A lifestyle that, as a Christian, I can not condone nor support. I know I rant about this issue from time to time, but I continue to be amazed at the level of loyalty and support given to these companies by those who claim to be followers of Jesus. When you wear a shirt that says Abercrombie on the front of it, you are, essentially, giving it your endorsement – “As a Christian, I endorse this product so much, I will wear on my chest proudly.” This is a company who, by it’s practices, supports racial discrimination, promotes unhealthy self-image, blatant sexuality, hedonistic, self-serving lifestyles, and a host of other negatives. I found the comments of A&F Ceo Mike Jefferies very interesting. By the way, the newest addition to the A&F Company lineup is Ruehl No. 925. Basically, it goes like this: abercombie – kids, Hollister Co. – high school students, Abercrombie & Fitch – college, Ruehl – 20’s.
From a 1.24.06 interview with Mike Jefferies by Benoit Denizet-Lewis of Salon.com:
“…I brought up the brouhaha surrounding the A&F Quarterly, which, until it was discontinued in 2003, boasted articles about the history of orgies and pictures of chiseled, mostly white, all-American boys and girls (but mostly boys) cavorting naked on horses, beaches, pianos, surfboards, statues and phallically suggestive tree trunks. The magalog so outraged the American Decency Association that it called for a boycott and started selling anti-Abercrombie T-shirts: “Ditch Fitch: Abercrombie Peddles Porn and Exploits Children.” Meanwhile, gay men across America were eagerly collecting the magazines, lured by photographer Bruce Weber’s taste for beautiful, masculine boys playfully pulling off each other’s boxers. Jeffries nearly fell over in exasperation when I mentioned the magalog, although I’m not sure which charge — that he sells sex to kids or that his advertising is homoerotic — bothered him more. “That’s just so wrong!” he said. “I think that what we represent sexually is healthy. It’s playful. It’s not dark. It’s not degrading! And it’s not gay, and it’s not straight, and it’s not black, and it’s not white. It’s not about any labels. That would be cynical, and we’re not cynical! It’s all depicting this wonderful camaraderie, friendship, and playfulness that exist in this generation and, candidly, does not exist in the older generation.”
“…When I ask him how important sex and sexual attraction are in what he calls the “emotional experience” he creates for his customers, he says, “It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.” As far as Jeffries is concerned, America’s unattractive, overweight or otherwise undesirable teens can shop elsewhere. “In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he says. “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 don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t 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 don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either.”
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/01/24/jeffries/print.html
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had it with this company!!!!! I am so completely disgusted, there are no words left!
I very much agree with your view on this subject. However, I think you should take down those pictures. In a way (I feel) by displaying those pictures on your website, your promoting their company too. And since there are people who are very sensitive to pictures of that nature, it would cool not to display them. With that said, I do very much agree that by wearing their clothing your supporting their values and mission. Which is only promoting negaitivity and wrong veiws within our country. And desentistizing people including Christians. As Christians we should be aware of the things were supporting: whether is be clothes, tv, video games, ect.
I have to disagree with Stephanie. I don’t think that posting those images are a problem at all. They are pretty tame, and very small, especially in comparison to what is in the annual A&F catalog. I honestly think no one would understand without the brief visual.
I think Josh has written this entry with the mindset of protecting his readers. I’m not sure this will desensitize anyone except the “sheltered” of the Christian community. Not saying that’s what you are, just saying it how I see it to be.
Brief story: imagine working there!
A high-school friend of mine used to work at Abercrombie back in the day. It was a summer job, and he said to himself, “Lord protect me, and I will be your servant here.” That was back when they posted a bunch of men kissing, right at the front of the store so that anyone walking by (inside the mall) could see.
Long story short, he and a coworker eventually got the photograph moved to the deep back of the store, and later removed completely. How?
They just started taking the stuff down. Eventually the manager compromised and did not ask them to place such images on the walls anymore.
Don’t go run out to your local mall to work at A&F… it’s just a story. 🙂
Josh, you read Salon?
Well, I’ve never shopped there. I’m not cool, never have been; hopefully never will be. It is reassuring, though to really know straight from the mouth of the administration that I’m not included in their target market. Another thing, I find it very funny that the “American Decency Association” called for a boycott. The people that are part of this decency association most likely didnt shop there in the first place… if anything it probably helped their sales out. Young adults are rebellious, bad publicity is still publicity. Just a random thought from a random kid.
(let me be random for one more second)
I have another little story about mall shopping that I wanted to share. Every now and again if you go to a high priced store, you’ll get hassled if you don’t buy anything. i.e. I went into a store and a high school girl wearing close to nothing told me they had a “rule” that you had to buy something to leave. The comment was meant to be “flirty” and “funny” if i could flatter myself for one second. So, the two other gentleman and I turned around and looked at her, more than a little upset. I said the following comment so that the entire store could hear- “The only way I’ll buy something is if you give me your number, AND YOU DONT WANT TO DO THAT.” She was embarrassed and completely red in the face. We left peacefully after that.
You know I’ve had it with these right wing organizations who tell us we should boycott fill in the blank and who we should support. If you don’t like something don’t shop there! If you don’t like a movie or a book don’t read or watch it. Maybe we should just all listen to Jerry Falwell he is a Christian I do so admire. I feel we all have free choice and if our moral compass does not agree with something then follow your compass.
Yeah, boycotts are for morons. The boycott Happy Holidays stuff was ridiculous. I agree with Kevin (for the most part).
Abercrombie still sucks.
Thanks Bradley and I do think that A & F sucks too.
how many of you buy magazines or tabloids or watch entertainment tonight or watch the ads on tv or in the magazines ????????? sex sells otherwise we wouldn’t have any advertising or products to sell.
anybody want to buy a sleek , sexy BMW with beautiful sexy chrome wheels with nice leather seats that fit you like a glove and have heated seats ……..see what i mean …….. i sell magazines to the public on the supermarkets shelve and checkouts …….if you don’t like the covers …don’t look and don’t buy but we still have the freedom to choose
the sexy vermonter