With New Chief, American Apparel Shifts Focus

When Paula Schneider took the helm at American Apparel's sprawling factory and offices in Los Angeles last month, she found more than 3,000 cutters, sewers and designers working up a storm — but just one planner coordinating it all. It was symbolic, the brand's new chief executive said, of the frenzied manner in which the company had been run under its founder, Dov Charney, fired last year because of accusations of sexual harassment and personal misconduct.