Alexander Wang’s Official Sweatshop Denial
And Alexander Wang Inc. has struck back on those sweatshop allegations.We reported on the allegations that Wang was running a sweatshop out of his NYC office but it appears none of that is true. On Monday, Wang retaliated by saying the company “have complied with all applicable wage and hour and leave laws, and there is no basis whatsoever for plaintiffs’ frivolous and entirely unsupportable accusations that defendants have harassed them or discriminated against them on the basis of their race, or on any other protected basis.”
The court document also said that the true goal of the plaintiffs — which it described as “two disgruntled former employees with axes to grind” — is to “exact a substantial settlement from the defendants, and that the two have mis-characterized their former workplace as a hovel, while attempting to portray defendants as ‘sweatshop owners.’” Wang described its workspace as a “modern, brightly lit studio with high ceilings and large windows.” So, who’s the liar?
Is Miss USA Rigged?
It seems that those speeches at the Miss USA pageant really don’t seal the crown. On Monday, Miss Pennsylvania USA Sheena Monnin announced on her Facebook page that she’d be giving up her crown. She called the Miss Universe Organization “fraudulent, lacking in morals, inconsistent, and in many ways trashy,” adding, “In my heart I believe in honesty, fair play, a fair opportunity, and high moral integrity, none of which in my opinion are part of this pageant system any longer.”
Monnin states that another contestant saw a list of the top five contestants before the show even started. Once the top 16 were picked, the contestants waited until the show to prove if the list they saw was the real thing. This list turned out to be true. This is the first time that there has been any allegations of a rigged Miss USA contest.
Long Overdue: Dress Barn Changing Its Name
The Dress Barn division of the Ascena Retail Group Inc. is considering changing its name, possibly next year. With about 840 stores selling casual, career and special-occasion apparel and accessories at value prices for women ages 35 to 55, Dress Barn is widely recognized but name doesn’t exactly evoke the most flattering fashion image.
One strong possibility for the name change is Roz & Alli, a new label introduced this spring at Dress Barn with maxidresses. Last month, Ascena acquired Charming Shoppes, operator of the Catherines, Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug chains, opening up other possibilities for name changes. Ascena also operates Justice and Maurices, as well as Dress Barn.
– Taneisha Jordan
Source: WWD; Huffington Post
Photo: WWD
