Is Dov Charney involved in Yeezy? Ex American Apparel CEO's involvement with Ye's fashion brand, explained

Featured in Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel on Netflix, Dov Charney has continued to draw public attention for his activities in the fashion industry after leaving American Apparel. While no longer at the center of a global brand, Dov Charney has stayed active through manufacturing collaborations, reportedly with Kanye West’s Yeezy line.

Dov Charney has reportedly worked with Yeezy in a manufacturing capacity but is not formally part of the brand’s leadership or design team. His company, Los Angeles Apparel, has produced items for Yeezy in recent years, providing production support without participating in creative decisions.

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Background on Dov Charney and Los Angeles Apparel

After his departure from American Apparel in 2014 amid multiple allegations of s*xual harassment and other misconduct, Charney decided to focus on rebuilding his career and business reputation. In 2016, he launched Los Angeles Apparel, positioning it as a continuation of his original vision for vertically integrated, locally produced apparel.

Los Angeles Apparel operates out of South-Central Los Angeles with emphasis on fair wages, domestic manufacturing, and complete in-house control of production. Los Angeles Apparel gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for producing masks and protective gear.

Over the years, Los Angeles Apparel expanded its range of basics and casual clothing and opened new retail locations, including a store in SoHo, New York, which is soon to be opened in Summer 2025. Charney remains involved in all aspects of the business, from design approvals to factory operations.

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Collaboration with Yeezy

Dov Charney’s connection to Yeezy reportedly began through manufacturing agreements established after he launched Los Angeles Apparel. Known for its vertically integrated production model and large in-house facilities, Los Angeles Apparel was able to meet the demanding production needs of Kanye West’s Yeezy brand, which often focuses on rapid drops and limited-edition releases.

In addition to assembling the clothing, Dov Charney and Los Angeles Apparel reportedly helped Yeezy source materials and oversee strict production schedules. This partnership allowed Yeezy to benefit from Los Angeles Apparel’s expertise in domestic manufacturing and quick turnaround capabilities, which are crucial for high-profile fashion collections that generate significant media attention.

Despite this manufacturing relationship, Dov Charney does not hold any executive, ownership, or creative position within Yeezy. His involvement has remained strictly operational, focusing on ensuring quality control and fulfilling production targets rather than shaping design concepts or marketing strategies.

While the collaboration brought additional visibility to Los Angeles Apparel, it did not translate into a deeper or strategic partnership with the Yeezy brand.

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Public statements and controversies

In 2022, Charney publicly refused to produce a Yeezy shirt with swastika. The decision was widely reported and marked a rare moment where he distanced himself from a client’s creative choice, reinforcing Los Angeles Apparel’s ability to control which projects it accepts.

Even after rejecting that specific design, Dov Charney continued to work with Yeezy on other pieces, highlighting the selective but ongoing nature of their manufacturing partnership.

This episode showed that, despite Charney’s controversial reputation, he maintained certain boundaries regarding the types of projects his company would support.

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Current relationship with the brand

As of 2025, Charney and Los Angeles Apparel continue to maintain a limited, production-only relationship with Yeezy. There are no indications that he plans to expand this connection into a formal executive or design role within the brand.

The collaboration has provided additional exposure for Los Angeles Apparel but underscores Charney’s continued focus on manufacturing rather than public-facing brand leadership.