Comments on: WOATs and GOATs

By: Kite

Kite — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:12:15 +0000

I’m amused at AA describing tees as having a Merrow(R) stitched hem. Talk about a way to talk up plain old overlocked raw edge finishing.

…And yes, AA are a good example of why sex sells. Even when it’s a non-sequitur.

…Which is why I’m not buying from them, incidentally.

By: modest.mama

modest.mama — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:12:58 +0000

yeah….what IS up with the sleezy sex stuff??? it’s a blank clothing website for god’s sake…..you would think it was softcore porn! in fact….i think it is just that. i just don’t get it.

By: RacheLyra

RacheLyra — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 23:25:46 +0000

here is a clothing alternative (not my project):

http://www.nosweatapparel.com/index.html

they are produced in asia using a set of standards that i have not examined too closely. They are pretty thorough, though – next to where you buy a thing you can see real statistics relating to the cost of living (like the cost of a bowl of rice) of the person that made it.

It’s transparent outsourcing. A different approach, but an intriguing one.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:19:29 +0000

Some local “designers” around here that sell in the local go-to indie boutique use Alternative Apparel. The quality seems compareable, but the sizing is a bit off. The small is small, medium is good, but the large is very large. At least the styles some of my friends were working with.
Same made-in-america deal as American Apparel as far as I could tell, without the sleezy sex stuff.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:22:26 +0000

does anyone know of a good private label brand other than AA?

I will never use their crap. I use Continental right now who has good stuff, no label, great quality….want to find another like them

thanks

By: kathleen

kathleen — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:42:49 +0000

I’d like to reiterate that what I don’t like from woats/goats are their exhortations that they are “fashion designers” or “manufacturers”. Similarly, I bristle at their arrogance when they send me emails requesting that I nominate them for “indie” “fashion design” contests. I have nothing against people who produce tee-shirt lines provided they don’t expect me to answer all of their questions for free because most of them refuse to buy the book or even read the free chapters at http://designer-entrepreneurs.com. If you can make and sell something that is not injurious to others -including one’s peers by implication- I have no problem with it and I’m even happy to help you out as I can.

By: MW

MW — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 23:36:10 +0000

You have two options, you either have your labels sewn in at the time the shirts are produced (different companies have different minimums for this, but twelve dozen is a common minimum), or you have them re-labeled, where either a distributor or company that specializes in garment finishing will cut out one label or sew in your own.

Garment finishing (I think that’s the right term) is the post-production value added services such as bagging, tagging, labeling, re-labeling, inspection, minor repairs, and such that many companies specialize in.

In addition, many screenprinters and embroiderers relabel garments if you are using their other services.

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 19:47:16 +0000

So, what’s the process for putting your own label in an American Apparel tee? Do you supply them to AA? or buy them finished and replace?

Nitty gritty on what ripping out, what machine, please.

Years ago I did original t-shirts (and do not anticipate getting back into it), and the most time-consuming part was fussing with the labels.