Mission, San Francisco On A Mission To Kill American Apparel
12 February 2009, 9:37 AM. By Alex Alvarez
San Francisco’s Mission district recently held a public hearing regarding a new American Apparel store that was to open in their neighborhood …
With sexy results!
When an AA store sought to move into the space politician Mark Sanchez’s (Not the football hottie. Rather, the first Green Party member and the second openly-gay Commissioner on the Board of Education.) former HQ had occupied, Mission residents had mixed feelings for a variety of reasons. Originally, the store’s desired location on Valencia Street did not allow franchises, which are not seen as in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. Additionally, many Mission residents felt the retail chain should shouldn’t open in their district anyway because of their famously porny advertisements and posted as such on “Mission Mission’s” community board.
The golden and sparkly Katie Ann wrote:
[...] I personally have a love/hate relationship with AA. They have comfy cotton shirts and socks. But if I see one more 16yr old in gold lame leggings and a fanny pack, i might lose it.
They might lose it, too. To Dov Charney. Allegedly.
Mission Mark viewed things differently:
I see nothing wrong with a company that fights for workers rights, pays a living wage to garment workers, supports progressive media, supports gay rights and sells cool product from moving in. Support those who support us. Soft core porn in ads? So is Abercrombie. But I don’t see them taking out full pages ads in the NYT taking on workers rights. AA did.
The hearing resulted in the following release from American Apparel:
Of interest to us is the fact that Mission’s population happens to be roughly 50% Latino. We wonder if AA would really have disrupted culture and gentrified the area anymore so than the incoming young, White “hipster” population that has an opinion of American Apparel in the first place.
As a hypothetical based on stereotypes, don’t young White couples with liberal arts school educations gentrify an area so that stores like American Apparel want to move in and cater to that demographic? We guess what we’re asking is: Does a capitalist business actively gentrify an area, or, instead, react to gentrification that’s already been put in place? Is a shift in culture and demographics always negative? Is it avoidable? Do you like our shiny leggings?
We wonder whether Latinos who like and shop at stores like American Apparel are rejecting their culture, as if it exists as an unchanging monolith, or merely reflecting cultural change. What do you all think?
American Apparel Says Peace [Mission Mission]
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Considering AAs politics (everything that was discussed above) it would actually fit right in BUT they should do a switcharoo with their employees. Not fire anobody or anything, however, put all the retail hip kids in the factory and the factory workers in the stores (I think they both make the same) just to see how it fucks with their market.
Will the kids still shop there? Will it shut up Mission residents? I’d like to know.
I live in the Mission in SF and I really don’t get why people don’t want an American Apparel. There’s a big difference btwn them and other chain stores because of their business philosophy. Also, I love the porny ads. It’s my view that the bajillion hipsters who frequent the Mission make it a good spot from AmApp’s perspective, but the AmApp itself isn’t going to change the Mission for better or worse. NB- I don’t buy clothes from AmApp so I’m not just being all butthurt, I really think it’s misdirected chain store hate.
I love your guy’s articles, but your facebook link thingamajiggy vale madres. Can you please fix it? Gracias!
The Facebook upload cosita wasn’t working for me before the relaunch, but it’s been peachy since. I’ll let the tech person know, though.
I think the chain stores follow the gentrifiers (sp?) The stores are not going to take a risk of getting a lease in a location where they know the residing demographic won’t shop. In otherwords, of course AA would be serving the gentry in the mission! Thats whats happening in the Fruitvale District in Oakland now. Gentry come for the “authentic” mexican/salvadorean/guatemalan food, the “quaint” stores selling arte, and to gawk at the cholas/cholos that roam international blvd. Then all the sudden, a Starbucks sprouted up. Gentrification complete.
Yeah, I don’t think your “culture” has anything to do with where you buy a t-shirt. I don’t get you question regarding “Latino culture” and shopping at American Apparel. Does “Latino culture” come with a set fashion style? Coz I’ve been Latina all my life and somehow missed this…
i’ve grown up in the Mission district and i’ve seen it change…for the worse. I’m glad the residents stood up and said no! yes aa is different than other stores but still it just doesn’t fit in with the rest of the district. and i’m not against the store either their clothes are comfortable
besides if you wanna go to american apparel there’s one on Haight that fits right in :)