Latest news with #Trainwreck:TheCultofAmericanApparel
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
What's Coming to Netflix in July 2025? Full List of New Movies, Shows
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Documentary obsessive are well-served this month with the highest amount of Netflix original reality stories seen on the streamer yet. Landing over the next 31 days are no less than five new feature-length Trainwreck docs - that's the name given to Netflix's in-house documentary team specialising in retelling viral phenomena of farce, chaos, and tragedy. Expect Trainwreck: The Real Project X, Trainwreck: Balloon Boy, Trainwreck: Storm Area 51, Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, and Trainwreck: P.I. Moms. Adam Sandler stars in Happy Gilmore 2 Adam Sandler stars in Happy Gilmore 2 Netflix Netflix further morphs into the premier documentary destination with Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers, which delves into the fateful terrorist attacks on England's capital city in 2007, and WWE: Unreal, a new Netflix sports series shedding light on the world's biggest pro wrestling promotion. Of course, they're still releasing movies. Long-awaited legacy sequel Happy Gilmore 2 lands Adam Sandler back in the hole on July 25. For everything releasing on Netflix in July 2025, read on below. What's Coming to Netflix in July 2025? July 1 Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers — Netflix Documentary Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel — Netflix Documentary 17 Again Annie (1982) Blow Born on the Fourth of July Captain Phillips The Deer Hunter Friday Night Lights Here Comes the Boom The Hitman's Bodyguard & The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Horrible Bosses The Karate Kid trilogy (I–III) Mission: Impossible films (I, II, III, Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation) Mom: Seasons 1–8 The Notebook Pacific Rim PAW Patrol Seasons 2–3 Portlandia Seasons 1–8 The Sweetest Thing Tangerine V for Vendetta White Chicks Yellowjackets Season 2 Zathura: A Space Adventure July 2 The Old Guard 2 — Netflix Film Tour de France: Unchained Season 3 — Netflix Documentary July 3 Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano — Netflix Sports Series Mr. Robot Seasons 1–4 The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 — Netflix Series July 4 All the Sharks — Netflix Documentary July 5 The Summer Hikaru Died — Netflix Anime July 8 A Star Is Born (2018) Better Late Than Single — Netflix Series Nate Jackson: Super Funny — Netflix Comedy Special Quarterback Season 2 — Netflix Sports Series Sullivan's Crossing Seasons 1–2 Trainwreck: The Real Project X — Netflix Documentary July 9 Building the Band — Netflix Series The Gringo Hunters — Netflix Series Mad Max: Fury Road Under a Dark Sun — Netflix Series Ziam — Netflix Film July 10 7 Bears — Netflix Family Brick — Netflix Film Leviathan — Netflix Anime Off Road — Netflix Series Sneaky Pete Seasons 1–3 Too Much — Netflix Series July 11 Aap Jaisa Koi — Netflix Film Almost Cops — Netflix Film Katie Taylor vs. Serrano III — Netflix Live Event Tyler Perry's Madea's Destination Wedding — Netflix Film July 14 Apocalypse in the Tropics — Netflix Documentary Sakamoto Days Season 1 Part 2 — Netflix Anime July 15 Entitled Season 1 Jaws I–IV Trainwreck: Balloon Boy — Netflix Documentary July 16 Amy Bradley Is Missing — Netflix Documentary Mamma Mia! Wanted July 17 Catalog — Netflix Series Community Squad Season 2 — Netflix Series Untamed — Netflix Series July 18 Almost Family — Netflix Film Delirium — Netflix Series I'm Still a Superstar — Netflix Documentary Superstar — Netflix Series Vir Das: Fool Volume — Netflix Comedy Special Wall to Wall — Netflix Film July 19 Eight for Silver — Netflix Release July 21 The Hunting Wives Season 1 — Netflix Series The Steve Harvey Show Seasons 1–6 July 22 Trainwreck: P.I. Moms — Netflix Documentary July 23 Critical: Between Life and Death — Netflix Documentary Hightown Seasons 1–3 House of Lies Seasons 1–5 Letters From the Past — Netflix Series July 24 A Normal Woman — Netflix Film Hitmakers — Netflix Series My Melody & Kuromi — Netflix Anime The Sandman Season 2 Volume 2 — Netflix Series July 25 Happy Gilmore 2 — Netflix Film Trigger — Netflix Series The Winning Try — Netflix K‑Drama Series July 28 The Lazarus Project Seasons 1–2 — Netflix Series July 29 Dusty Slay: Wet Heat — Netflix Comedy Special Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 — Netflix Documentary WWE: Unreal — Netflix Sports Series July 30 Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes — Netflix Documentary Unspeakable Sins — Netflix Series July 31
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Dov Charney's American Apparel: a 'Trainwreck' of cult fashion and its hidden costs
American Apparel founder and CEO Dov Charney. Image: X/@Complex Netflix's "Trainwreck" docuseries has me in a chokehold, okay? From cruise ships turned floating toilets to festivals that never were, this series is my kind of chaotic binge. But the recent release of "Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel" really got me spiralling. It's giving fashion fever, cult realness and one of the most problematic CEOs to ever sit in an open-plan office. Welcome to the world of Dov Charney - or as I like to call him, the man who turned a T-shirt into a movement and himself into a menace. American Apparel wasn't just another clothing brand in the 2000s. It was the brand. Everyone wanted in. It was quirky, it was edgy and it made basics look like runway statements. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The kind of place that, rumour has it, even opened up after hours just for Beyoncé to shop in peace. That's how hot this label was. From teen Tumblr girls to A-list celebs, the whole world was romanced by cotton bodycon and neon gym shorts. But like every cult, there's a "visionary" behind the madness, and in this case, it was Charney. The man, the myth, the narcissist. There's a whole science to spotting cult leaders and he ticked all the boxes: manipulative charm, God complex, blurred boundaries, obsession with loyalty and of course, building an identity-driven brand that made people feel 'chosen'. One former employee said working there was like being pulled in by a 'light'. Yeah… red flag much? He wanted to break down fashion norms, and, at first, he did. He pushed boundaries, hired people based on their 'weirdo club' vibe and didn't shy away from provocative ads. Actually, let me rephrase, he didn't shy away from straight-up soft porn. Think open-legged poses, oiled-up bodies and barely-there clothing sold as 'expression'. I'm sorry but since when did fashion mean flashing your bits on a billboard? And it worked for a while. American Apparel blew up. The mid-2000s were a perfect time: Facebook was booming, hipsters ruled the streets and being 'edgy' sold like soet koek (sweet cake). But behind the porno posters and sexy slogans, the company was starting to rot from within. The documentary tracks the rise and fall of American Apparel and its CEO from the company's inception. Image: X/@NewOnNetflixUK The work environment, surprise surprise, was a disaster. Staff were either living with Charney or desperately trying to avoid him. He ran the place like a cult compound. Sexual tension and actual misconduct were woven into the company culture. He slept with employees, labelled staff 'fools of the week' if stores didn't perform and had a toxic habit of pitting workers against each other. Classic 'I'm not abusing you, I'm helping you grow' energy. Eventually, the stories could no longer be ignored. By the 2010s, American Apparel was collapsing under the weight of Charney's scandals, from mistreatment of staff and exploitation of undocumented workers to multiple allegations of sexual assault. Women came forward, brave enough to tell their stories in the documentary. You'd think that would be the end, right? Wrong. Like most of these toxic fashion tales (yes, I'm referring to Balenciaga), the consequences were … underwhelming. Remember the child exploitation scandal? Disturbing reports, and global outrage, and yet the brand is still thriving. Celebs are still wearing it like nothing ever happened. The bar is so low it's underground. And Charney didn't vanish into obscurity. Nope. He's back on the scene launching Los Angeles Apparel and helping out on Yeezy, Ye's (Kanye West) brand. Oh, and he proudly printed the 'White Lives Matter' T-shirts. So subtle. As for American Apparel, it was eventually bought out by a Canadian company and relaunched just before the pandemic. A quieter reboot for a brand once fuelled by controversy and cultish devotion. This documentary is a much-needed exposé on how fast fashion - literally and figuratively - can swallow people whole.
Los Angeles Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel' reveals the man behind the sleazy billboards
American Apparel's billboards were hard to miss when traversing Los Angeles in the 2000s. The ubiquitous ads for the L.A.-based clothing company featured gritty, amateurish photos of seemingly ordinary young women, posed suggestively, in various states of undress. As for the clothing, there wasn't much of it. A tube sock here, a thong there. American Apparel's apparel clearly wasn't the draw. The underage appearance of the models was disturbing but not entirely shocking given the controversial Calvin Klein ads over previous decades, and by the year 2000, Britney Spears' schoolgirl-meets-stripper-pole routine in her 'Oops! ... I Did it Again' video was popular with tweens and moms alike. Yet there was something about the voyeuristic, predatory nature of American Appeal's ad campaign that felt different, worse, beyond exploitative. 'Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel,' a documentary now streaming on Netflix, explains why those billboards felt more like criminal evidence than sexy ads. The 54-minute film breaks down what was happening on the other side of the camera at the company, led by problematic founder and CEO Dov Charney, and there's nothing hip or fashionable about the abuse chronicled in it, which features footage, research and firsthand accounts from former employees. The doc is part of a Netflix series that touches on messy, disastrous events, brands and people such as the Balloon Boy scandal and the so-called Poop Cruise. High-end stuff it's not, and this installment of the series isn't nuanced or long enough to be an in-depth exploration of a troubled company and its volatile founder. It does, however, lay bare an abusive culture at American Apparel and how Charney — who shot many of the ads himself — turned his own alleged regressions into a wildly successful branding campaign. The documentary tracks the rise and fall of American Apparel and its CEO from the company's inception in 1989 to it becoming one of the largest garment manufacturers in the United States until its bankruptcy in 2015. Reimagining plain sweatshirts and other wardrobe basics as hip alternatives to blingy jeans and gawdy UGG boots, the L.A.-made clothing was promoted as 'Ethically Made — Sweatshop Free.' It later garnered the unofficial title of indie sleaze, just in time to resonate across a new thing called social media. Charney is seen in action through reams of footage captured by employees and others in his orbit. Former workers tell their stories, recalling how they were hired or advanced into management positions despite having no experience. One recalls how new hires at the company received a welcome gift box that included a vibrator, a book by Robert Greene titled 'The 48 Laws of Power,' a Leica camera and a Blackberry so Charney could contact them 24/7. They were also asked to sign nondisclosure agreements which would later make it difficult to hold Charney accountable for alleged misconduct. Footage shows Charney as a wiry, supercharged figure who frequently berated his staff as 'losers' and worse. He housed chosen employees at his Silver Lake mansion, the Garbutt House, and they included a gaggle of young women whose roles seemed to be as surrogates and enforcers for Charney — workers referred to them as Dov's Girls. Then in his 40s, he's shown verbally accosting young employees, some of whom were teenagers at the time. At least one clip captures him parading around naked in front of two female employees. After defining fashion for roughly a decade, the thriving company began to nosedive by the 2010s as news of Charney's inappropriate behavior and oppressive conditions in the workplace surfaced. He was accused of mistreating young employees in the company's stores and offices, as well as exploiting undocumented employees in the factory, but it was allegations of sexual misconduct and assault in the workplace that made headlines, leading to his ouster as CEO. Women who claim they were sexually assaulted by Charney are interviewed in the documentary. Charney did not disappear after his fall from grace. He founded another clothing manufacturer, Los Angeles Apparel, and he reportedly works on Yeezy, the fashion brand created by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Rolling Stone reported that Charney printed West's controversial 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt. As for American Apparel, it was bought by a Canadian clothing company that relaunched the brand shortly before the pandemic. The clothes are no longer made in L.A., but curiously, the indie sleaze billboard campaign has returned to the city. It's disturbing in a throwback kind of way, pointing to a time when pedo-marketing was king, and the creepy folks behind the ads were heralded as marketing geniuses.
Cosmopolitan
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
5 American Apparel items to dig out to channel indie sleaze, from disco pants to oversize hoodies
Charting the meteoric rise and fall of America's fastest growing retailer in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Netflix's Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel dropped on the streaming site on 1 July and immediately landed in the number one spot of the top 10 movies in the UK. The documentary depicted some truly shocking scenes, like the brand's founder, Dov Charney, repeatedly hurling verbal abuse at anyone within sight and running around completely naked while two female staff members were in the same room. The 54-minute watch also revealed the extent of the company's toxic work culture, with former employees sharing the contents of their 'starter kit' – a camera, a Blackberry phone and a vibrator – along with multiple accounts of sexual assault levied against the founder brought together in the public domain for the first time. Such behaviour is described by these employees as an open secret, overshadowed by the immense popularity of the clothing. An answer as to how Charney was able to get away with it for so long. In hindsight, the clues were there, not least in the ad campaigns that were repeatedly critiqued for overt sexualisation, depicting scantily clad models in provocative poses. Or the fact that the media dubbed Charney the 'King of Sleaze.' A nickname referencing the It brand's status as spearheading the indie sleaze aesthetic, but easily applicable in alternative definitions of the term, too. Despite never facing any allegations of abuse in a public court, Charney was fired from American Apparel in 2014 following multiple misconduct accusations. The company appointed new management before filing for bankruptcy and being sold, and while it still exists online, it is incomparable to what it was in its heyday. However, indie sleaze is in the midst of a revival. From 2024's Brat summer to an Oasis reunion, fashion is following suit and the brand's legacy can't be missed. Just look to Addison Rae, who dons an American Apparel-coded purple zip-up hoodie in the music video for 'Headphones On' that is full of countless other Y2K signifiers. Yep, the clothes themselves – basics in simple silhouettes, devoid of logos and available in every colour of the rainbow at a mid-tier price point – seem to be having a resurgence and hold a nostalgic place in many people's wardrobes from that time. Cosmo UK Bookings Director, Sophie Leen, remembers wearing an American Apparel dress to her prom, while other members of the team recount living in their bodysuits or V-neck t-shirts. Even if you didn't have anything from the retailer (me, despite desperately lusting after a pair of shiny black disco pants), the brand's impact was unavoidable. There was even a celebrity fanbase! Per the documentary, Beyoncé reportedly closed down the stores late at night to allow her to shop privately, while Rihanna and Britney Spears received custom American Apparel designs. Whether you've kept hold of pieces long buried at the back of your wardrobe, or you're planning on turning to second-hand shopping sites for OG items, consider this your sign to dig out your disco pants and oversized sweatshirts ASAP. Olivia Rodrigo wore American Apparel's blue pleated tennis skirt as recently as 2021 and it has also been spotted on other celebrities, including Zoe Kravitz, Vanessa Hudgens and Dove Cameron. Loved by the likes of Mary Kate Olsen and Lady Gaga at its peak, it felt like everyone had an American Apparel hoodie. The zip-up style is due for a resurgence IMO, replacing the crew-neck jumper as a basic layer of choice. Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Lily-Rose Depp all wore bodysuits of varying designs on rotation. We ditched these due to their impracticality (the effort of having to go to the loo...), but we could be tempted to reintroduce them into our daily 'fits for the smooth line they created, unlike tucking in bulky tops and knits to waistbands. The sheer number of advertisements for disco pants along with the endless colours they seemed to come in made these a cult buy. Plus, Kim Kardashian had a pair (hers were white, FYI). Sure, trends have steered away from skinnies for a while now, so a sharp U-turn back to the figure-hugging silhouette feels inevitable. A corduroy mini skirt feels like a niche item, but it was another must-have staple from American Apparel in 2009. Even Camila Mendes had one! If the tennis style isn't for you, you can't go wrong with this button-down design instead. Follow Alex on Instagram. Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there's nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she's passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
Time Magazine
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The True Story Behind Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel
American Apparel's motto used to be "Ethically Made—Sweatshop Free.' But in a new documentary, former employees say the clothing brand, which became the go-to place for hipster chic clothes in the mid- to late- aughts, operated pretty much like a sweatshop. Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, a 54-minute doc out July 1 as part of Netflix's series on disasters in recent history, looks at the rise of the brand and its decline in influence amid allegations of inappropriate behavior and oppressive conditions in the workplace. Here's a look at the most shocking revelations about what it was like to work at American Apparel. Sewing discontent When American Apparel launched in 1989, it was supposed to represent the American dream. It proudly boasted clothes made in the U.S., and employees made well over minimum wage. And it had a star-studded clientele. A former employee who goes by Jonny Makeup in the doc says he would close the store for Beyoncé to go shopping. As American Apparel became known for its cheeky advertisements, which often featured women in solid colors and provocative poses, like upside down with their legs outstretched—employees in the doc argue that behind the scenes, founder Dov Charney encouraged sexually explicit behavior in the workplace and routinely violated boundaries. New hires at the American Apparel factory say they received a welcome gift bag that included a vibrator, in addition to a book called The 48 Laws of Power, a Leica camera, and a Blackberry—so they would always be on call. According to the doc, it was not uncommon to see employees making out in the hallways of its downtown LA factory. The doc even shows footage of Charney walking around naked in front of two female employees. The toxic environment was not contained to American Apparel's walls. The doc starts off with an employee named Carson saying Charney called him up close to midnight one night and said 'I hate you! I hate you!' over and over again, and then hung up. 'That was a regular day at American Apparel,' says Carson, who reveals he sometimes had to work 36-hour shifts. Coming apart at the seams Employees in the doc say they were disturbed by how much business Charney wanted to conduct in his private home. Jonny Makeup says he actually lived in his boss's house, arguing in the doc that Charney invited him and he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to live in such luxurious digs. Young women were always hanging around the house, so much so that Jonny describes it as 'a Playboy mansion for hipsters.' Toni Jaramilla, an employment and civil rights attorney, talks about working with women who say they experienced sexual harassment while working for Charney at American Apparel. Because they had already signed agreements to not say anything disparaging about Charney and American Apparel, each complaint was sent to confidential arbitration. However, some allegations have leaked into the public domain, and the doc uses a voice actor to read excerpts, describing Charney inviting people as young as 18 years-old to his bedroom and walking around in a towel in front of employees. As allegations mounted, so did Charney's verbal attacks on his own employees, and the doc features audio snippets of him calling them morons and dummies. Charney has denied all allegations, but he was fired in June 2014. American Apparel, which is still exists online, filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016. Charney ended up getting a job with Kanye West's clothing brand Yeezy. The doc ends with archival footage of him saying, 'I'm not sorry about sh-t.'
