Supplier profile American Apparel Your wholesale destination
American Apparel is the largest clothing manufacturer in North America - producing nearly one million garments each week at its state-of-the-art factory in downtown Los Angeles
O
ur vertically integrated, sweatshop- free operation runs on the efforts of nearly 6,000 industrial and textile workers who receive fair wages and have access to affordable healthcare and competitive benefits.
It has become an industry standard to move manufacturing overseas to vendors who rely on exploitative labour tactics to keep costs low. Rather than chasing cheaper labour, American Apparel is committed to leveraging art, design, technology and efficiency to advance our business model so that our garment workers can continue to be among the highest paid in the world. At American Apparel, most of our manufacturing happens beneath one roof in downtown LA, and the rest occurs within a 30-mile radius. We knit, dye, cut, sew and ship everything in-house, which means we have more direct control of quality and speed to market. Vertical integration is not only smart for our company, but also for our community, the economy, the environment and, in turn, our customers. Centralising all stages of the business process, from design to distribution, allows for quick employee mobilisation and an ability to immediately respond to changes in the market.
Because our manufacturing is spatially agglomerated, our carbon footprint is less than that of companies who must ship components across the globe in order to complete just a single product. The EPA standards in California are some of the strictest in the US; therefore our practices are inherently greener. We are continually researching and developing the ecological components of our business model, and are recycling nearly all of our industrial waste, including textiles, cardboard, plastic and metal – making us virtually landfill-free. We are constantly seeking out improved practices and technologies that we can apply to our business model. American Apparel employees are the backbone of our operation, so we treat
Our average factory wage is $12 dollars an hour, with some wages reaching $22 dollars an hour for highly skilled workers —the highest pay worldwide for the manufacturing of apparel basics, and significantly more than Californiaʼs minimum wage. For us, higher pay means stronger employee morale, optimised productivity and efficiency, a better and more consistent quality of work and ultimately, a happier employee who wants to stay and grow with the company. In addition to nearly 250 bricks and mortar stores in more than 20 countries, we also have a wholesale presence in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and
our people well. We believe that better manufacturing practices begin with the basics: fair wages, low-cost health benefits, weekly massages, subsidised lunches as well as transportation and an on-site medical clinic.
Germany. We offer a quality-driven custom-ordering program, and we measure our turnaround time in days and weeks, not months like most competitors. You will typically receive your sample 7- 10 business days after placing your order, and your complete order 2-4 weeks after approving your sample. Customers in the UK are eligible for 2-3 day shipping, 7 days a week, LAX to Heathrow. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm (GMT). We can sew private labels into any of our products or customise nearly any product. At our headquarters we have a brand new, easily accessible wholesale showroom, displaying our entire collection, including new, signature and best-selling styles.
Our wholesale line is one of the most extensive in the business, offering more than 188 innovative styles and 131 exciting colours.
Our wholesale line is constantly expanding so that we can bring our customers more of our best-selling retail items at wholesale prices. Although weʼre historically known for our classic T shirts and fleece products, we have recently introduced a unisex denim jacket and a selection of denim gym and tote bags to our wholesale line. Now with even more fashion forward basics, American Apparel is your go-to destination for your wholesale needs.
Contact information:
■Phone: 020 3206 2046 ■ Fax: 020 7494 4478 ■ Email:
infouk@americanapparel.net ■ Website:
www.americanapparel.net/wholesaleresources/infoUK
| 44 | August 2012
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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