The other night I posted on Facebook about how the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch gave an interview with Salon magazine in 2006, where he said how much he disliked fat people and that his clothing were only for skinny people and the cool crowd. Read more HERE.
As the CEO, he has the right to exclude who ever he wants from purchasing his clothing. But as a business person, he is horrible. Last time I checked, fat people spend money too. Given A&F recent history of lawsuits concerning racial discrimination, sweatshops, their employee “look policy” and a near bankruptcy. He would want to keep his mouth shut and not hurt the business anymore.
“He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”
Sadly, a 100 year old company with a cool history of selling high end fishing and camping equipment, has come down to a CEO calling people names and stressing about “un-cool” people wearing their clothes. How embarrassing!
My kids, who have an awesome sense of humor, thought how funny would it be if everyone donated their A&F clothing to Goodwill. Then all the people who I am sure the CEO hates and can’t stand, could buy A&F clothing and be the ones wearing it! Brilliant! That is what we are doing tonight.
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
This is awesome! 🙂 Good job!
This is awesome! Kudos to you two for standing up to this jerk! It always amazes me when a CEO opens their mouth and such stupidity comes out. As a representative of the company, he should have known better. I hope, at the very least, this debacle costs him his job.
Thank you, but I doubt it. He said it a while ago and is still there. It is just bad business, he needs to keep his mouth shut and stop showing how ignorant he is.
Awesome of the both of you and your family. It just amazes me how CEO’s, politicians, actors, etc. will come out and make statements and say things that are just so stupid/wrong. Kudos to you!!
their ads have been pretty near pornographic for years, so this is not a shocker to me.
LOVE IT!!!
I have not shopped at A&F in a number if years and won’t be after this – however, it’s ironic, I sat with my 5 year old in the mall yesterday as the stores were opening, just happened to be sitting outside the local A&F store – I could not believe what the employees were wearing! One girl in particular caught my attention as she was wearing shorts that appeared to be four sizes too small with a skin tight t-shirt and everything hanging out with flip flops – wonder what the CEO would think if he saw that. My 5 year old commented (out loud) that it looked like the woman bought her clothes in the kids section.
Good for you! I am always amazed how some parents raise their kids to believe the label of their clothing defines then for who they are. These kids will grow up to be unhappy adults because unless their spouse makes enough money to pay for “the label”, either it be clothes, phones, etc.., they won’t be happy. Why not instead teach them to love themselves for who they are instead of what they wear. American’s are swimming in credit card debit because everyone tries to “keep up with the Jones”. I personally shop off the craigslist for lots of household items. My neighbor, whom has a only child, who only wears Abercrombie clothes laughs at me for doing so. I figure that if I teach my children how to shop and how you can save, then hopefully when they become adults they will be that much smarter. I would rather have a big family with chaos in the house rather than one child whom is perfectly dressed! Just my opinion. I really respect you for posting your video! I will never be purchasing anything from there store ever again!! You and Paul never stop amazing me. You truly have a lovely family and your doing a fabulous job at raising all of your adorable kiddos. Keep up the good work!! Tammy
We need more parents like you.
I think aeropostale has better clothes and better sales!
I am appalled at what the man had to say. I do have children that wear these clothes and I will continue to purchase them for several reasons. I am a couponer and everything I purchase, I purchase at a discount. I recently purchased a large amount of my sons school clothes for next year online. The discounts on clearance are amazing. I paid an average of 8.00 for each shirt. I purchased winter hoodies for 14.00. I cannot purchase the same items at my local walmart for these prices. The quality of these clothes are excellent. I also purchase at Aeropostle but the quality is quite inferior. Yes I am aware of the sexual nature and exploitation of the stores. My daughter works at Hollister. Her clothes are typical of short tops and short shorts. My daughter is also 18 and attending college full time. She is an A student and has had a job since she was 12. My daughter understands the value of a dollar as well as my son. Labels are important to children but that does not mean that they do not have values or morals. As a child of a poor family who was made fun of daily, I will continue to provide for my children to the best of my ability. I will continue to purchase quality items even if they do come from these stores. As far as the jerk goes, he may very well end up where the J C Penney jerk went. It is a hard world out there and my children are very aware of it. There is not much that is fair or free out there. Children are what you reap and my sowing is doing me proud.
lisa anne, we are not here to talk about the quality of there clothing or weather it’s a nice place to work. Obviously you are proud of the fact that your girls wear “short shorts”. I personally have always wanted to ask mothers like you, “why do you let your daughter wear her shorts so short”? Try making your daughter wear non name brand for a week and see how much she pitches a fit! You sound like one of those mothers whom just defends her kids even if they are wrong. After hearing the comments from the CEO I have certainly changed my mind about shopping at A&F.
Lisa Anne,
Have you ever taken the time to explain to your daughter how much she de-values herself by wearing clothes with her parts hanging out? When I took to the time to explain why we would not allow our 3 teenage daughters to wear revealing clothing including what grown men think about when women/girls wear such clothing. I have never had an arguement since about it. I want my daughters and my 2 sons to think about a persons insides, even their eyes rather than the parts some people let hang out.
And, the youngest look on and mimic… Unaware of how and where the line is drawn or if there is a line. Normative behavior has become no model… I applaud work ethic and principles! But, my young children cannot see what lies beneath the racy ads and drug-simulated vacant stare… I see children and young adults exploited for financial gain. I see the public falling for the CEOs marketing ploy… Sex sells. Shame on all of us.
So Im a larger mom who pays for all the clothes in this house, I knew I never felt welcome in that store. So is ok if fat people buy his clothes for their “skinny cool kids” This guy is dumb. I will not be purchesing anymore of these clothes, and will tell my kids why. I also will be donating our A&F to Goodwill. That will make some unknowing(possibly underpriveleged) kids very happy I think.
When I was in college I had a friend who worked there. She was told that even the layout of the store is intended to make people feel bad about themselves. Unlike places like old navy where the largest sizes are on the bottom shelf, Abercrombie places their largest sizes, a size ten and twelve (gasp…..) on the top shelf, just out of reach. That way if you happen to be the sized of an average adult woman, you must ask the sales associate for help getting them. This in intentional, and they are hoping that you feel discouraged. They dislike anyone who doesn’t have hip and rib bones showing!
What a great job you & your husband have done.
I live in Australia so we do not have these A&F shops and if we ever did there is no way that I would shop in them.
You are teaching your children the right way, shame the CEO of A & F’s Mother didn’t teach him to keep his mouth closed before putting his boot in his mouth.
I agree with Tiffany, he needs to stop showing just how ignorant he is!
We are a well feed family and I am thankful to Walmart for the just my size line of clothes. My 18 yr old son is 6’3″ and 350 so he is a big boy and very hard to find clothes for. I am not a big mall person but my boys wanted to go to mall and the oldest had a concert for band coming up so he needed a dress shirt and pants we passed Abercrombie & Fitch in the mall and he did not want to even go in. I guess he already knew. My younges it 12 and he is in mens 32X30 pants so he is not little as well but my pocket book is not that deep so we shop where we can. There is no problem in this house to not shop there. thanks for the information and will pass on. Keep up the good work.
Well, I’m sure he lost a lot of customers. And doesn’t he know that kids that shop there more than likely have to get money from parents? And most parents are past the stage of wanting to be part of the “cool crowd”.
I remember a while back it was on the news that they asked the Jersey Shore people to stop wearing their clothes because they didn’t want people to associate their behavior with their brand.
This guy sounds like a mess.
This coincides perfectly with our summer overhaul of clothing! Donating time!
Even if EVERYONE decided to donate their A&F clothes, the profit has already been made for the company. And anyone who wears these clothes, no matter how or where they got them, is a walking advertisement for the brand. Good for your family for choosing not to be their billboard! The only way to stop their discrimination is by not giving them another penny. Money talks, and the lack of money speaks the loudest!
Well even if I could wear their clothing, I wouldn’t be able to go into the store. The perfume/cologne is so strong that I can’t even walk past the store without getting a major headache.
This is the reason why I never see husky kids clothing in the store. They will not get my business not even if they do sell husky clothing.
I don’t mean this to sound mean but do you think only fat and uncool people shop at GW?
God, y’all are morons. Goodwill? What a horrible ‘charity’ to support while boycotting another. Idiots. That is all.
I am so sorry that you are so offended by this, enough to come on here and call me names like that. I have always felt and considered our families as friends and would never, ever say anything like this to you if I disagreed with you about something. EVER. I value friendship more than that.
I think you are completely missing the point. Pick any place, doesn’t have to be Goodwill. It was the point that you missed. Send them back to Abercrombie it doesn’t matter.
Again, I am really sorry that you feel this way.
Tiffany-
Your family is amazing!!!! I love the unique spin you always put on a bad situation! I feel like MyLitter has formed its own little family, and I hope you don’t let the words of one “hater” discourage you! For every one of them, there are 10,000 of us that can’t wait to see what you’ll do next! Keep it up, Momma!
Kimberly Adkins-
How dare you?! If you disagree with the views in this blog, don’t visit it!!!! Shame on you! 🙁