rtw88 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I have one AA shirt that's a band shirt that I bought before I knew about Dov Charney, and I'm not going to lie, it's probably my comfiest shirt. However, I've since decided not to buy AA. We have one here in Gainesville, and I've noticed that the majority of their clothes are ugly as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanukichu Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I have a good handful of AA shirts because they're band shirts. I will admit, they're comfy and they fit me nicely but there are plenty of other companies that make clothes like that and have far better business practices and conduct. I only ever bought the shirts to support the bands. However, ever since AA has been exposed for the true scummy company they are, I've noticed bands aren't getting merch printed on AA anymore. PS. Grover is adorable. That photo of him makes me smile for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcm1610 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Actually I found another shirt that's AA. I have an Against Me! shirt from a tour in like 2005ish that immediately got a hole in the back and has the same shoulder issues as my other one which I ordered from No Idea online and didn't know what company it was. I don't know why it does what it does, but it's like someone scrunched their shoulders forward, and that's how the shirts stay unless I actively make sure they aren't that way (but then they return to that position anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburbanargyle Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Like someone above me said, I'll wear it if it's a band shirt I really like, but they really don't fit that well and they're thin as hell. I've got 2 that I can think of: The Ergs! (Black Flag bars logo), and Dear Landlord (Spring 07 Coast To Coast Tour). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nefariousfig Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I always find it odd that people choose AA as the company to take a moral stand against. I suspect it has to do with how AA has become the poster-company for the most obnoxious type of 'hipster' (whom I agree are super annoying). AA has a lot of terrible shit on its hands - from preventing unionization to their ridiculous sexism and Dov Charney being one of the biggest fuckheads on the planet - and these things are certainly worthy of boycotting the company for. But their labour standards are also leaps and bounds better than the vast majority of major clothing brands that most people (many of whom boycott AA) wear without question. I really don't know if I can properly emphasize how much better they are than most major brands. I'm doing an M.A. right now and my area of research revolves around labour standards and sweatshops, and I can say without hesitation that the conditions of AA's factories can't even be compared to most other places. Which is not to say that they're even close to being great, but is rather testament to how terrible most company's labour standards are. The KnowMore article that someone linked to earlier is an excellent resource - it points out the many problems with AA, but also talks at great length about the general progressiveness of the organization. AA provides workers a living wage, offers cheap health plans, free English classes, libraries, subsidized bus passes, massages, help with immigration documents, etc. What other garment manufacturers do that? I realize I'm probably coming off as some sort of AA crusader, which isn't really the case - while I do own a bit of AA clothing (I find they're one of few companies whose clothing actually fits relatively short males such as myself), I would much prefer if people bought from thrift stores or more ethical companies such as No Sweat. But as someone really concerned with labour rights, I feel it's important that AA's progressive labour practices be highlighted, especially in comparison to most of the companies we as consumers unquestioningly buy stuff from. AA still has a long way to go with their labour issues, and their pervasive sexism/harrassment is despicable and certainly worthy of boycotting, but they're WAY more progressive than the vast majority of corporations. Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away. My general point is that AA can be considered worthy of boycott, but I truly hope that you're also boycotting countless other clothing brands for committing far worse worker violations. Oh, and if you just don't like their clothes, that's alright too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidamnesiac Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Funny story. I wanted a pair of American Apparel swim trunks. So when me and my lady were going down to Amoeba on Record Store Day, we stopped at the AA store in Hollywood. The dude at the cash register was like, "So uh, are you guys like best friends? Room mates?" And I had to tell him, "I'm not gay man. We're together." What the fuck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthemjfan23 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 he was trying to immasculate you in front of what he knew was your girlfriend because he thought she was cute and he wanted to feel better about himself. congratulations, you made a hipster jealous. :-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kissthesharks Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 he was trying to immasculate you in front of what he knew was your girlfriend because he thought she was cute and he wanted to feel better about himself. congratulations, you made a hipster jealous. :-\ Dan is never wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enjoyadrian Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 i have a bunch of AA shirts because theyre band shirts. I dont see how theyre comfortable over a shirt that is fruit of the loom or something. Though i do have a ra ra riot shirt that is printed on AA 50/50 blend, and it's the most comfortable shirt i own. My girlfriend likes buying the plain AA shirts. I just dont get it =/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidamnesiac Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 he was trying to immasculate you in front of what he knew was your girlfriend because he thought she was cute and he wanted to feel better about himself. congratulations, you made a hipster jealous.Either that, or he himself was gay and was about to make a pass at me. I'm not stoked with the implications of either scenario.I guess it makes sense, seeing as the girl looks like a damn American Apparel ad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthemjfan23 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 yeah, she's a cutie. but then again, so are you, and he works at an AA store, so maybe you're right, too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrickemmons Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 Haha - this thread went nuts. I wanted that specific wallet because I want to make a cyanotype print on it. Basically I'd coat the wallet in the cyanotype fluid and let it dry. Then put a negative on top of it and squish it in a contact frame. It exposes in the sun for 5-10 min and then you develop it in water + hydrogen peroxide. It makes a permanent print on the wallet of a photograph or any artwork I make on the computer. I think it would be cool to try out - but AA online only has dark colors available. Here is a limited edition CD sleeve I'm in the process of making with this same method: Here they are pre-cut and sewn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Thanks for the inspiration to go nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Oh, P.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgoodcore Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I always find it odd that people choose AA as the company to take a moral stand against. I suspect it has to do with how AA has become the poster-company for the most obnoxious type of 'hipster' (whom I agree are super annoying).AA has a lot of terrible shit on its hands - from preventing unionization to their ridiculous sexism and Dov Charney being one of the biggest fuckheads on the planet - and these things are certainly worthy of boycotting the company for. But their labour standards are also leaps and bounds better than the vast majority of major clothing brands that most people (many of whom boycott AA) wear without question. I really don't know if I can properly emphasize how much better they are than most major brands. I'm doing an M.A. right now and my area of research revolves around labour standards and sweatshops, and I can say without hesitation that the conditions of AA's factories can't even be compared to most other places. Which is not to say that they're even close to being great, but is rather testament to how terrible most company's labour standards are. The KnowMore article that someone linked to earlier is an excellent resource - it points out the many problems with AA, but also talks at great length about the general progressiveness of the organization. AA provides workers a living wage, offers cheap health plans, free English classes, libraries, subsidized bus passes, massages, help with immigration documents, etc. What other garment manufacturers do that? I realize I'm probably coming off as some sort of AA crusader, which isn't really the case - while I do own a bit of AA clothing (I find they're one of few companies whose clothing actually fits relatively short males such as myself), I would much prefer if people bought from thrift stores or more ethical companies such as No Sweat. But as someone really concerned with labour rights, I feel it's important that AA's progressive labour practices be highlighted, especially in comparison to most of the companies we as consumers unquestioningly buy stuff from. AA still has a long way to go with their labour issues, and their pervasive sexism/harrassment is despicable and certainly worthy of boycotting, but they're WAY more progressive than the vast majority of corporations. Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away. My general point is that AA can be considered worthy of boycott, but I truly hope that you're also boycotting countless other clothing brands for committing far worse worker violations. Oh, and if you just don't like their clothes, that's alright too. Do you have any kind of resource for finding good, ethical, eco-friendly manufacturers of clothing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drahtuos Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Haha - this thread went nuts.I wanted that specific wallet because I want to make a cyanotype print on it. Basically I'd coat the wallet in the cyanotype fluid and let it dry. Then put a negative on top of it and squish it in a contact frame. It exposes in the sun for 5-10 min and then you develop it in water + hydrogen peroxide. It makes a permanent print on the wallet of a photograph or any artwork I make on the computer. I think it would be cool to try out - but AA online only has dark colors available. Here is a limited edition CD sleeve I'm in the process of making with this same method: Here they are pre-cut and sewn: oh i see, those are really cool man +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante3000 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 he was trying to immasculate you in front of what he knew was your girlfriend because he thought she was cute and he wanted to feel better about himself. congratulations, you made a hipster jealous. :-\ Dan is never wrong. Except about everything...ever. Especially if it involves a vagina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whateverrrr Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 We're calling vaginas boxes from now on. Exclusively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante3000 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 We're calling vaginas boxes from now on. Exclusively. If you're doing that can we rename the sport of boxing to "Vaginaing"? Just to avoid confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whateverrrr Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I was hoping someone would bring that up. Because I have what used to be known as a vagina, I didn't think I'd be the right person to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xadamhudsonx Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I can't stand AA add campaigns. Most of their models gross me the fuck out. Going into an AA store is like jerking off to Vice magazine... you just feel bad about yourself afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrickemmons Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 The ad campaigns are terrible - I'm not a big fan of AA to be honest - but these wallets are cool and made of soft fabric so they'll print well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesomexloveus Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 we did something like that in my printmaking class, except we used lighter fluid and carbon based xerox's of photographs. ...so really it wasn't anything like that. :[ but it's super cool nonetheless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Remember Liquid Light? They still make that shit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentgods Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Oh, P.S. adbusters is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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