American Apparel files for bankruptcy protection

American Apparel, the troubled chain that boasts of "Made in the USA" fashions, filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection early on Monday on the back of a growing list of woes. The Los Angeles-based company has been embroiled in a drawn-out legal battle with its ousted founder and former chief executive Dov Charney and has seen declining sales since 2010, leading to a series of steep losses. "This restructuring will enable American Apparel to become a stronger, more vibrant company," said chief