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Comment by zach | Hacker News Reader

This is highly relevant for the recently-bankrupt American Apparel, which has a fundamental proposition (even in its name) of producing clothing in the USA:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-american-apparel-manuf...

Wages in their current location will be rising from $9/hour to $15/hour over the next five years. It doesn't seem tenable in that situation to produce goods at the same level of technology that overseas workers use. So this may be the perfect opportunity to get serious about automation for clothing manufacturing. Send in the sewbots.

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The Los Angeles Fashion District / Garment District is dying regardless of minimum wage hikes. A lot of business was from Mexico and China is going direct to Mexico these days. Also, a recent crackdown on money laundering aggravated the situation: http://www.latimes.com/local/crime/la-me-fashion-district-ra... . Unfortunately, minimum wage doesn't apply to many of these shops. They're mostly cash under the table jobs. I don't have a source for that other than knowing many, many seamstresses over the years who are now mostly out of work.

When I first learned American Apparel was made in the U.S. years ago, I really tried to like their products. In my case I wanted to buy their underware, and sports ware.

Every year I would feel that material, and think to myself, who buys their product. Their choice of material was always cheap feeling, and didn't fell good when put on.

I don't know why declared for bankruptcy, but quality of manufacture was the reason I didn't buy. A few years ago, I was astounded they were still in business.

I had no gripes to the quality of sewing; it was their fit, and grade of material that didn't get my dollar. Yea, I know a lot of you loved their hoodies. I have a bulky, polyester blend you can have in my closet. I might have used it while working under my truck, because I didn't care if it was ruined?

(In all honesty, the last time I looked at their clothing line was at least ten years ago. They might have cleaned up their act, but it was too late for me.)

Higher labor cost has to be accounted for elsewhere. In their case, with a high retail price and low quality materials.

I think material cost is also the main reason why they only use a few types of fabric. Putting in the largest possible order will have the largest possible discount.

That particular style of thin fabric is fashionable with, for lack of a better word, hipsters. The t-shirts don't feel as substantial as a nice, thick cotton T, but they wear and look like old vintage shirts. The ones that feel kinda cheap are interestingly more expensive.

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