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The Shocking True Story Behind Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel

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American Apparel’s slogan was “Ethically Made—Sweatshop Free,” but according to a recent documentary, former employees claim that the popular clothing brand from the mid- to late-2000s, known for its hipster style, functioned more like a sweatshop than an ethical manufacturing facility.

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel” is a 54-minute documentary set to release on July 1 within Netflix’s series focusing on modern-day disasters, delves into the rise and fall of the brand, and its loss of influence, surrounded by accusations of unacceptable conduct and harsh working conditions.

Here’s a look at the most shocking revelations about what it was like to work at American Apparel. 

Sewing discontent

In 1989, American Apparel was introduced with the goal of embodying the essence of the American dream. Known for producing clothing within the U.S., it offered its workers wages significantly above the minimum wage. The brand also boasted a high-profile clientele that included stars like Beyoncé. A former employee, Jonny Makeup, recounts in a documentary that he would occasionally close the store to let Beyoncé shop undisturbed.

American Apparel gained recognition for its provocative ad campaigns, showcasing women in bold colors and suggestive postures, such as being upside down with their legs spread – however, according to the documentary, behind closed doors, founder Dov Charney reportedly fostered sexually suggestive conduct within the workplace and repeatedly overstepped boundaries. Newcomers at American Apparel’s factory were presented with a welcome package that comprised items like a vibrator, a book titled “The 48 Laws of Power“, a Leica camera, and a Blackberry, to ensure they remained accessible at all times. The documentary suggests that it was common to witness employees engaging in public displays of affection in the hallways of its downtown LA factory. In fact, the documentary presents footage showing Charney walking around nude in front of two female coworkers.

At American Apparel, the harmful work atmosphere extended beyond its office walls. The story begins with an employee named Carson recounting how CEO Charney called him late one night and repeatedly yelled “I hate you! I hate you!” before hanging up. According to Carson, such behavior was commonplace at American Apparel, where he often found himself working for extended periods of 36 hours straight.

Coming apart at the seams

Workers at the office express concerns about the volume of business Charney intended to handle from his personal residence, stating it made them uncomfortable.

Jonny Makeup claims he resided in his boss’s residence, contending in the documents that Charney had invited him and he wouldn’t miss the chance to live in such opulent accommodations. The house was often frequented by young women, which Jonny referred to as “a hipster-themed Playboy mansion.

Toni Jaramilla, a lawyer specializing in employment and civil rights, discusses representing women who claim they faced sexual harassment while working under Charney at American Apparel. Since these individuals had previously agreed not to speak negatively about Charney or the company, each complaint was handled privately through confidential arbitration. Nonetheless, certain accusations have surfaced publicly, and the film employs a voice actor to recite portions, detailing incidents such as Charney inviting people as young as 18 years old to his bedroom and wandering around in a towel in front of employees.

Under increasing accusations, Charney became increasingly verbally abusive towards his staff, with the documentary showcasing recordings where he referred to them as “morons” and “dummies.” Charney denies these claims, but he was dismissed in June 2014.

As accusations piled up, so did Charney’s harsh words towards his workers, with the documentary including audio clips of him labeling them as “morons” and “dummies.” Charney denies these charges, but he was let go in June 2014.

American Apparel, an online retailer that previously filed for bankruptcy in both 2015 and 2016, found Dov Charney employment with Kanye West’s fashion line, Yeezy. The documentary ends by playing old footage of him stating, “I don’t regret anything.

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2025-07-01 21:06

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