03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
So, what did Jonny Makeup do after American Apparel?
If you've seen The Cult of American Apparel, the latest episode on Netflix's Trainwreck documentary series, you'll be familiar with Jonny Makeup.
The wise-cracking and flamboyant character shares his experiences on camera about what it was like working for the brand that was famous for disco-pants and daring advertising.
Jonny also goes on to describe what it was like being a part of Dov Charney's inner circle, and the conflict he felt when he saw numerous accusations come out against someone he effectively considered to be family.
With the documentary becoming increasingly popular on Netflix, here is what Jonny Makeup revealed both on and off-screen about his time at American Apparel – as well as what life looks like for him now.
Real name Jonny Szymanski, Jonny was initially a big player on the New York party scene in the early aughts. He was a part of the hip-hop group VIP Party Boys, which also saw him perform alongside Cobra Starship (one of the pioneering artists of the indie sleaze era). The electro-clash band Gravy Train!!!! also wrote the eponymous song about Jonny.
However, being relatively well-known while out and about didn't necessarily pay Jonny's bills. In The Cult of American Apparel, he explained that he mostly earned a living by being a phone sex operator. It was when he picked up a newspaper and saw an advertisement for American Apparel doing an open casting call that he decided to go along.
While Jonny had always wanted to pursue a career in fashion, he lacked the relevant experience. When he turned up at American Apparel that day, he explains in the documentary, the interview was more of a 'vibe check' – and when he said he wanted to do fashion merchandising, he landed the part.
Jonny's first job was on the shop floor, where he would organise and set up mannequins. He was introduced to Dov Charney after someone in the store sent the CEO a photo of Jonny's layout.'Working at American Apparel gave me meaning,' Jonny recalls in the series.
Later on in his career, Jonny relocated to Los Angeles and started working at the American Apparel mothership – the 800,000sq foot factory where all the clothes were made and all the marketing was created.
Those who landed a job at the factory were considered to be part of Dov's top table, and received an impressive starter kit. In the documentary, Jonny recalls that this 'starter kit' consisted of 'a camera, a BlackBerry phone, a book titled The 48 Laws of Power and a vibrator'.
When he was living and working in LA, Jonny worked his way up to be in charge of fashion media and product placement, seeing him rub shoulders with celebrities such as former Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson as well as others on the LA party scene. In the documentary, Jonny recalls serving Beyonce and closing the store down especially when she shopped in American Apparel.
While Jonny had a close relationship with Dov – even living with him while working at American Apparel in LA in Dov's house which he dubbed as 'the Playboy Mansion for hipsters' - in the documentary he also acknowledges the way Dov worked was unorthodox. On one occasion, Jonny recalls how Dov would lose his temper but then suddenly softened towards him quickly.
'It was confusing,' Jonny recalls. 'I felt so indebted to [Dov] – he was my only ticket.'The close friendship that Jonny had with his boss even led to him being doubtful when five former employees tried to sue Dov over allegations of harassment (Dov has always denied any wrongdoing. None of the cases ever went to court – three were dismissed by a judge, while two went to arbitration).
'He was like a father to me,' Jonny explains. 'It led me to think maybe some of the accusers were seeking money.' However, with Dov receiving poor publicity, and American Apparel struggling after the 2008 recession, Jonny found Dov more difficult to work with – choosing to move out of Dov huge mansion and find his own place.
When Dov got ousted from his own company in 2014, Jonny explains in the documentary that he felt a 'sigh of relief' but he also felt like 'he'd lost family'. While life at American Apparel was often stressful and difficult for him, Jonny makes plain that he did also have 'fun times'.
After Dov left, Jonny remained at American Apparel as Director of Philanthropic and Creative Partnerships and Marketing until 2017. According to his LinkedIn, Jonny went on to work at Sunset/Studios as Vice President of Accounts and Creative, which saw him launch immersive brand experiences after his departure from American Apparel.
In August 2023, Jonny moved on to become a creative director at marketing company Borg Rise US.
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
