The 2006 Inc. 500 List


- Inc. Magazine
- September 2006

No. 308: American Apparel
Los Angeles, CA

Ranking: 308
Industry: Retail
Founded: 1998
3 Year Growth: 439.9%
Revenue: $211 million
Employees: 4,000
Past Honoree: 2005

What it does: Manufactures cotton clothing in its Los Angeles factory, selling it wholesale and through a network of 140 stores. Why it's growing: Thanks to a rash of publicity—most of it related to the company's "sweatshop free" ethos—American Apparel is a hot brand. Founder Dov Charney misses no opportunity to remind people of his commitment to ethical manufacturing, a message that resonates with young people in urban areas. What's next: Having established a presence in most large U.S. cities, Charney says American Apparel must now look beyond U.S. markets. He expects to open 100 new stores in Europe over the next few years.

See original article:
http://www.inc.com/apps/inc500/viewCompany.jsp?cmpId=2006308