Abercrombie and Fitch does not want their brand on fat people

[NHdisneylover]

I have not had much to do with this company. My kids never liked it. I think all I have ever bought from them was hoodie and T for my niece's Christmas gift.

However, I will find other gifts from now on. I think this is a horrible message to send. I wouldn't even care if they just didn't stock certain sizes because in reality some styles look better on some sizes than others and you can only stock so much, etc. But to have your CEO openly saying that they do not stock over a size 10 (for women) because they are the "cool" brand and fat people are never cool? I think that is just atrocious.


Here is the quote from the CEO that really bothers me:

"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids, he told the site. Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people dont belong [in our clothes], and they cant belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You dont alienate anybody, but you dont excite anybody, either, he told Salon."


http://elitedaily.com/news/world/abercrombie-fitch-ceo-explains-why-he-hates-fat-chicks/

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/05/07/abercrombie-fitch-wont-stock-size-xl-women_n_3229909.html

I'm curious. Are others of you shocked by this? Does this change how you feel about the company? Will it prevent you from shopping there (or encourage you to shop there, I suppose)?

 

[Ember]

I will not step foot in their stores again. What also bothers me is that they stock XL and XXL in men's sizes. So it's only women who have to conform to the standard.

 

[wilkeliza]

Doesn't shock me. I never shopped there to begin with because when I was in a 4 (now up to a 6/8 ) in most other brands I was almost a 10 in A&F. I'm not even a big woman just 145 and 5'6" so I always wondered what type of woman actually fit in their clothes. Same goes for Hollister. I'd rather buy my clothes somewhere that make me feel good in my clothes instead if making me feel fat when I'm not.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I will not step foot in their stores again. What also bothers me is that they stock XL and XXL in men's sizes. So it's only women who have to conform to the standard.

In the first article linked they say that the CEO said they stock the larger sizes for male athletes.

 

[jdb in AZ]

In the first article linked they say that the CEO said they stock the larger sizes for male athletes.

Oh yes. Each and every athlete is such a role model that all of us should emulate?

 

[WDW in Pearls]

I see them going out of business in the very near future. Their popularity has declined, and the "cool" kids don't even shop their anymore. The quality is terrible now. Their styles never change with fashion; I swear they're selling the same crap they sold ten years ago. They should be grateful ANYONE is wearing their stuff.

 

[Ember]

In the first article linked they say that the CEO said they stock the larger sizes for male athletes.

Okay, what about female athletes? I know several girls and women who are a bigger build because they are active in sports.

(P.S. I'm angry at A&F, not the person I quoted.)

 

[PollyannaMom]

Wow, that's just awful! I'm glad my son has never been interested in them either.

 

[pigletgirl]

Wow. I have no words.

 

[whoiam]

The CEO sounds like he's 12. Seriously, what kind of professional person talks like that?
I never liked A&F anyway, too expensive. Luckily DDs were never into it either.

 

[HubbDave]

Their stores smell up the mall

 

[NHdisneylover]

Their stores smell up the mall

You know, when we lived in the US I could never stand to go in there because of the smell. I wondered why they did that. Now i am thinking it is part of their plan to keep "older" and "overweight" people out of the store. The CEO is quoted saying they do not want out of shape people even shopping in there--so I bet they intentionally set out to make the environment unpleasant to parents who might shop for their teens so that we would stay out all together and just send in the kids with $$.

 

[mhsjax]

I really have no words for this. My DD has shopped there, we only purchased sale items. I so agree with the other pp that said their style never changes, I noticed that the last time I was in there.

Md dd decided a few months ago that she was tired of that store and would shop elsewhere, even though I guess she fits their standard of being able to fit into their clothes. Good thing she did make this decision, I will never set foot in one of their stores again.

OH yeah, they also hired one of my DD's best friends, They hired her in September, told her she had to purchase 2 outfits, and not last season, so she paid full price. She was never put on the schedule at all, finally the day after Thanksgiving, she was scheduled to work all day with no training what so ever. Another girl also verified that the same thing had happened to her, they both quit.

Seems like a real "gem" of a company. NOT.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I really have no words for this. My DD has shopped there, we only purchased sale items. I so agree with the other pp that said their style never changes, I noticed that the last time I was in there.

Md dd decided a few months ago that she was tired of that store and would shop elsewhere, even though I guess she fits their standard of being able to fit into their clothes. Good thing she did make this decision, I will never set foot in one of their stores again.

OH yeah, they also hired one of my DD's best friends, They hired her in September, told her she had to purchase 2 outfits, and not last season, so she paid full price. She was never put on the schedule at all, finally the day after Thanksgiving, she was scheduled to work all day with no training what so ever. Another girl also verified that the same thing had happened to her, they both quit.

Seems like a real "gem" of a company. NOT.

That is a terrible practice!

 

[mhsjax]

That is a terrible practice!

It is, but of these girls were very busy with school and cheer, they just figured they would never get put on the schedule, after weeks of calling. So when they did, they thought, money for Christmas, and we will most likely be working from here on out. Both girls didn't give them a chance to schedule additional days, they quit.

 

[Mkrop]

Something tells me that CEO had "issues" in high school.


Glad my son never got into those clothes. No more gift cards for DNiece from there

 

[pigletgirl]

I hope the words he spoke haunts him!

 

[momontheright]

?My 12 year old loves the Abercombie kids store so we shop there often but I can tell you it is not my favorite place. The clothes are cut funny my daughter in most stores wears a girls size 10 but there she has to but XL shirts and size 16 bottoms. Also the swimsuits they market for children are appalling they look like something a Victoria Secrets swimsuit model would wear. I mean really who lets a child wear a bikini that ties on the side and a padded triangle top?

 

[denisenh]

ohhhhhh, ugh, not good.

i have written many a hefty check there, not thousands at a time, but over $500 a few times a year. one of my daughters, in jr high and high, wore a size 00 and 0 and all wore size 5 or less , so the clothes fit.
my now 20 year old worked there briefly in high school but the smell was too much for her. (It is also too loud. makes me want to run out screaming.)
My 17 year old still wears A&F clothes but i don't know if i will ever shop there again based on that quote. i don't mind the thinner exclusive sizing, many brands are known for catering to size ranges, but the rest of that thought/quote is uncalled for and it surely doesn't represent my thoughts. what a schmuck.
this would be a good time to market a tshirt "the un-abercrombie tee" lol

 

[TinkerBelled]

On the up side, I suppose if I wanted to play a villain in a John Hughes movie I now know where to shop.