American Apparel Begins Layoffs

American Apparel has started laying off about 180 employees, mainly in manufacturing, as part of a bid by its new chief executive to streamline the retailer's money-bleeding operations. The company has begun telling affected employees that their jobs are being eliminated, American Apparel chief Paula Schneider said late Tuesday in an interview. The layoffs touch almost every area of the production cycle in the United States, and all employees losing their jobs will be informed by Friday, Ms. Schneider said.