Gallery: How the Internet Is Bankrolling the World's Best Hoodies — And Rebooting U.S. Manufacturing
Alex Washburn01AmericanGiant
*As an army of seamstresses takes a lunch break, sewing supervisor Ming Gao rests for a moment among the sewing tables of the factory where American Giant sweatshirts are made. The small Brisbane location also churns out clothing for a variety of global brands such as Nike.*
Alex Washburn022013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0039
*Small bundles of thick American Giant fabric, waiting to be crafted into sweatshirts on the factory floor. Each American Giant sweatshirt begins as more than a dozen different pieces that must be folded, pounded and sewn into wearable clothing.*
Alex Washburn032013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0134
*A seamstress working on a non-American Giant product adjusts her sewing machine before sitting down back to work.*
Alex Washburn042013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0084
*American Giant fabric is so thick, seamstresses must pound the fabric to make it fit through their sewing machines.*
Alex Washburn052013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0157
*After returning from their lunch break, dozens of women fire up their sewing machines and sit down to the task of sewing sweatshirts. Less than half of the staff at the factory are utilized specifically for American Giant, which is still relatively small company despite the recent surge of interest.*
Alex Washburn062013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0136
*Two pieces of fabric take the form of a pocket for an American Giant Sweatshirt.*
072013-04-10-AmericanGiant-0052
*American Giant founder Bayard Winthrop inspects sweatshirts on the line before zippers and other final touches are added.*
