Clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch and CEO Michael Jeffries, in particular, have come under fire recently for their catering to the thin and excluding even average-sized individuals.
As author of the 2010 book The Rules of Retail - Robin Lewis - said, "He (CEO Jeffries) doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people."
Lewis added, "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.'"
The largest jeans size at Abercrombie & Fitch is a 10 - three sizes below the national average. There are also no XL's for women.
In a 2006 interview with Salon, Jeffries said, "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 exclusionary? Absolutely."
I, for one, have never worn any clothing from Abercrombie & Fitch, and I'm happy about that. I'm also very much into eating healthy, exercising, and continuing to stay in or get into better shape. While I think it would be great if everyone found some time to exercise on a regular basis and get into better shape, that's not my decision. It's theirs. I also don't think I can truly just a person's exterior or interior beauty solely based upon their physique. There are some men and women, whom may be in great shape, but still aren't very easy on the eyes, and there are some men and women whom aren't in great physical shape, yet are seen as physically attractive by most. We all have different tastes, as well. Some people are more physically attracted to "big-boned" individuals than thin people. In other words, "beauty" is a very subjective term, and I find it to be quite shallow and insulting to many for CEO Michael Jeffries and his company to exclude the majority of the population because he doesn't see anyone but the ultra-thin as being physically appealing and "cool."
Speaking of "cool" and "popular," Mr. Jeffries is kidding himself if he thinks one being thin is the #1 secret to being seen as cool and popular. He appears to be rather thin and call it a hunch, I'm not thinking he's the most popular guy out there...
Lastly, this is stupid just from a business standpoint. The fact of the matter is that this country has an obesity problem. I seriously hope we're able to improve in that area in the coming years, but at this point in time, we're definitely a "big" nation. Mr. Jeffries is excluding over half of the population from potentially shopping at his stores because he doesn't see them as "hot." Well, I tell you what, due to all this negative press, even if the CEO made some changes, I highly doubt many plus-sized individuals would even think about stepping foot into his stores.
Speaking of his stores, I think Abercrombie & Fitch is no longer a fitting name. I feel Mr. Jeffries should alter his stores name to, Aberb**ches and D*cks
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/abercrombie-won-sell-xl-article-1.1339454
As author of the 2010 book The Rules of Retail - Robin Lewis - said, "He (CEO Jeffries) doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people."
Lewis added, "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.'"
The largest jeans size at Abercrombie & Fitch is a 10 - three sizes below the national average. There are also no XL's for women.
In a 2006 interview with Salon, Jeffries said, "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 exclusionary? Absolutely."
I, for one, have never worn any clothing from Abercrombie & Fitch, and I'm happy about that. I'm also very much into eating healthy, exercising, and continuing to stay in or get into better shape. While I think it would be great if everyone found some time to exercise on a regular basis and get into better shape, that's not my decision. It's theirs. I also don't think I can truly just a person's exterior or interior beauty solely based upon their physique. There are some men and women, whom may be in great shape, but still aren't very easy on the eyes, and there are some men and women whom aren't in great physical shape, yet are seen as physically attractive by most. We all have different tastes, as well. Some people are more physically attracted to "big-boned" individuals than thin people. In other words, "beauty" is a very subjective term, and I find it to be quite shallow and insulting to many for CEO Michael Jeffries and his company to exclude the majority of the population because he doesn't see anyone but the ultra-thin as being physically appealing and "cool."
Speaking of "cool" and "popular," Mr. Jeffries is kidding himself if he thinks one being thin is the #1 secret to being seen as cool and popular. He appears to be rather thin and call it a hunch, I'm not thinking he's the most popular guy out there...
Lastly, this is stupid just from a business standpoint. The fact of the matter is that this country has an obesity problem. I seriously hope we're able to improve in that area in the coming years, but at this point in time, we're definitely a "big" nation. Mr. Jeffries is excluding over half of the population from potentially shopping at his stores because he doesn't see them as "hot." Well, I tell you what, due to all this negative press, even if the CEO made some changes, I highly doubt many plus-sized individuals would even think about stepping foot into his stores.
Speaking of his stores, I think Abercrombie & Fitch is no longer a fitting name. I feel Mr. Jeffries should alter his stores name to, Aberb**ches and D*cks
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/abercrombie-won-sell-xl-article-1.1339454
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