if you were or already have...

[ebscreen]

I've found Sun Apparel to be of better quality in terms of construction. And they lack Dov, which is a plus.
Didn't they get spanked for unfair employment practices recently?

[Gilligan]

Speaking of... I was checking out that new site blanksplus.net and advertising their built in bra tank was a chick wearing a thong... not really sure why she needed to be in a thong with her ass cheeks hanging out but there she was.


Oh, and another +1 for Keya... nice stuff, cheap prices!  Not made in the usa of course.

[ScreenFoo]

I can't say I do a lot of AA stuff, but on an order last year of around 200 or so I printed had two shirts with mill defects.
IMHO pretty crappy at 8 bucks cost--but after them having to overnight two shirts, their pricing makes a little more sense...   

Just did a bit of and order of US made Bella and Canvas for the LBS, very nice shirts.  (and pretty reasonably priced, as well)  Not doing discharge, however.

[ZooCity]

I think I agree on almost all the statements about AA both good/bad actually. 

All of those other issues aside they are, hands-down, the worst supplier we have ever worked with.  I've never worked with any organization that so truly, deeply does not care about their product, about you or the business you give them, whether it's the 50-80k we spend with them yearly or you were Threadless and giving them god knows how much per year.  To qualify that a little, the issue stems from their corporate culture, not their workers, general business model or product.  If they had any serious U.S. competition we would jump ship in a heart beat though.

Our line is primarily AA because:

• It is U.S.-made, a requirement for our retail line, and features a fairly broad selection.
• They are relatively close to us.
• Their clothing, the unisex especially, is well cut to fit a broad span of people.

If you go AA get used to doing your own QC, theirs is basically non-existent, having a reject rate that is astronomically higher than any other brand you buy and having to talk to a bunch of mostly aggro d!ckheads from L.A. to get the problems corrected.

I would not worry about the sexuality connotations with AA.  Anyone who's going to be seriously put off by it probably isn't even aware of them anyway and your brand doesn't have to make prolific use of see-thru nipple shots in all it's ad copy.  You don't need to advertise to you use AA, we don't, we advertise that we are U.S.-made but you'll find less people are willing to put their money where there mouth is on that than you might think.  If it comes up with clientele, just tell them how you feel about AA, I always do.

Quick side note: I'd rather kick cash to a company whose upper mgmt is a bunch of literal jerk-offs than one whose same staff is so directly living off the backs of 'third-world' people around the world and taking far more of their far share for the work 'opportunity' they provide.  When you put it in perspective, being over-sexed doesn't seem like such a big deal.  I do understand how that is to some though.  Onwards...

Tear aways or, better a side seam label with FTC required info on it (why is no one doing this?) would def be nice from them but we private label and leave their tag in.  A lot of shoppers know immediately what size they are in one of these garments and are familiar with the quality.  Their name and tag style is so generic as not to distract too heavily from your brand.  We could pull ours if we wanted but I see no reason to yet. 

Alternative is way to expensive for good retail price points in my opinion and they cannot specify or guarantee an order will be completely of U.S. origin so we use nothing from them. 

If overseas made is not an issue go with some Anvil 980s, pop the tags out and get to hustlin'.   Keyas we checked out were decent too.  I find that every year or so, one of the combed ring spun cotton Ts is being made better than the others but they all have such a similar fit and feel that it's no biggie switching around really. 

 

[brandon]

I've found Sun Apparel to be of better quality in terms of construction. And they lack Dov, which is a plus.
Didn't they get spanked for unfair employment practices recently?

Awesome. Been wanting to hear that. We have been contacted by them and received some samples. I liked them a lot. Going to start throwing them into the mix when we can. Haven't done my research - are they USA made?

Unfair practices - wouldn't be surprised. That sucks. One of the big shot cook guys (Tom Douglas or Mario B. or one of them) owns several eating establishments here in Seattle and got busted stealing over a million in tips from their waitstaff in like three years. Lame!

[Screened Gear]

I've found Sun Apparel to be of better quality in terms of construction. And they lack Dov, which is a plus.
Didn't they get spanked for unfair employment practices recently?

Awesome. Been wanting to hear that. We have been contacted by them and received some samples. I liked them a lot. Going to start throwing them into the mix when we can. Haven't done my research - are they USA made?

Unfair practices - wouldn't be surprised. That sucks. One of the big shot cook guys (Tom Douglas or Mario B. or one of them) owns several eating establishments here in Seattle and got busted stealing over a million in tips from their waitstaff in like three years. Lame!

Sun apparel is great. I get all my AA stuff from them. Cheaper than AA when you have to buy singles or dozens plus singles. I get them next day here. Sun Apparel has their own line. Sun Girl and Sun international. I tested them back about 2 years ago. The girls shirts were really good. Sized nice (not on me) and had alot of cuts all fro the same price. I also liked they had thicker than 4.3 once girls fits. The guys shirts were not as impressive. Compared to AA they were sloppy and shrunk inconsistently. Remember this was a couple of years ago. I think the fabric is made in the US and they are assembled in Mexico.

[JBLUE]

This is directed at the last two post.

1st- Porn on their website? Really? Underwear is not porn. If it were then Sears and JC Penny are screwed. Do you like your women in a Burqa?

2nd- Jon, AA is not the only shirt for fashion. We hardy print on AA that much anymore. There are so many other players in their game that go to retail its not even worth looking in AA's direction. We blow through a ton of Next Level, Pima, Spectra, and a few others.

[ScreenPrinter123]

I'd love to respond at length but I'm on an iPhone. I think your understanding of porn is juvenile, for to even draw the conclusion that only the lack of clothing constitutes porn, which is required, given the jcpenney comparison, is simply telling, but nonetheless pretty prevalent. More than just what you can visibly see -- while although necessary, is isn't sufficient grounds to make something porn -- is the interior act of the will on what you are trying to elicit from viewers. So, for example, far more nudity is shown in the last judgment in the Sistine chapel than american apparel's web pages combined but the two are at opposite spectrums as far as what response they are trying to evoke from the viewer. Ironically, porn always tends to reveal to little about the person -ie, just the body for someone else's pleasure (whether mental or physical)-- all the while thinking it's scandalous because it shows too much - but this is wrong - it shows to little, reducing people to just their body. Sorry, wish I could get into it more but I hate typing on this phone. And no, I like my wife in scandalous clothes - but that's for my eyes - just like what those women are wearing, or lack thereof at aa, is for their husbands' eyes, not yours or mine. Sorry I can't make my case clearer - tired of hitting the backspace on this phone bc of typographical errors.

I'd also like to comment on the whole sweatshop comparison but for the same reasons, cant get into it here either.  Hope you guys are dry wherever you are.

[Denis Kolar]

Jason, Keya is the way to go for regular tees. I like Next Level (Bodek) for the trendy stuff (No discharge please).

[inkstain]

I've been using AA since forevers and still use them for our highend options for customers on my own clothing lines. I've tried other brands and didn't like how they fit and how they wash. The rad thing about them (AA) is their styles, they got a lot. And they usually have good stock which other brands lacked. I remember some other brand not having black mediums, sheesh!  Cut the tags and print your own.

I'm not a fan of the soft porn. To each his own.

Doesn't everyone here have case pricing with them?

[Screened Gear]

2nd- Jon, AA is not the only shirt for fashion. We hardy print on AA that much anymore. There are so many other players in their game that go to retail its not even worth looking in AA's direction. We blow through a ton of Next Level, Pima, Spectra, and a few others.

Jason,

I mean no disrespect but who the hell are you to question my extensive knowledge and greatness. You are a no body in the field of printing high-end fashion. I know all and just questioning my knowledge shows your lack of.

OK back to being serious, I have not seen one fashion shirt ( I have bought and tested alot) that is as consistent and well liked by all like the AA 2001. I am wearing one right now as I type this. I am sure there are better shirts out there (in everyone opinion) but AA has a rep and people ask for it by name.

Jason I have not heard of Pima or Spectra where are they distributed from? Can you give me more info?

[ScreenPrinter123]

I'm not a fan of the soft porn. To each his own.

I think if you read Peter Kreeft's A Refutation of Moral Relativism, that "to each his own" nonsense would cease . Anyone want to do a group book reading to give that theory of morality the kick in the a$$ it deserves?

[tonypep]

For really cool trendy$$ try Eternal Apparel or google Wishbone. If anyone would like a sneak peek at his new stuff p-mail mail me. Again this is pricey but fits a niche.

[mk162]

I sent a customer to their site and there was exposed nipple.  that's fine except he's works for a religious school.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/the-best-of-american-apparel-ads-nsfw

I would consider that soft porn.  It's about what you get in Playboy.

[alan802]

Ok Brad, after seeing some of that, I'll agree, that's got some porn in it.  I wasn't against porn per say, or at all in proper context , but in ads for an American T-shirt and apparel manufacturer?  Little too much for me.  If I want to see porn, or anyone for that matter, they have the right to go where the porn is, having the porn brought to us without asking for it is where I draw the line.  I was against the sexual nature of the accusations against the guy, not really their ad campaign, but I see how it is offensive and crosses the line in my opinion.