"I don't want fat women to wear my clothes. Only 30's skinny moms and we should remove XL size." These are the words of the Color Image apparel CEO to a room full of graphic designers and other employees according to a disaparaging review from Glass Door, the employment review website. The reviewer points out how distasteful this was especially considering there were several women who were L and XL in the room at the time. Not exactly what you would expect from a company that touts itself as a "spiritually conscious" brand. Alo Yoga, by the way, is a trademark of Color Image apparel, Cody App is a subsidiary of Alo Yoga and both Alo and Cody are tied into the scandal that is rocking the world of online yoga.
That is the only review at Glassdoor of Alo Yoga's parent company, needless to say the reviewer doesn't recommend the place for employment and notes "disapproval" of the CEO. If you do a search for Alo Yoga itself, there are 3 reviews. Once again though, all negative, all warning potential would-be new hires to stay away.
Time and again there are mentions of being overworked and undervalued, a sense of superficiality and favoritism. One reviewer noted that they were "given a senior title but work is like an assistant job" which led to them feeling undervalued. Issues with upper management are mentioned all throughout the interviews and one former employed noted the "unprofessional" environment which was gossipy and catty, even pointing out that the CEO flirted with employees. "Not a very 'namaste' place to work," this unhappy former employee had to say.
GlassDoor offers a chance for former employees to give their say to management about ways to improve the work environment. Valuing and caring about employees, treating them respectfully and listening "to the people on the bottom of the totem pole" come up.
Color Image Apparel Inc. — owner of Alo Yoga, maker of the trendy yoga pieces seen on the likes of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, along with the Bella Luxx and Bella + Canvas brand
Bella + Canvas (another subsidiary of Color Image Apparel and sister apparel line that makes clothes for the Alo Yoga brand) at least has a few positive reviews, but the majority are still wholly negative and don't recommend the company as a good place to work.
Comparisons are made to a sweatshop, another former employee says they were treated like children at school or like soldiers. Once again, multiple complaints that there is no room for advancement, no worklife balance (ironic considering balance, as we've mentioned in previous articles is one of the key tenets of yoga) as well as favoritism that may require cozying up to the VP to get ahead, get a decent schedule and/or salary. Lack of work/life balance is an issue brought up and another former employee wishes management use company benefits to play games with employees on who is the boss's favorite.
https://thegoldwater.com/news/21128-StopAloYoga-Trending-On-Twitter-As-Yoga-Scandal-Heats-Up
Reading just slightly between the lines here, it's easy to get the impression that the majority of former employees find Color Image and its subsidiaries, the sister companies Alo Yoga and Bella + Canvas to be entirely toxic environments. Not only that, but Kino's claims of being sexually harassed seem to be mirrored here as well. Keep in mind, these reviews are going back all the way to 2015 and all of them were made before the big Alo Yoga scandal broke a few weeks ago.
On top of all of this, the parent company, Color Image, is accused of being overall hypocritical and contributing to pollution in China: "ALO made a lot of revenue, but as an environmental friendly brand, our designers were shocked about how much pollution we created in the China Factories." The CEO was known to do things like work a fleet of graphic designers "crazy overtime hours" just to fire them all and hire recent graduates to finish the job to save a few dollars.
This former employee when asked what advice they would offer to management was none too helpful that the endemic issues could even be fixed: "I tried when I was there. No point now."
http://www.thegoldwater.com/news/21814-Kino-MacGregor-Blocked-By-Alo-Yoga-In-Wake-Of-Current-Scandal
Now contrast this with the claims of CEOs of Alo Yoga who claim to be "the most technologically advanced yoga clothing in the world" aiming to "change the world." Bragging of their solar-powered offices and advanced recycling program while failing to mention the Chinese factories belching smoke with Alo's name on it. "We take Namaste seriously," they say, "regardless of gender, race, beliefs or sexual orientation," sure just don't be fat, right? They claim to treat everyone with respect, odd that so many former employees felt undervalued, unrespected and (in a few instances) literally harassed and mistreated.
Dana Falsetti is being sued for nearly a quarter of a million dollars by Cody and Alo for telling her story regarding how Alo "perpetuates body shame, the brand is elitist," and how it is a "club that only some can be in." Another point of contention is the suits is related to allegations of sexual harassment and/or assault against one of the owners. Oh and that the brand, "lies." Just judging from the reports of multiple former employees who had their say before this scandal blew up, all these allegations seem to add up.
"We practice what we preach. Literally." Do you really, Alo Yoga? Sounds a bit more like a sales pitch to me and based on your performance record, that sales pitch is for a line of bull that I'm just not buying.
Source:
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Color-Image-RVW19656773.htmga
Twitter: #stopaloyoga #whataboutdana #aloyoga
Thank you for exposing their hypocrisy. Never patronizing them ever again!