Alexander Wang’s ‘Sweatshop’ Allegations Dismissed

by Hilary George-Parkin | 11:42 am, August 15th, 2012

Earlier this week, one of the fashion world’s most highly publicized legal battles as of late was dismissed by a New York federal court Judge Harold Baer. Back in March, two former employees of Alexander Wang slapped the designer with a $450 million lawsuit that claimed the company was in violation of numerous labor laws — running their Chinatown factory like a “sweatshop,” stuffing workers in a small, windowless room, denying them overtime pay, and firing those who complained.

Wang denied the charges time and time again, insisting that the workspace is in fact a “modern, brightly lit studio with high ceilings and large windows,” and that the two plaintiffs, Wenyu Lu and Flor Durante, were merely “disgruntled former employees with axes to grind.” Now the parties involved have reached a settlement out of court, reports WWD. And while the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, we do know that there will be no appeals made, as the case was dismissed without prejudice. A representative for the designer expressed the company’s relief at having gotten through the mess: