No, Los Angeles Apparel is not a fast fashion brand. Founded by Dov Charney, the company operates on a vertically integrated model in the US, prioritizing durable basics and fair local labor over the high-volume, trend-driven model of fast fashion giants.
While the brand succeeds in providing better-than-average labor ethics, its sustainability practices are moderate and lack clear environmental commitments. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Los Angeles Apparel's practices.
Los Angeles Apparel's business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion. It prioritizes local manufacturing, quality craftsmanship, and timeless collections over speed and disposability.
Los Angeles Apparel demonstrates a commitment to ethical, US-based labor that stands out from the industry average, but its claims are not backed by independent certifications.
All of Los Angeles Apparel's workers are employed directly in their Los Angeles factories, where they are paid between $15 to $20 per hour - above the California minimum wage. The company also states that it provides benefits like healthcare and paid time off. However, while these wages are above the legal minimum, they fall short of a calculated living wage for a single adult in Los Angeles, which is estimated to be between $25–$30 per hour.
The company is transparent about its direct factory locations and general wage information. This vertical integration allows for significant oversight of its production process. However, this transparency does not extend to its raw material sourcing, and there are no public third-party audits to verify its working conditions independently.
Los Angeles Apparel's product range is almost entirely focused on cotton and synthetic materials. The brand does not use animal-derived products like leather, fur, or wool, effectively avoiding animal welfare concerns by design.
Los Angeles Apparel’s sustainability efforts are moderate. While its local production model reduces its carbon footprint, it lags on sustainable material usage and clear environmental goals.
LAA uses a mix of conventional cotton, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and recycled fabrics. However, sustainable materials only account for a small portion of their total output, estimated to be around 20-30% of their collection. The bulk of their products are made from conventional, non-certified materials.
Manufacturing everything in Los Angeles significantly cuts down on transportation emissions compared to brands with global supply chains. The company also reports using eco-friendly dyes and aims for a low-impact manufacturing process. However, it does not publish any data regarding its CO2 emissions, water usage, or chemical management, making its total environmental impact difficult to assess.
The brand currently has no formal take-back, recycling, or repair programs to extend the life of its garments. Its durable product design promotes longevity, which counters the disposability of fast fashion, but it lacks a true circular model. Excess deadstock fabric is reportedly repurposed internally, but there is no broader waste-reduction strategy shared publicly.
Los Angeles Apparel is a definitively better option than traditional fast fashion, but it's not a leader in the sustainable and ethical space. Its commitment to onshore, fair-wage labor is its greatest strength, but a lack of transparency and commitment on the environmental front holds it back.
Los Angeles Apparel earns a B for paying above-minimum wages, providing benefits, and maintaining a transparent, US-based manufacturing operation. This is a commendable model that sets a positive example. The grade is held back from an A due to the lack of independent audits or certifications to verify its claims and concerns that its wages still may not meet a true living wage standard for Los Angeles.
For sustainability, Los Angeles Apparel gets a C+. While its local production model reduces transportation emissions and its products are built to last, the brand falls short on key metrics. The limited quantity of sustainable fabrics used, coupled with an absence of clear environmental targets and data reporting, indicate that sustainability is not a primary focus for the company.
If you're looking for brands that offer similar styles with stronger, certified commitments to both workers and the planet, here are some great alternatives.
An industry leader, Patagonia is a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member with 87% of its line made from recycled materials. The brand is Fair Trade Certified, offers an Ironclad Guarantee with a repair program, and is deeply committed to climate goals and supply chain transparency.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Offering minimalist basics with "radical transparency," Everlane discloses its factory costs and is Climate Neutral Certified. The B Corp uses 90%+ certified organic cotton and recycled materials in its latest collections and has robust auditing programs to ensure fair wages in its partner factories.
Shop now at everlane.com
A certified B Corp that plants ten trees for every item sold, TenTree uses 95%+ sustainable materials like TENCEL, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. It ensures ethical manufacturing across its transparent supply chain and offers comfortable, casual basics perfect for everyday wear.
Shop now at tentree.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is guaranteed Fair Trade by the WTFO and uses almost exclusively organic, GOTS-certified materials. The brand is dedicated to supporting artisans and farmers in the developing world with fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Focused on American manufacturing, Amour Vert produces 97% of its products in California using sustainable materials like TENCEL Modal and certified organic cotton. The brand also plants a tree for every tee purchased and has a public goal of full material traceability.
Shop now at amourvert.com
No, they are separate companies. Los Angeles Apparel was founded in 2016 by Dov Charney, the original founder who was ousted from American Apparel. While LAA shares a similar aesthetic of colorful basics and a "Made in USA" ethos, American Apparel is now owned by Gildan Activewear and a majority of its products are no longer made in the USA.
While Los Angeles Apparel pays its workers an hourly wage of $15-$20, which is above California's minimum wage, this likely does not meet the established living wage for Los Angeles County. Estimates from organizations like the MIT Living Wage Calculator suggest a single adult needs $25-$30 per hour to cover basic living expenses in the area.
The price difference is due to its commitment to domestic manufacturing and fair labor. Paying US workers wages that are above the legal minimum, plus offering benefits, is significantly more expensive than outsourcing labor to countries with lower labor costs and weaker worker protections, where fast fashion brands typically produce their clothes.
