American Apparel has been in the process of cutting many wholesale relationships in the interest of driving blank retail business towards their costly trendy retail stores. American got its start and still does the majority of its business by selling wholesale goods to resellers. Typically resellers embellish and re-brand blank apparel using processes like embroidery or screen printing. However, American Apparel did such a great job advertising their line, and promoting blank apparel that many resellers began buying at wholesale from American Apparel and because the demand is so great, selling the blanks back to the public at less than half American’s retail in store price.
In the blank clothing business or “rags” business wholesale T shirts typically are sold for a very low price by the manufacturer in order to leave room for distribution, embellisher, and retailer profits. Unfortunately for American Apparel with so much money sunk into advertising and store fronts, being a retailer and a manufacturer selling both to a wholesale distribution channel and a retail customer started to become counterproductive. This presented a unique problem as American’s core business is in the wholesale market.
With so much money invested in retail locations nationwide it’s easy to see why American Apparel is protecting their investment. Who wants’ to shop retail and pay full price when it’s possible to purchase the goods at less than half of retail from an online distribution outlet. For this reason American Apparel has shut down and black balled all former wholesale customers from selling, or selling to those who are known to be reselling American Apparel for the purpose of being worn blank.
Boutiques nationwide, along with online sites like trendy blanks and cheapest T’s have been successfully cut off from selling American Apparel Wholesale. The good news is you can still buy American for the purpose of embellishment at low low prices. Their goods are arguably the softest nicest blank’s available. Unfortunately if you’re stuck on American Apparel for your trendy blank apparel you’re going to have to pay retail, or switch to an up and coming comparable like Bella Apparel for women or Canvas for men.
Although American Apparel is widely known, it’s a misconception to believe they are your only option when considering Trendy blank Apparel. Canvas for men is very comparable. While Canvas does not yet have the variety American Apparel does, they do have a very nice selection of comparables to American’s most popular styles such as the 3001 light weight Hawthorne T or the Delancey V-Neck. Both shirts are very close to two of American’s most popular styles the 2001 T and the 2456 V-Neck.
Bella is a lesser known equally great blank apparel line for women. Bella is spreading like wild fire. With styles ranging from burnouts to V-necks Bella Apparel is fast becoming a leader to rival the likes of Alternative Apparel, and American Apparel alike.
Two other great options when considering American Apparel comparables are the brands Next Level and 213 Apparel. Next Level is a low cost high quality brand with many direct replacement options. 213 Apparel is an amazing new line with a great selection of trendy unique styles.
Thanks – Mike @ HPLHS, INC.”
