Overview

• Netflix has released Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel as part of its anthology series, revisiting the brand’s internal abuses and legal controversies
• Former staffers describe Dov Charney as charismatic yet unpredictable, pressuring young employees into suggestive photoshoots and reinforcing a personality cult
• The documentary details multiple sexual harassment allegations and high-profile lawsuits that culminated in Charney’s removal as CEO in 2014
• After back-to-back bankruptcies in 2015 and 2016, Gildan Activewear has rebranded American Apparel as an online-only label while Los Angeles Apparel expands its U.S. manufacturing footprint
• In-depth interviews highlight how the label’s early ethos of ethical, made-in-USA fashion concealed systemic dysfunction and long-term emotional harm