategic options,” including a sale, to turn the company around.
Meanwhile, hundreds of current and former sewers, designers, store managers, merchandisers, assistants, consultants, business associates have left messages in in English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Russian and Hebrew on the Team Dov website.
Many are praising Charney’s commitment to made-in-America, sweatshop-free manufacturing, as well as his personal work ethic—there’s even a message from a former assistant who recalls how the former CEO moved into the distribution center during the implementation of a new inventory control system to make sure everything was working properly.
It’s a pretty massive list of supporters and comments. Here are a few highlights:
“American Apparel is Dov and Dov is American Apparel”
“Please come back Dov. You give us opportunities”
“What’s AA without Dov?? ”
“Dov is the beating heart of this brand and operation.”
“Dov is the Robert Evans of the tee-shirt business, the kid will stay in the picture.”
“Dov is to American Apparel, What Walt was to Disney.”
“Dov Charney reinvented sex appeal when the US was going through a really bullshit stage.”
“Legalize Dov! He fought for our rights we are fighting for his!!!!!”
“Come back. We miss you and your comedian personality”
“Here at American Apparel, being empowered to ascend is based on your talent, hard work, and boldness—not your gender. There’s no old boys’ club here; no glass ceiling to break.”.
“American Apparel without Dov Charney might as well be the Gap.”
