Dov Charney's Take on Sex With Co-Workers: 'UNAVOIDABLE!'

Dov Charney once ran a pioneering clothing company. Now he sleeps on a mattress on a factory floor. At the Guardian, Hadley Freeman digs deeper into the American Apparel founder's downfall and what he hopes will be his resurrection. Fired from American Apparel in 2014 following accusations of sexual misconduct, Charney, 48, is now working on wholesale basics label Los Angeles Apparel, which he describes as "a continuum" of his previous brand using the same people, materials, and controversial work environment. Before entering Los Angeles Apparel's factory, Freeman is warned there may be people "undressed," though Charney's assistant assures her this is no different from athletes getting naked in a locker room, "so it's weird people get freaked out by it."

Freeman doesn't encounter any nudity, but at one point Charney grabs a pair of panties and states that a female intern wore them in front of him. "It's not inflammatory, it's totally normal," he says. "I abhor all forms of sexual harassment, period," he continues. But "sleeping with people you work with is UNAVOIDABLE!" He adds he'll "never" change his outlook on a lack of sexual boundaries at work because "it wouldn't be good for society." His creativity and stance on worker's rights is so much more important, he adds. The problem as Freeman sees it: "If you are not willing to keep it zipped to pursue your dreams, you will only run so far before tripping over your trousers." Click for more, including Charney's interesting take on Donald Trump's lewd comments. (More Dov Charney stories.)