American Apparel: Still Not Looking To Hire Ugly People

It is hardly surprising that American Apparel bases new hires on physical appearance, so today's Gawker exposé will probably get a smaller gasp than one's first glance at the company's Nylon Spandex Stretch Floral Lace Unitard would (seriously that thing will never cease to amaze us).

To catch up: last summer an anonymous employee claimed the company was beauty profiling, and that Dov Charney was demanding staff photos from each branch and firing off the uglies. Now these internal documents outlining their lookist policies have escaped Charney's empire, and will certainly serve as another whack at the protesters' hornet's nest. Allegedly one store manager was even instructed on what kind of black girls she should hire, being told: "none of the trashy kind that come in, we don't want that. we're not trying to sell our clothes to them. try to find some of these classy black girls, with nice hair, you know?"

All of the sordid documents can be found here, but to sum up: no uglies and no Uggs! The company told us they have no comment, but last summer Charney said, "At American Apparel, we strive to hire salespeople who have an enthusiasm for fashion and retail and who themselves have good fashion sense. But this does not necessarily mean they have to be physically attractive."

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By Jen Carlson in News on June 10, 2010 5:24 PM

Comments [rss]

spiritross

Except the owner of course - dirty fucking sexist hippie douchebag - no I'm not talking about all the peter pans in billyburg - though...

longacre

Most famous fashion designers are below average in the attractiveness department, but they hire hot models because they're businessmen first and foremost. Dov is no different.

wingedearth

Why would they want to hire ugly people to associate with their brand? If American Apparel were filled with ugly workers, I wouldn't want to go in there.

Ugly people should look for jobs as prison guards, dishwashers, civil service workers, and supervillains.

Potty Boy

Go American Apparel! All for it.

jules1000

I think every clothing store hires people who visually fit to their brand. They just don't do the judging so openly with polaroids. Because in other clothing stores the person who hires has the authority (and knowledge what the brand needs) to hire the right person.

yamon

Y'all crazy - I find it no stretch of the imagination to see any retail clothing store in NYC following these exact same guidelines in hiring. Walk into a clothier in Manhattan and not find good looking people would be more of a story. Shame on this cracker for being so blatant about it but let's have some perspective people....

Jen S

Clothier? Is that like a haberdashery?

Cautious Pessimist

And then it's off to the apothecary.

Mr. Know-It-All

I have an appointment with my milliner, right after I see to my coiffure.

Mr. Know-It-All

Any company that can get people who actually believe themselves to hip to where terrycloth headbands and 70s gym shorts with striped knee socks must be doing something right in the marketing department. I see that shit now and I finally understand why my parents laughed at everything we thought was fashionable in the 70s and 80s.

angry_pickle

I agree. Their clothing is cheap-looking, ill-fitting, and skanky. And that's just the men's clothing.

jules1000

it's not only cheap looking, it's also bad quality. I bought a couple of things and had to throw them out after a few months...

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

MEOW to the green stripped cat girl.

theLtrain

Who cares? People are gonna buy american apparel clothes no matter what.

Dov charney is insane and runs a comical sitcom-like business. I say let them both be.