Column: Subpoenas surprise as fashion's best new trend

This week has been a nightmare for public relations practitioners everywhere in the fashion industry.

Between legal issues and public backlash, these poor PR representatives have barely had time to dump the water out of their Tori Burch flats.

First, the U.S. Department of Labor served a big fat subpoena to Forever 21. The department claims the mass retailer has been employing child workers in “sweatshop-like conditions,” according to a Department of Labor press release.

It’s almost as obvious as the time Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband, Kris Humphries, subpoenaed Kanye West for a fraudulent wedding.

Just like everyone knew the marriage was destined to fail, everyone should have known there is no humane way to make a $5 pair of jeans.

Personally, I love the idea of a subpoena because it doesn’t really do anything except publicly throw shame and call people out.

It’s like a retweet with an official seal.

But how does the commercial giant cover up these ghastly claims?

Forever 21 officials merely stated they thought it was rude of the Department of Labor to contact them privately, avant-subpeona.

Apparently when you clothe high school fashionistas everywhere, investigations of hostile working conditions can’t compare to high profit margins.

American Apparel also ruffled some feathers this week.

Right before Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, the “Made in the USA” company sent out an email promising 20 percent off merchandise on the entire website to the Atlantic waterfront states.


The company received negative tweets for its insensitivity.
American Apparel retorted, saying it is expensive to run a store stocked with domestically manufactured products. It also hypothesized flooding would shut down most of its stores and limit its East Coast profits during storm cleanup.

It was right.

“Women’s Wear Daily” said retailers across the eastern states are losing about $400 million each day they remain closed.

Barneys New York’s flagship store is one of the only stores that has remained open, as most New York City locations are dealing with flooded showrooms and water-damaged inventory.

The trade journal also announced Drew Barrymore, spokeswoman for COVERGIRL, is in the process of creating a make-up line for Wal-Mart. COVERGIRL hasn’t released any statements regarding their support or full-throttled fury yet, but it is surely forthcoming as Barrymore’s contract expires in January.

However, things are looking up.

Only two weeks remain until H&M’s collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela hits stores.

After the très chic launch party they threw last week, there will be absolutely nothing powerful enough to ruin fashion in November.   

­— mwalschl@indiana.edu