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Press Release

Truly CA documentary NO SWEAT takes a wild ride into the bowels of the American clothing industry Premiered on KQED Public Television 9, Sunday, September 25

September 7, 2005, San Francisco , CA : The glamour of the fashion industry often blinds the public to the common reality behind the scenes: dark and dingy factories where women and children sit hunched over their machines, elbow-to-elbow. Enter SweatX and American Apparel, two hip, new clothing manufacturers in downtown Los Angeles . Both companies are committed to creating "sweat-free" clothing, by ensuring livable wages, benefits, and safe environments. But while SweatX is backed by $2.5 million in venture capital from Ben and Jerry's ice cream maker Ben Cohen, American Apparel was built from the ground up by the eccentric and controversial entrepreneur, Dov Charney. No Sweat , premiering on KQED 9 on Sunday, July 24 at 6pm, investigates whether these two very different companies can survive in the tight economic conditions that have sent so much of their competition overseas - and which one has the stuff to succeed.

No Sweat follows SweatX and American Apparel for one year, comparing their leadership and business practices, documenting a union drive, and zeroing in on the hopes and dreams of the garment workers themselves. Offering a refreshingly honest examination of an industry that is notorious for its exploitation of mostly poor, immigrant women, No Sweat takes a close look at American Apparel and SweatX employees.

Enriqueta Soto from SweatX, and Patricia Revolorio, from American Apparel, are key figures in the documentary. Since their appearance in the film, Patricia has bought a house and advanced in her position at American Apparel, while Enriqueta has had to endure the humiliation and emotional toll of SweatX's struggling operations. Her final interview in the film poses the eternal question for all immigrant workers working in sweatshops, both overseas and in the U.S. : Why are these conditions allowed to exist in the first place, when it is clear they are not necessary to making a profit in the apparel industry?

Though SweatX strives to stay afloat, seeking new management, clearly, there are practices at American Apparel that also raise eyebrows. Most recently, company founder Dov Charney has been sued by three former female workers for sexual harassment. Increasing numbers of workers have come forward to talk about the work environment being not necessarily "sweat-shop-free," claiming that American Apparel's pod-system of teams competing against each other translates to employees working at a frantic pace, leaving them more vulnerable to injuries and stress.

However, as more and more American Apparel retail stores are opened across the U.S. and in Paris, Germany and Mexico City, the larger question becomes one of fashion and convenience.  Dov Charney's says, "Its not enough to pay your workers well, you also have to offer a good product, and at the end of the day, that's what sells."  

One thing is certain: the popularity of the non-branded, simple T-shirt, made in downtown L.A. is exploding.  From panties to politics, feminism to machismo, globalization and Classic T-s, No Sweat is a promiscuous, playful film - the first portrait of the people behind the company producing the next huge American clothing revolution.

No Sweat is part of Truly CA , KQED's new documentary series about life in the Golden State.

About Truly CA

Truly CA is KQED's new series of independent documentaries about life in the golden state. It airs monthly on Sundays at 6pm on KQED 9. Truly CA is a KQED production presented in association with the Bay Area Video Coalition and Film Arts Foundation. Rachel Raney is the series producer; Sue Ellen McCann is the executive producer.

Truly CA is a KQED production presented in association with the Bay Area Video Coalition and Film Arts Foundation.  Funding for Truly CA is provided by the KQED Campaign for the Future Program Venture Fund.