Forever 21 - Controversy

Controversy

In November 2001, factory workers started producing clothing for the company called for a store boycott until working conditions and payroll improved. The lawsuit was dropped when Forever 21 paid the workers' back wages. The matter was settled out of court and the company agreed to take steps to ensure that its garments were not made in sweatshops. The store later became the subject of the documentary Made in L.A. which focused on three Latina legal immigrant workers who fight for three years to win basic protections from the retailer. In 2004, under pressure from PETA, Forever 21 agreed to stop selling clothing made with animal fur.

Forever 21 has also been accused of infringing on designs from other fashion brands. Recently, designer Diane von Fürstenberg has filed a lawsuit against Forever 21 for duplicating her dress designs. Since that time Furstenberg has settled with the company for undisclosed terms. Singer and designer Gwen Stefani has filed a federal lawsuit against the fashion megachain, claiming the retailer illegally ripped off her Harajuku Lovers designs. Designer Anna Sui has also filed a lawsuit against Forever 21 alleging that Forever 21 sold and offered for sale numerous women's fast fashion clothing items bearing a striking similarity to her products featured at the most recent New York Fashion Week shows.

Forever 21 has also come under fire from the South Central Farmers and other California-based activist groups in a campaign known collectively as Never Forever 21. The criticism is based on Forever 21’s involvement in a proposed deal with developer Ralph Horowitz to build a warehouse and distribution center on the land that was formerly the site of the South Central Farm.

Forever 21 has recently been subject of additional controversy, stemming from an interactive billboard installation in Times Square, in New York. It is alleged that Forever 21's advertising agency, space150 and director Nicholaus Goossen, copied a similar piece - created in 2009 - from London by interactive artist Chris O'Shea. These allegations have led to heated exchanges on the Vimeo page showing the work between Goossen and other users, including well-known members of the interactive and new media art communities. Both space150 and Goossen have since apologized publicly on Vimeo.

On August 7, 2010, a security guard at a XXI store at 6801 Hollywood Blvd assaulted and choked a deaf man, Alejandro Rea, for nearly two minutes because he did not stop at the door when the security alarms went off. Rea, who had previously been convicted twice for shoplifting, was seen on surveillance footage leaving with unpaid items and was arrested after the incident. The security guard was suspended for using excessive force. A pedestrian filmed the altercation and uploaded the video to YouTube, prompting responses from various news outlets.

In January 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed against Forever 21 by its employees stating that Forever 21 systematically failed to pay them for hours worked. Employees of Forever 21 are required to subject their personal belongings to a "Bag Check Policy" to ensure there is no stolen merchandise. As part of this policy employees are required to have their belongings checked while still clocked in, however according to former and present Forever 21 employees the bag check has been done while clocked-out resulting in unpaid time while working.