After he was booted out of the company he founded, former American Apparel CEO Dov Charney went on to collaborate with another controversial figure: Kanye West. But even though Charney made a name for himself by pushing the bounds of proprietary, there are apparently some lines he’s not willing to cross. 

The Canadian businessman is the focus of the new Netflix documentary, Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, which chronicles the rise and fall of the iconic but troubled fashion retailer. At the end of hour-long film, it’s revealed that Charney – who was accused of sexual harassment by several of his former employees — teamed up with West to work on his Yeezy fashion brand. But when Ye asked Charney’s company to make his infamous swastika T-shirt, Charney, who is Jewish, apparently balked. 

Dov Charney has teamed up with Kanye West

In February, West sparked outrage when he took out a Super Bowl ad directing people to the Yeezy online store. The only item for sale on the site was a shirt featuring the symbol associated with the Nazi party. While the shop was shut down, West was later spotted wearing the swastika shirt.

West has worked with Charney’s Los Angeles Apparel company to make some items for the Yeezy brand. But it sounds like the clothing manufacturer did not make the shirt with the hateful symbol that Ye was seen wearing. 

“I don’t think they ever made the swastika t-shirt,” a Los Angeles Apparel employee told the U.S. Sun early this year. 

“I went to the print shop to ask around and see if that was happening, or screens [for printing] were even made, but I think they cut that [idea] real fast,” the insider added.

“We’re not making [it]. We’re not gonna discuss that, we’re not gonna discuss that,” a more senior employee told the tabloid. 

Former American Apparel CEO involved in ‘major decisions’ at Yeezy

Charney did not comment on The Sun’s report about the controversial piece of Yeezy clothing. The extent of his involvement with the rapper’s company isn’t clear, though he has been identified as the CEO. According to a 2023 report in Rolling Stone, he was being looped in to “major decisions” at the business. Los Angeles Apparel also agreed to manufacture Yeezy’s “White Lives Matter” T-shirts. 

In 203, Charney let some of Ye’s associates move into his LA mansion, which he was at risk of losing due to bankruptcy, the Los Angeles Times reported. And in a 2024 video, Charney was seen trying to shut down an unauthorized sale of YZY Gap merchandise in Los Angeles. 

“This merchandise has been stolen from Ye, formerly known as Kanye West,” an agitated Charney says in the video (via Complex). “This is stolen.”

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel is streaming on Netflix. 

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