Labor and Fashion

American Apparel

Fashion: No Sweat American Apparel knows fashion – the retail giant’s cutting-edge clothing has become synonymous with “trendsetting brands” – but the company has most distinguished itself over the years for bucking one troubling trend. As all other major retailers have outsourced their manufacturing to the third world, enticed by cheap labor, American Apparel has remained planted in the United States, sweatshop free. American Apparel clothing is made at the company’s 800,000 square-foot location in downtown Los Angeles, the nation’s largest garment factory. C.E.O. Dov Charney pays his workers almost twice the California minimum wage and offers health insurance for $8 a week, both rarities on the bottom rung of the U.

Giorgio Armani

Born in Piacenza, Italy, in 1934, Giorgio Armani is a famous fashion designer known in particular known for his menswear. He formed his company, Armani, in 1974, with $10,000. By 2001, he was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with a yearly turnover of $1.7 billion and a personal fortune of $4.1 billion. Today, Armani S.P.A. owns many branches and subsidiaries -- Giorgio Armani Private, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Exchange A/X, Armani Junior and Armani Casa -- manufacturing accessories, cosmetics, home interiors, fragrances, jewels, sunglasses and watches. Armani employs close to 4,700 people in 13 locations around the world and sells his products in about 300 stores across the globe.

Nike

Nike (originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports), was founded in 1964 by track athlete Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman (who died in 1999). Nike is a publicly traded sportswear and equipment manufacturer based in the US. Nike’s headquarters are in Oregon. The company gained its final name in 1978, taken from the Greek’s mythology goddess of victory, Nike. The company owns many subsidiaries including Hurley International, Umbro and Converse. On top of manufacturing sportswear and equipment, Nike also operates retail stores under the Niketown name. The famous “Swoosh” logo company sponsors many high profile athletes and sports team around the world, with the highly recognized trademark of “Just do it.

The Gap

Doris and Don Fisher opened the first Gap store in Ocean Avenue, San Francisco. What was at the beginning a denim, records and tapes store aimed at "making easier to find a pair of jean‘s," has now become one of world’s largest specialty retailer. In 2006, Gap inc (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime) fiscal revenue reached $ 15.9 billion. The headquarters of the apparel industry giant is still in San Francisco, but the product design offices are scattered in New York City, San Francisco and London. Gap inc owns no less than 3,191 shops around the world though the company distributes its products only in the U.

Thomas Hilfiger

Thomas Jacob Hilfiger, born in Elmira, New York in 1951, is a world famous American fashion designer and creator of the eponymous “Tommy Hilfiger” and “Tommy” brands. After high-school, rather than furthering his education, he started to work in retail at the age of 18. Hilfiger would walk down New York City to lay his hands on denims and bell-bottom pants which he customized and resold at a local downtown Elmira store. He later opened his own store, The People’s Place, in Elmira. Though the shop was a popular venue for teenagers with frequent contests and live DJ appearances, there were often more people hanging out than actually shopping.

Zara

Zara is the flagship chain store for Inditex Group owned by Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega. The group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Stradivarius and Bershka. Inditex is headquartered in Arteixa, North Spain, where the first Zara store opened in 1975. Today, the group is most likely the world’s fastest growing retailer with Zara. It is a business model which has enabled it to expand quickly, opening further stores, and compete with quality brands at reasonable prices. It is the third-ranking distributor of fashion in the world. Gap and H&M are the only companies that can compete with Zara.