Includes bibliographical references and index.

Work is a central part of society. Qualitative researchers can explore how power dynamics shape workplaces and broader industry practices. Interview studies about workers take seriously the voices of those who hold the least clout within the organization. We detail our project, which uses interviews and participant observation to examine the experiences of part-time retail clothing workers and the labor practices of their employers. These methods illuminate worker perspectives, providing a sense of how the corporate labor practices play out inside the stores each day. Examining how workers experience their jobs at mostly teen-oriented clothing stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, and Forever 21, this case demonstrates the potential of using worker interviews and shopper observations to better understand how low-wage industries treat their workers. We use a single-industry approach to investigate labor practices specific to clothing retail, namely those involving workplace surveillance and expectations for aesthetic labor. We highlight the strengths and limitations of combining in-depth interviews with participant observation inside the stores.

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