American Apparel

The largest clothing manufacturer in the United States. They design, manufacture and sell high quality clothing that fits well and looks good, and is made in America. They pay their workers an average of over $12 an hour, while workers for companies that outsource to the third world often make less than a dollar an hour. Their advertising has no airbrushing, and usually uses normal people at stores or who send their photos to the website. Their photos in-store genuinely reflect what an average person would look like in their clothing.

They're probably best known for their basics: t-shirts, tights, socks, hoodies, leggings and underwear in a huge variety of solid colors and patterns, as well as every size imaginable. Everything fits well, looks good, and lasts pretty much forever. The t-shirts are particularly good for screen printing.

Hipsters will criticize it for becoming popular with the teen audience, but if you think something is bad simply because of who likes it, then you really need to rethink all of your opinions.

Yes, it's priced slightly higher than most other retailers, but only those who have never felt the cozy fit of an AA t-shirt would prefer a $4 bad karma, low quality Wal-Mart shirt.

Person A: "I got the best t-shirt ever at American Apparel last month! It fits as if it's custom-made, and it's still like new after 4 times in the wash!"
Person B: "Well, I got one in the same color last month too from somewhere but it's faded and worn out already. But it's still better because YOU'RE just some mainstream teen who follows trends."
Person A: "If it's sweatshop-free mainstream, it's good."

"I started shopping at American Apparel. It costs more, but it's worth it because it supports the American economy, and it's the only clothing I have that stays comfy and good-looking forever."

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