No Sweat

No Sweat

In an era in which big-name labels are frequently accused of resorting to sweatshop tactics as a means of keeping rising production costs in check, filmmaker Amie Williams turns her lens on the Los Angeles garment industry to investigate trendy clothing manufacturers American Apparel and SweatX's fervently vocal commitment of to creating 'sweat-free' threads. Founded on 2.5 million dollars provided by noted ice-cream manufacturer-cum-social activist Ben Cohen (of Ben and Jerry's fame), SweatX claims to pay workers respectable living wages while also offering benefits and a comfortable work environment. Just a few blocks away, American Apparel boasts similar claims of benevolent worker treatment. In contrast to their commendable claims, however, the controversies that swirl around Canadian-born American Apparel founder Dov Charney cast the success of that particular company in a notably different light. As Williams launches an all-encompassing, year-long investigation into both companies that finds her speaking to employees about their dreams in the garment industry, comparing and contrasting their divergent business paradigms, and tracking a sizable union drive, viewers may find themselves faced with a difficult set of decisions when the time finally comes to purchase that new wardrobe.