Monday, 29 June 2009
Link to the petition
I invite you to commit to the boycott by signing the Petition to American Apparel, Incorporated and Supporting Companies.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
americanapparelboycott.com
Hi all, in consideration of the thoughts I delineated in the previous post, I've written a petition. At the moment I'm considering to buy the americanapparelboycott.com domain name. It's only $10 a month, so if anyone would like to pitch in we could split the cost amongst ourselves. I think I have a way to host the website, so that shouldn't be a problem. At the moment I'm not sure what all would go on the site, but it wouldn't have to be very complicated. Just the petition, a way to record names, information about why we're doing this, etc. If you aren't interested in joining this cause, I don't mind and won't be offended. But PLEASE DO NOT AGREE TO THIS PETITION IF YOU INTEND ON BUYING AMERICAN APPAREL CLOTHING WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN THE COMPANY'S ADVERTISING. I would find that extremely offensive and counterproductive. If you'd like to join the petition, leave a comment saying so and I'll include you once I set everything up.
I'm not asking anyone to stop wearing the American Apparel clothing they already own. The clothing is very comfortable, and as I've mentioned my five favorite shirts are AA-made. Depriving yourself of already-bought clothing is pointless, as American Apparel could give two shits what you do with your clothing after you buy it. If you want to donate it, burn it, or leave it in your closet in protest, be my guest. But I'm not asking any of those things from this petition.
What would be helpful, however, is contacting companies you know that buy and sell American Apparel T-shirts. Think of the bands and companies from which you've bought American Apparel-made shirts. Don't just send them the petition, but rather explain to them your opinion, tell them you're a previous customer, and tell them you won't buy their shit unless they change.
Please suggest any improvements that may be made to the petition.
EDIT: The link I had posted below may not be legitimate. Its Web of Trust rating is questionable, so please don't give your information if you haven't already done so. If I do receive the sticker I signed up for, I'll let you know.
Also, you can apparently go to [LINK REMOVED], enter your address, and receive a free bumper sticker. Not sure if it's legit, but worth passing on.
And just so I don't start taking myself way too seriously:
The Onion article
(Oh, and if you don't know what the hell I'm talking about in terms of their advertising, go to their website. Just don't go past the homepage. Because you'll probably just end up buying scrunchies.)
And now that it's on the Internet, I have no choice but to go through with it...
A Petition to American Apparel, Incorporated and Supporting Companies:
We, the undersigned, commit to a boycott of all American Apparel brand products until the brand discontinues use of exploitative or pornographic depictions of individuals in its advertising. Each undersigned individual will use his or her definitions of exploitation and pornography to determine whether or not American Apparel has discontinued these practices in its advertising.
To companies that purchase and/or sell American Apparel brand clothing, we ask you to discontinue your purchase of American Apparel clothing until the brand no longer uses exploitative or pornographic depictions in its advertising. We, the undersigned, refuse to buy from you any American Apparel brand product until satisfactory changes are made to the brand's advertising. Is American Apparel's use of exploitation and pornography compatible with your company values? While we may be too few in number to sufficiently impact your revenues or American Apparel's, your discontinued use of the brand has a direct, visible, and significant impact. With the support of enough companies such as your own, it will be in American Apparel's best financial interest to discontinue exploitation in advertising.
We, the undersigned, believe that exploitative and pornographic depictions such as the ones currently used in American Apparel's advertising have a negative impact on both the individuals depicted in the advertising and many individuals who view them. It is out of concern for these individuals that we commit to this boycott.
I'm not asking anyone to stop wearing the American Apparel clothing they already own. The clothing is very comfortable, and as I've mentioned my five favorite shirts are AA-made. Depriving yourself of already-bought clothing is pointless, as American Apparel could give two shits what you do with your clothing after you buy it. If you want to donate it, burn it, or leave it in your closet in protest, be my guest. But I'm not asking any of those things from this petition.
What would be helpful, however, is contacting companies you know that buy and sell American Apparel T-shirts. Think of the bands and companies from which you've bought American Apparel-made shirts. Don't just send them the petition, but rather explain to them your opinion, tell them you're a previous customer, and tell them you won't buy their shit unless they change.
Please suggest any improvements that may be made to the petition.
EDIT: The link I had posted below may not be legitimate. Its Web of Trust rating is questionable, so please don't give your information if you haven't already done so. If I do receive the sticker I signed up for, I'll let you know.
Also, you can apparently go to [LINK REMOVED], enter your address, and receive a free bumper sticker. Not sure if it's legit, but worth passing on.
And just so I don't start taking myself way too seriously:
The Onion article
(Oh, and if you don't know what the hell I'm talking about in terms of their advertising, go to their website. Just don't go past the homepage. Because you'll probably just end up buying scrunchies.)
And now that it's on the Internet, I have no choice but to go through with it...
A Petition to American Apparel, Incorporated and Supporting Companies:
We, the undersigned, commit to a boycott of all American Apparel brand products until the brand discontinues use of exploitative or pornographic depictions of individuals in its advertising. Each undersigned individual will use his or her definitions of exploitation and pornography to determine whether or not American Apparel has discontinued these practices in its advertising.
To companies that purchase and/or sell American Apparel brand clothing, we ask you to discontinue your purchase of American Apparel clothing until the brand no longer uses exploitative or pornographic depictions in its advertising. We, the undersigned, refuse to buy from you any American Apparel brand product until satisfactory changes are made to the brand's advertising. Is American Apparel's use of exploitation and pornography compatible with your company values? While we may be too few in number to sufficiently impact your revenues or American Apparel's, your discontinued use of the brand has a direct, visible, and significant impact. With the support of enough companies such as your own, it will be in American Apparel's best financial interest to discontinue exploitation in advertising.
We, the undersigned, believe that exploitative and pornographic depictions such as the ones currently used in American Apparel's advertising have a negative impact on both the individuals depicted in the advertising and many individuals who view them. It is out of concern for these individuals that we commit to this boycott.
22.6.09
While folding my coolest shirts, I was reminded of how pissed off I am at American Apparel. What the hell? I'm not really sure how my initial brand associations with the company were formed, but I thought they started out as being all about Made in the USA, grassroots support, ethical business practices. What happened? Today I saw an online ad for American Apparel scrunchies. I'm going to post the ad, but by clicking you are promising me and yourself that you will not be positively influenced by half-nude models wearing colorful hair ties. [Missing link]
Side note: American brand crisps are the cheapest per weight by far that you can buy at the Tesco below me. Pringles and Doritos are packaged generally the same as in the States. The rest of the brands sell these big bags each containing 6 or more individual bags. Pick them up and there's nothing to them! I looked at the weight and it said 6x18g. That's 108g to Pringles' 155. I tried to compare their unit price, but the Pringles were per kilogram and the big bags were per individual bag! Come on. It might not have been that big of a difference, but there was no way I was buying what I perceived to be air. Plus the packaging waste in those things is absurd. For as supposedly environmentally conscious as London is, you'd think those would have been phased out by now. The only problem with Pringles is once you... well, you know the jingle. So true. [But how is that a benefit? Maybe that's why they don't use it anymore.]
Oh for God sakes. I go to the American Apparel site looking for that ad I saw and their images are literally CLOTHED PORN WHAT THE HELL. Then they show like ten pictures of some Mexicans at their factory as if I'm supposed to give them my vote for humanitarian of the fucking year.
They call it "Civil Branding". I call it hypocrisy.
Oh okay, great, that's just an image of a topless girl. Fuck you, American Apparel, I'm never buying another article of clothing from you FUCKING EVER AGAIN. And if I do by accident from some band or some shit I'm returning it. Total bullshit. Thanks for making me feel dirty every time I wear one of my five favorite shirts.
Oh, I couldn't have chosen a better spokesperson.
Side note: American brand crisps are the cheapest per weight by far that you can buy at the Tesco below me. Pringles and Doritos are packaged generally the same as in the States. The rest of the brands sell these big bags each containing 6 or more individual bags. Pick them up and there's nothing to them! I looked at the weight and it said 6x18g. That's 108g to Pringles' 155. I tried to compare their unit price, but the Pringles were per kilogram and the big bags were per individual bag! Come on. It might not have been that big of a difference, but there was no way I was buying what I perceived to be air. Plus the packaging waste in those things is absurd. For as supposedly environmentally conscious as London is, you'd think those would have been phased out by now. The only problem with Pringles is once you... well, you know the jingle. So true. [But how is that a benefit? Maybe that's why they don't use it anymore.]
Oh for God sakes. I go to the American Apparel site looking for that ad I saw and their images are literally CLOTHED PORN WHAT THE HELL. Then they show like ten pictures of some Mexicans at their factory as if I'm supposed to give them my vote for humanitarian of the fucking year.
They call it "Civil Branding". I call it hypocrisy.Oh, I couldn't have chosen a better spokesperson.
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