American Apparel, jilted lover of the hipster fashion elite, recently announced that it’s expanding its collection to include plus sizes, and is holding a contest for new plus sized models.

The company’s history of bullshit is well-documented. They’ve faced criticism from feminists and non-feminists alike for their sexist ad campaigns, accusations of sexual harassment at all levels of the company, and labor practices.

Which makes me quite cynical about this latest maneuver. Has American Apparel seen the body-positive light? Or is it just part of a dying company’s futile quest to maintain relevance with its fickle market demographic? Apart from having a more diverse group of women to add to its cadre of spandex-clad models, will this new ...