TH. American Stories.

if only all his work was as good as this, ralph lauren might poop himself.

the beach house to beat all beach houses.

Ralph Lauren's home: Montego Bay on Jamaica

the DOV.

Dov Charney courts controversy. The 37-year-old founder and chief executive of American Apparel, the largest T-shirt manufacturer in America, has been called a brilliant businessman, an amateur pornographer, a Jewish hustler and a man with a social mission. He is admired for single-handedly creating one of America's most successful fashion retailers, for devising his company's sexually suggestive approach to advertising and for treating his workers much better than his rivals. He is also envied, loathed and criticised for all of these things.

As he prepares to take his company public, Mr Charney is trying to strike a less provocative tone than he used to. Previously he emphasised his use of sex as a marketing tool and his tolerance of his workers' sexual preferences: he even posted a video of himself walking around in his underwear on his company's website. Today he prefers to talk about his belief in capitalism, self-interest and globalising markets. But true to form, Mr Charney is taking his firm public in an unusual way. On December 19th American Apparel announced its takeover by Endeavor Acquisition, a "special-purpose acquisition company" formed for the sole purpose of seeking out takeover targets. The deal, due to be completed this summer, will allow Mr Charney to go public without the scrutiny that attends most stockmarket listings.

The Economist

January 4, 2007

sir kingston.

the kid has impeccable style.