Neon and spandex: the two words that come to mind when I hear American Apparel. With countless Pi Phi and fraternity theme parties back in our SMU days, our closets were overflowing with American Apparel gear. From silver spandex leggings for Aspen in the 80s to shiny halter leotards and neon crop tops for (let’s face it) every other theme party, this store was an absolute necessity for our college wardrobes! While we stocked up on everyday wear from the store as well (this mini skirt was my jam), American Apparel was part of our lifestyle – which is why we are so sad to hear that American Apparel will close its LA Headquarters and 110 retail stores by the end of April!
LA Times reports the failing brand’s intellectual property and manufacturing equipment was purchased by Gildan Activewear for $88 million. While American Apparel was manufacturing all of its products in LA, the Canadian brand plans to shift the manufacturing outside of the US.
Will Gildan Activewear maintain the same styles we grew to love, or do you think we will say goodbye to those quirky favorites? We’ll have to wait and see – but until then, time to start stocking up on those favorite pieces – you never know when you’ll need some gold lamé leggings!
