American Apparel just can’t catch a break, heinous hiring policy exposed
Beleaguered clothing retailer American Apparel is in hot water yet again, this time after part of its hiring policy, which states that job applicants must be approved via a “full-body head-to-toe” photo, made its way to Gawker. AA brass says the body shots aren’t to determine attractiveness, but rather, to determine if a potential employee has the sartorial know-how to pull off, say, a lace onesie.
Creative director Marsha Brady (who we assume brushes her hair 100 times per side each night) defended the photographic research, saying, “To really showcase the fashionability of our products, we have to rely on the way our in-store employees style themselves with our clothes.” Wannabe AA applicants who don’t fit the aesthetic may be referred to as “off-brand” (not, you know, ugly) and not up to the exacting standards the company has set for itself. Sure, they might be $80 million in debt, but we’re sure Wall Street will love to hear that American Apparel is really buckling down and tackling the important issues to revive the brand.
• American Apparel has a ‘full body head to toe’ employment policy [Gawker]
