Custom Los Angeles Apparel Clothing

Los Angeles has long been a hotspot for style, but it’s not just trends that define the city—it’s production. Many fashion brands, both big and small, source their custom apparel from LA, and there’s a reason why.

Custom Los Angeles apparel is known for quality, local production, and fast turnaround. Whether for streetwear, basics, or premium goods, LA has become a go-to hub for apparel customization and manufacturing.

Let’s dive into the most common questions about custom clothing from LA, including the role of LA Apparel and how it compares to other well-known brands.

---

Does LA Apparel do wholesale?

It’s a common question among retailers, brand owners, and designers: Can you actually buy LA Apparel items in bulk for resale or customization?

Yes, LA Apparel offers wholesale clothing. Their catalog includes basics like tees, hoodies, and sweatpants designed for customization or private labeling.

What types of products can you buy wholesale from LA Apparel?

LA Apparel sells many basics that are ideal for screen printing, embroidery, or personal branding. These are made in LA, often using domestic materials.

Popular wholesale categories¹ include:

• Cotton t-shirts (in heavy and light weights)
• Crewneck and hooded sweatshirts
• Joggers and fleece pants
• Ribbed tanks and baby tees
• Crop tops, shorts, and sportswear

Many of these items are pre-treated for printability, which makes them suitable for B2B customers who want blank stock to rebrand or customize.

Product Type	Customization Ready?	Common Use Cases
Tees & Basics	Yes	Streetwear, Events, Merch Drops
Fleecewear	Yes	Premium Hoodie Brands
Sportswear	Limited	Fitness and Lifestyle Brands

If you're sourcing for your brand, you’ll need to apply for a wholesale account, provide your resale license, and meet order minimums.

How do their wholesale terms compare to other suppliers?

LA Apparel tends to have higher quality standards² than overseas options but also higher price points. That’s because the goods are manufactured domestically, often by unionized or protected labor. But the turnaround is faster, and the control is better.

Compared to Asian suppliers, LA Apparel’s wholesale pricing is less competitive, but you gain more flexibility with smaller MOQs³, faster sampling, and direct communication.

---

---

Is Los Angeles Apparel the same as American Apparel?

The names sound nearly identical, the product types are similar, and even the branding vibe feels familiar. So, is it just a rebrand?

No, Los Angeles Apparel is not the same as American Apparel—but they’re connected. LA Apparel was founded by the former CEO of American Apparel after the original company went bankrupt.

What is the history between the two brands?

American Apparel⁴ was a trailblazing brand known for its bold marketing and “Made in USA” message. It was founded by Dov Charney in the late 1990s and grew into a global powerhouse before financial issues and controversy caused its downfall.

In 2017, Dov Charney launched Los Angeles Apparel⁵. The goal? To rebuild a vertically integrated factory in LA that focused on high-quality basics, local labor, and ethical production.

So, while they are different companies, the DNA is clearly linked.

Brand	Founded By	Manufactured In	Notable Traits
American Apparel	Dov Charney	USA / Overseas	Went bankrupt, later sold
Los Angeles Apparel	Dov Charney	USA (LA only)	Privately owned, rebranded

Are the products and styles still similar?

Yes. Both brands specialize in basics: fitted tees, fleecewear, bodysuits, and fashion-forward essentials. But LA Apparel focuses more on quality and sustainability⁶ now, rather than the mass marketing that defined American Apparel.

If you liked the cuts and fabrics of old American Apparel, you’ll probably find LA Apparel familiar—but upgraded.

---

---

Is Los Angeles Apparel ethical?

In today’s sourcing world, "ethical" is more than just a buzzword—it’s a key decision point. Especially for buyers who care about transparency and fair labor.

Los Angeles Apparel promotes itself as an ethical brand, focusing on local manufacturing, fair wages, and safe working conditions. However, opinions on the brand remain divided.

What ethical standards does LA Apparel claim to follow?

The company runs its own factories in South Central LA. It offers jobs to thousands of garment workers and claims to pay above minimum wage, with regular hours and workplace protections.

Their ethical selling points include:

• Local production
• Transparent supply chain
• Domestic material sourcing
• Workers paid $15–20+ per hour

They also do frequent inspections⁷ and promote videos from inside their factory to demonstrate how things are made.

But ethical fashion also means examining leadership and behavior. LA Apparel’s founder, Dov Charney, has been a controversial figure. While many praise him for bringing jobs back to LA, others question his past actions from the American Apparel days.

How do they compare to overseas or low-cost manufacturers?

Compared to typical overseas factories—especially those with questionable conditions—LA Apparel stands out. You pay more, but you know where the product was made, and by whom.

Brand Location	Labor Conditions	Ethical Transparency
LA Apparel (USA)	Strong labor laws	Moderate–High
Generic Overseas (Asia)	Often unknown	Low–Varies by vendor

For many B2B buyers, the ethical factor is also a marketing edge⁸. Saying your clothes are “Made in LA” with fair wages can appeal to modern, conscious consumers.

---

---

Is LA Apparel Yeezy?

You might’ve heard Kanye West’s Yeezy brand linked with LA Apparel. There’s some truth to that—but not in the way you might expect.

No, LA Apparel is not Yeezy. However, the LA Apparel factory has been used to produce Yeezy-branded merchandise in the past.

What’s the connection between LA Apparel⁹ and Kanye West?

In the early 2020s, Kanye West was experimenting with new ways to produce his Yeezy brand merchandise¹⁰ quickly and locally. He reportedly partnered with LA-based production facilities, including Los Angeles Apparel, for certain drops.

That partnership wasn’t publicized in detail, but workers and news sources confirmed the factory was involved in printing and sewing Yeezy Season merch at different times.

It wasn’t a full brand collaboration—it was more of a production arrangement¹¹. LA Apparel was one of the few U.S. factories that could meet Kanye’s local and fast-paced vision.

Does LA Apparel still work with celebrities or designer brands?

Yes, they often supply blanks or production services for influencers, celebrities, and private labels. Their appeal is local control and speed. Brands can test ideas quickly, launch capsule drops, and avoid the long waits and risks of overseas sourcing.

If you’re looking to do the same—fast sampling, small-batch runs, or limited edition merch—LA Apparel can be a good partner, as long as you meet their order minimums.

---

---

Conclusion

Custom Los Angeles apparel blends the best of both worlds—style and substance. With local manufacturing, ethical options, and versatile product lines, LA-based producers like LA Apparel give modern brands a reliable, quality-driven option for scaling their clothing business.