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The dark side of American fashion

By Jasmin James

Published Oct. 8, 2010

In a crowded, stuffy warehouse, hundreds of women scramble to seam together hems of pants and attach sleeves to shirts. The room is smelly, and there are carriers filled with crying, tiny babies on the floor. The supervisor comes in and yells at the women to hurry or else they may not leave. Scared workers now rush to attach embellishments and details until they are finally sent home with little pay and no anticipation of change.

This description represents many unfair labor practices around the world. More specifically, it highlights the horrible working conditions and underpayment of garment workers in an industry that makes so much money. What some do not know, though, is that this description almost mimics what goes on right here on our own soil.

Fashion has forever been a competition between price and quality. Stores such as Target, H&M and Armani Exchange offer popular name brands as well as generic brands that have looks inspired by the runway. One company in particular has continued to climb the ranks of discount retailers during the last 10 years and is now a powerhouse in the ever expanding and contracting retail market — Forever 21. South Korean immigrant Dong-Won Chang and his wife started the store in a small, 900-square-foot storefront in Los Angeles. It has now grown into a well-established national brand and operates in more than 450 stores worldwide.

Yet, as wonderful as it is to know such a success story exists in modern America, it is hard to stomach how the company grew to such magnitude. Using unfair labor practices, underpaid workers and no sympathy for the human condition, Forever 21 executives relied on sweatshops housed in the historic fashion district of Los Angeles to make its clothing, accessories and money.

The documentary "Made in L.A." follows the journey of a group of women who, with the help of LA's Garment Worker Center, change the labor laws and embark on a journey to change the world. All are undocumented immigrants who are told they have no rights, no voice and no hope. But as they learn more and more about the labor laws and themselves, they evolve into confident, strong women who are activists for a universal cause. Through several ups and downs, "Made in L.A." shows what it really means to be an American.

On the other side of the spectrum, Los Angeles-based company American Apparel has worked diligently to change unfair labor practices across the country. Its campaign, Legalize L.A., specifically focuses on the rights of all Americans — legal and illegal.

CEO and Founder Dov Charney explained the multiple roles media outlets, politicians and business play in restricting immigrants' rights. The company continues to strive for immigrants' rights and workers' rights by lobbying, rallying and educating the American public. It has published a series of propaganda with different opinions, a breakdown of how clothes are made in its factories versus other apparel companies and a timeline highlighting the struggle for workers' rights over the last century.

American-made products strengthen our economy, but at the cost of civil rights and responsibility, we lose so much more. Legalize L.A. pamphlets are available at all American Apparel retailers, and its entire platform can be found on the company's website.

The next time you buy "American-made," consider the source.