The Fall Of American Apparel: Why A Founder’s Genius Is Not Enough

The iconic brand American Apparel is no longer American. Canadian firm Gildan Activewear recently purchased the name and some manufacturing equipment for $88 million but declined to buy the brand’s stores and manufacturing in the United States. It marks an ignoble ending to what was once a leading fashion staple. And another level in the fall from grace for its founder Dov Charney. Canadian entrepreneur Dov Charney started importing American clothes to his hometown of Montreal when he was in high school. By his freshman year in college, he was using the trade name “American Apparel.” But even at that early stage, it was becoming clear that he lacked the vital soft skills of communication and relationship building to keep a partner. His earliest partners had already walked away, saying he was difficult to work with. However, Charney wasn’t deterred. In fact, he stated, “When you believe in what you’re doing, that’s the first thing. And you have to be resilient, because people are going to try to knock you down.” Read more at Entrepreneur.