American Apparel Responds to British Ban

Last week Britain's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned an American Apparel ad after receiving complaints that it sexualized a child.

American Apparel has already confirmed that the photographed model (seen below) was over eighteen. Ryan Holiday, the company's Marketing Director, added to WWD:

"The model was 23 when the photo was taken in winter of 2011, and she was - continues to be the longtime girlfriend of the photographer [Henrik Purienne]."

Purienne's photo style has been called "fashion porn." Purienne describes his relationships with his models as "basically like a mullet... business in front, party in the back."

The longer statement from American Apparel: "It's unfortunate that the ASA has made this ruling as our models are of age and were featured in Vice magazine, a publication clearly intended for mature, fashion-forward audiences. We'll abide by this ruling as we have in the past with similar ASA decisions, but American Apparel will not be altering our classic advertising aesthetic which is internationally recognized for its artistic and social values."