Fashion

American Apparel Is Venturing Back Into Brick-and-Mortar Stores

  • Shop on Melrose will be retailer’s first since bankruptcy
  • Company has shifted to producing brand’s clothing abroad

A mannequin stands in the window of an American Apparel Inc. store in New York, on Feb. 28, 2014. 

Photographer: Craig Warga/Bloomberg

American Apparel is returning to the physical realm.

The iconic Los Angeles-based brand is preparing to open a flagship store in its home city later this year, its first foray back into brick-and-mortar shops after all its locations closed following a bankruptcy process. New owner Gildan Activewear Inc., the Montreal-based company that bought American Apparel but not the physical stores in an auction last year, said the new location will complement e-commerce operations and serve as an incubator to gauge trends.