American Apparel Debuts Hasidic Model for Rosh Hashanah: Awesome or Exploitative?

Question

Just in time for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) American Apparel has debuted a Hasidic model on its Tumblr page. This is a surprising departure from the brand's usual highly ********** marketing campaigns, and skeptics are wondering what the motives are behind this post.

American Apparel CEO Dov Charney is Jewish, and has even been accused of calling an ex-employee a "wanna be Jew." That being said, do you think he chose to feature Hasidic model Yoel Weisshaus because he is proud of his heritage, or is he exploiting him to increase sales during Rosh Hashanah?

You can check out all of Yoel's pictures here, and if you're a fan of his outfit you can purchase the shirt and pants on AmericanApparel.net, but his amazing fur (faux fur?) hat is not for sale.

HUFFINGTONPOST.COM reports:L'shana tova, everyone! If you're Jewish, you probably know that means "Happy New Year" in Hebrew, and tomorrow marks the official celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

Answer 1

Why does everything have to be about ulterior motives, like jeez

Answer 2

American Apparel normally uses very provocative poses. The one above is relatively mild for them.
I was just wondering what lm1b2 finds "ugly".

Answer 3

American Apparel has had a wide variety of models. They strive for diversity. They want every demographic to buy their clothing. Makes good business sense to me.

Answer 4

NOPE THAT IS AWESOME! He is not being ******, or demeaning in the picture!
He is showing his Jewish pride!!

Answer 5

I think it's great. Showing the awesomeness of our Jewish friends.

Answer 6

He's exploiting himself. He can think for himself.

Answer 7

and ugly

Answer 8

You didn't like the pose?
Try this one:

Answer 9

Now that's the pose that I find objectionable.............***... then again I don't think that this woman was forced to pose like that , either.

Answer 10

No, that pose of the woman isn't all that provocative in comparison to others that I've seen. I don't know why 1b2 finds the Hasidic man 'ugly'. I don't agree.....but to each his own and I think it's a step forward to have all people represented.

Answer 11

Hasidic folks can be in the vogue if they want to.

Answer 12

There is obviously a market for this religious ****** clothing, so the smart folks at American Apparel are merely offering what some people want. Nothing wrong with this.

Answer 13

Funny

Answer 14

Very cool!

Answer 15

L' shinah tohva!

You go girl!

Answer 16

Thats messed up

Answer 17

If the model is really a Hasidic Jew as the article states, then power to them. And if the CEO is actually Jewish himself. I would say it's a sly way of saying "Mazel Tov" and making his mishpachas kvell.

I hope I didn't butcher that.

Answer 18

hey, he is working.Good for him!

Answer 19

Cool

Answer 20

It's common to buy new clothes for any holiday so it's just an ad to get new things for Jewish New Year.

Answer 21

I'm not sure he could be doing it for both reasons because he's proud of his heritage and because of exploiting. Either ways it doesn't seem like that much of a big deal but it does feel a bit wrong. It is cool that it's not the normal models and it;s something new and different, opening doors to the modeling world?

Answer 22

I'm not sure what misconception your statement about all of his hair being long is based on, but in orthodox Judaism there is no concept of a young ***** male growing all of his hair out. Men grown the corners of their hair out, called peyos, and while some grow those out a tiny bit, this model has very traditional long ones.

Answer 23

Next it will nbe the homeless look......wait they do that in Hollywood already.

Answer 24

Actually, the idea is not the problem, it is the fact that he seems to be satirising cultures he may not understand.

Answer 25

I get that people are going to wonder when it's for American Apparel-I always find their ads amusing, & the store itself kind of amusing (I think of it as a hipster store)-like in their ads, they're always saying how they use 'regular people', but the 'regular people' they use always somehow *** up looking like professional models. Which many regular people do, but just saying it's kind of funny. Or, it's like, yeah, because most people are going to walk down the street wearing a see-through unitard or a pair of shorts with thigh highs and a gold bandeau top. Though I really don't find their stuff offensive, though.

But this ad here, I don't find it exploitative. Do people ****** that all Hasidic people act a certain way? They can't act silly sometimes or have fun like he is? Why not, they're no different than anyone else.
40x679
This is the usual stuff you see from American Apparel. 'Regular people' wearing stuff that no one's going to likely ever wear. While the photos of him actually look like a real person you'd see in real life, are actually things that people could actually wear

Answer 26

This is random, but that top chick has like no chest area at all. I'm leaving now. Bye bye.

Answer 27

very tacky

Answer 28

They probably want money but maybe just to show people who chassidic people are

Answer 29

I've marked "exploitative" but really I want there to be an OTHER option. As in...if the model is supposed to be representative of a Jewish young ***** male, shouldn't ALL of his hair on his head be long? I didn't think you could do "half-sies" - and having all his hair really short on the top doesn't count....

Answer 30

I should have been more clear. It was my understanding that in Judaism that the devote man once married was not allowed to cut either his hair on his head OR his facial hair. It is possible I'm thinking of some other religion or some other cultural thing but I thought it was with Judaism.

Answer 31

Cause its just funny as ****, I think he's doing both, he's exploting a heritage he's proud.

Answer 32

The model chose to do this, what's the big deal?

Answer 33

Hey, he wasn't forced to pose, I don't think. Why not represent all people in the ads? I don't see anything wrong with it.

Answer 34

I always wanted a chin like that when I was younger

Answer 35

There is no contradiction in being devoutly religious and being joyful, fun-loving,and funny.

Answer 36

Hasidic jews in advertising? SHALOM!!

Answer 37

I know this guy!

Answer 38

It is impossible to exploit a free rational being. This model made a choice to exchange a service for a payment. To imply he is being exploited is to say he is not capable of making his own choices. Which in turn is to imply he is some how less as a person than we are because we know better than he what choices he should make.

Answer 39

Why does everything have to be about ulterior motives, like jeez