Abercrombie and Fitch does not want their brand on fat people

[Pigeon]

I wonder why it is only just now being published in so many places? Too bad a big deal was not made over this interview 7 years ago. I'd have never spent a dime there if it had.


I saw some stuff about that while I was googling this morning. I dislike this company more and more the more I read.

On the bright side, when I pointed the racism out to my teens, they immediately started avoiding A&F like the plague and telling their friends about it, too.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Think he was crazy for that quote read this article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobil...tch-ceo-corporate-jet-rulebook_n_1980960.html

The freakiest thing in that article is that the UNDERWEAR the male only staff had to wear was specified. WHY WHY WHY would anyone have any reason to ever see or know what kind of undies flight crew is wearing? Yuck, yuck, yuck.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't think I've even walked into one in ten years and that was to buy a gift but I have no problem with them targeting a limited segment of the market. They are selling an image. If they want to market that image and only sell clothing that fit that image I have no problem with it.

It really isn't any different though than many of the plus sized or big & tall stores. I have no idea if those places also sell smaller sizes or not but they are obviously targeting a market based on the size of the customer. It shouldn't matter if that customer is big or small, it is still a target market of consumers based on their size.
​

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Their stores smell up the mall

It's the cologne that they sell. You can smell it outside of the store, in the mall, when walking by.

They pump the smell into the air, similar to what Disney does at Main St. Bakery and other locations.

It's their signature scent. It's very nauseating! It's blown throughout the store.

I never noticed a smell for A&F but DEFINITELY Hollister.


I don't shop there. Never have. I'm more of a Buckle/Pac Sun kind of girl.

The best thing we can do is just not shop there. They are losing popularity. Hopefully they'll be out of business soon.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

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)?

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and call bovine fecal matter on that one. While not just a clothing company, I would say that Disney is a rather successful company. They don't just target the "cool" kids. They target everybody with their parks, movies, clothing, etc., and I'd say that they do a darn good job of exciting people. This guy seriously made a mistake with his comments. I'm guessing he was trying to drive up business by having kids say, "You know, I'm not cool or popular, but if I shop here, maybe people will think I am." Unfortunately, moms and dads are usually the ones who give money for clothes when it is as expensive as Abercrombie. And I'm betting mom and dad aren't going to like those comments.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I don't think I've even walked into one in ten years and that was to buy a gift but I have no problem with them targeting a limited segment of the market. They are selling an image. If they want to market that image and only sell clothing that fit that image I have no problem with it.

It really isn't any different though than many of the plus sized or big & tall stores. I have no idea if those places also sell smaller sizes or not but they are obviously targeting a market based on the size of the customer. It shouldn't matter if that customer is big or small, it is still a target market of consumers based on their size.
​

I kind of agree.

(K, now I'm going to run away so I don't get jumped on)

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't think I've even walked into one in ten years and that was to buy a gift but I have no problem with them targeting a limited segment of the market. They are selling an image. If they want to market that image and only sell clothing that fit that image I have no problem with it.

It really isn't any different though than many of the plus sized or big & tall stores. I have no idea if those places also sell smaller sizes or not but they are obviously targeting a market based on the size of the customer. It shouldn't matter if that customer is big or small, it is still a target market of consumers based on their size.
​

People have known all along that Abercrombie does not sell plus sized clothing. That's not the issue. It's what the man said, that is. If the plus sized store CEOs said that they only sell plus sized clothing because people who wear smaller sizes are not attractive or popular and could never be, then I'd feel the same way.

Also, for me, stopping at size 10 is ridiculous. There are many fit girls and women who wear above a size ten, but who are not in plus sizes.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I kind of agree.

(K, now I'm going to run away so I don't get jumped on)

I do also.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't think I've even walked into one in ten years and that was to buy a gift but I have no problem with them targeting a limited segment of the market. They are selling an image. If they want to market that image and only sell clothing that fit that image I have no problem with it.

It really isn't any different though than many of the plus sized or big & tall stores. I have no idea if those places also sell smaller sizes or not but they are obviously targeting a market based on the size of the customer. It shouldn't matter if that customer is big or small, it is still a target market of consumers based on their size.
​

I think there is a HUGE difference between marketing a look that works well for a certain body type and then carrying sizes for that type only and saying that your brand is only for "cool" people and that you do not offer other sizes because those other sizes are not cool or good enough to wear your logo.

My 14 year kid son is very thin. He'd likely fit their clothes well from what I have read today. When we lived in the US I struggled to find thing that fit him without being HUGE in the waist (to get length) or shoulder seems way past his narrow shoulders and swimming in fabric to get a T long enough. A store that marketed towards his size, without saying that other sizes were wrong or bad in any way, would have been great. I'm lucky now in Germany-it is easy to fit him and there are some stores he loves that sell things cut to his build. Now I struggle instead to find a store that has "teen" style tops that fit my DD's curves

 

[Liberty Belle]

He is 68 years OLD!!!!!

*gag*

 

[FireDancer]

I think there is a HUGE difference between marketing a look that works well for a certain body type and then carrying sizes for that type only and saying that your brand is only for "cool" people and that you do not offer other sizes because those other sizes are not cool or good enough to wear your logo.

My 14 year kid son is very thin. He'd likely fit their clothes well from what I have read today. When we lived in the US I struggled to find thing that fit him without being HUGE in the waist (to get length) or shoulder seems way past his narrow shoulders and swimming in fabric to get a T long enough. A store that marketed towards his size, without saying that other sizes were wrong or bad in any way, would have been great. I'm lucky now in Germany-it is easy to fit him and there are some stores he loves that sell things cut to his build. Now I struggle instead to find a store that has "teen" style tops that fit my DD's curves

Well, if enough people are offended by him stating the obvious the free market will punish the company. If company A wants to market to fit or small white kids, company B wants to market to plus sized women, and company C wants to market to the urban demographic go right ahead. And no, I don't care if either of those other two come out and say anyone outside of their demographic is not cool. I don't care if any particular brand thinks I fit their image of cool and I never have.

I choose clothing based on how it looks or feels, not how it is marketed.

People have known all along that Abercrombie does not sell plus sized clothing. That's not the issue. It's what the man said, that is. If the plus sized store CEOs said that they only sell plus sized clothing because people who wear smaller sizes are not attractive or popular and could never be, then I'd feel the same way.

See, I wouldn't care. What the CEO of a plus sized store thinks is or isn't cool and attractive just doesn't matter to me any more than what the CEO of any brand thinks is cool or attractive.

 

[EMom]

DD13 is 5'2" and weighs 85 pounds. By any definition, she is slim and tiny. At both A&F and Hollister, she wears a MEDIUM top. She dislikes skin tight tops and the SMALL would fit her like a glove.

Every time she tries something on in either store, I find myself wondering, "Who the hell wears a LARGE? Some big old strapping girl of 100 pounds?" The sizing is insane. I've only bough her something from A&F once when we hit a big sale, because I hate the store and the soft porn ads. (Are they selling pubic bones?) That may have been my one and only time to buy.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, if enough people are offended by him stating the obvious the free market will punish the company. If company A wants to market to fit or small white kids, company B wants to market to plus sized women, and company C wants to market to the urban demographic go right ahead. And no, I don't care if either of those other two come out and say anyone outside of their demographic is not cool. I don't care if any particular brand thinks I fit their image of cool and I never have.

I choose clothing based on how it looks, not how it is marketed.

I don't think it is obvious that people who are not very fit or thin (and in the case of some of their sizing it sounds like sizing that could be unhealthy-thin on many was readily available) or are not white are not cool?! Nor do I think it is obvious that a store whose sizes fit thinner frames is saying that by making clothing that fits that frame.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't think it is obvious that people who are not very fit or thin (and in the case of some of their sizing it sounds like sizing that could be unhealthy-thin on many was readily available) or are not white are not cool?! Nor do I think it is obvious that a store whose sizes fit thinner frames is saying that by making clothing that fits that frame.

No, stating the obvious of who they are trying to sell to. Based on their image, marketing, and clothing style it is pretty obvious they are trying to sell to the popular kids in suburbia. Claiming those are the cool kids and the others are not is just a way to get into the news and make the kids you are targeting think they are the cool kids. Cool kids love to be reminded they are the cool popular ones so he did just that.

Should he have said it? Maybe yes and maybe no. If the increase in the "cool" kids buying the clothing because he reinforced that message and got into the news (almost a decade ago apparently) is greater than the backlash of those offended by it he did the right thing. His only job as CEO is to increase the wealth of his shareholders, not be a role model of social conscious. If, on the other hand, the backlash is greater and the brand (read: profits) suffers than he shouldn't have said it.

 

[DawnM]

I don't even think I want to buy this brand from thrift stores or yard sales anymore! YUCK!

My boys aren't "into" clothes. They just don't care about brand names or the latest in thing.

But I have gotten several Abercrombie items at yard sales or second hand.

They do not wear better than Kohl's brands. We had one Abercrombie shirt fall apart completely.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't think I've even walked into one in ten years and that was to buy a gift but I have no problem with them targeting a limited segment of the market. They are selling an image. If they want to market that image and only sell clothing that fit that image I have no problem with it.

It really isn't any different though than many of the plus sized or big & tall stores. I have no idea if those places also sell smaller sizes or not but they are obviously targeting a market based on the size of the customer. It shouldn't matter if that customer is big or small, it is still a target market of consumers based on their size.
​

I'm pretty sure I've never been in an A&F in my life... I can't remember the last time I set foot in a mall, and I'm pretty sure any store that pipes in their cologne scent would have made an impression on me. But my issue is more about the very negative/exclusionary message than targeting a demographic, particularly because of the gender bias implicit in their sizing. I personally can't see spending a dime at a company that sends the message that young men of all sizes can be cool/popular - because really that's the image they sell, the "in crowd" look - but only young women with a certain body type can.

 

[OceanAnnie]

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)?

That statement is so repulsive. What made the CEO think, "This will be good for business."? So out of touch, to not consider his statement could have an opposite effect. Ugly doesn't sell.

 

[StephMK]

Isn't there some rule that if you have to talk about being cool, then you're not really cool. When are they going to boot him out for someone younger and better looking to fit the "image"?

DD19 never fit into the clothes but DD13 would. I don't have an issue with sizes because we run into that in many stores that carry different ranges of sizes. But all the other stuff, yuck. Thankfully, DD13 is not interested in them.

 

[eliza61]

Well, if enough people are offended by him stating the obvious the free market will punish the company. If company A wants to market to fit or small white kids, company B wants to market to plus sized women, and company C wants to market to the urban demographic go right ahead. And no, I don't care if either of those other two come out and say anyone outside of their demographic is not cool. I don't care if any particular brand thinks I fit their image of cool and I never have.

I choose clothing based on how it looks or feels, not how it is marketed.

See, I wouldn't care. What the CEO of a plus sized store thinks is or isn't cool and attractive just doesn't matter to me any more than what the CEO of any brand thinks is cool or attractive.

Well you accept any thing. Sorry you portray me as a slave as vogue tried to do, I'm not buying your product. You sell a game called "GHETTO-oply", you will be picketed. So yeah I have standards. I could care less how great your product is, you don't get to degrade me and get my money.

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm not happy about what the CEO said. I don't think it's ever nice to pick on kids. That being said I won't stop shopping there. It's one of the few stores where my tiny 13yo can find teen clothing that fits her. She also shops at Aeropostle and wears an XS in both stores. All the other teen stores are sized way too big for her.

I was overweight as a teen and remember what it was like not to be able to find clothes that were stylish. I now have a child at the other end of the size spectrum and my priority now is to her. My DD isn't some snotty, clothes horse teen. She's simply a sweet 13 yo that just wants to dress her age and not like a little kid.

There are plenty of other popular teen stores that carry clothing for larger kids. Heck, as a grown woman I've bought some basics in some teen stores in a size small.