Many Minnesota shoppers are likely familiar with fast fashion chain Wet Seal. The company owns both Wet Seal stores and Arden B stores, which are ubiquitous in malls around the state and generate about $620 million in sales nationwide each year. The retail chain is now being sued by a group of employees who say that the company systematically discriminates against African American employees.
The lawsuit was filed by a former manager from a Wet Seal location who says she was fired the day after the senior vice president emailed a district manager that said “African American dominate – huge issue.” The filing requests class action status for 250 current and former African American managers from Wet Seal locations around the country.