Would AA’s “sweatshop free” slogan work in China? I don’t know

For what it’s worth, I am Chinese and I do not work for AA.

So we should adjust our mind on this issue. What I emphasize most is that the authorities should spare more time and efforts, and money, to support our local products, to help the local arts flourish. I don’t mean we should avoid the foreign products. I’ve said that they Do own something worthy to learn from. Yet while drawing experience from them, we should also figure out which one should enjoy the priority to be promoted. Such concept of combination is the final way out. Maybe it is similar to your point, it “needs to be considered by AA as it crafts its marketing strategy for this country”. It also needs to be considered by our authorities.

Still, your reaction needs to be considered by American Apparel as it crafts its marketing strategy for this country. The appeal of “made in the USA” might not be quite as great as it might think. The fact that even a piece like mine met with a slightly patriotic response illustrates this issue. China produces casual clothing very well. It could easily produce everything that American Apparel produces. The appeal of American Apparel is more the ethical business approach and the sexy marketing. I think the former could have definite appeal if customers are properly educated and the message is presented in an entirely unpolitical and unpatronizing manner. For the latter, they will have to think carefully. I have some ideas.

Actually i’m not the one who is quite keen on so-called American-made / European-made brands, although they DO own something that is worthy to learn from. My point is, what we Chinese should do is to develop our own brand in our own style. I once visited the Graduation Exhibition of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts last summer and worked as volunteer in the 2007 Get-It-Louder exhibition (yet they are not all about clothes fashion design). I can see the Chinese have our own concept of design and their works, full of creativeness, are by no means worse than the imported products. Why are the Chinese authorities blind to all these???…

One can argue about that.

My problem with AA is that their fabrics are the absolute minimal weight/gage possible. Their items are flimsy compared to other consumer chains like American Eagle Outfitters and they are generally more expensive. Looking at the web pages a plain cotton t-shirt is $17 at AA while a much more substantial t-shirt is $15 at AE etc.

I’m happy to see AA here…But I will be happier if we get an Abercrombie and Fitch or AE in Beijing.

And I also agree with you that it would not qualify as “cheaply made junk” – certainly no more than any other clothing chain.

Lifter, what is the high quality chain?

nope, they do introduce new styles on a regular basis in addition to mainstays.

i dont think it’s “cheaply made junk”, their seasonal items have great quality and the basic items have great fit.
Girls – get AA bras. i think that’ll be a good selling item for chinese girls, maybe finally there will be no more tacky looking padded ones.

BUT…Overall it is very cheaply made junk. You can find better durability elsewhere.

That’s an interesting question about food and housing being a lower proportion of income. I don’t know if that is entirely correct. A lot of affluent younger people either live with their parents or in homes that were purchased by their parents. This certainly frees up income. However, renting would still take a large percentage of their income. It’s an interesting question that I should research more.

As far as China’s middle income people are concerned, aren’t things like housing and food a lower proportion of income than in the west and therefore China’s young spend a different proportion on ready to wear clothing and cosmetics than in the west?