Lopez - Perfume Can't Rid A&F Chain of Stench

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez3dec03,1,5534880.column?coll=la-home-utilities

Perfume Can't Rid A&F Chain of Stench
Steve Lopez

December 3, 2003

Abercrombie & Fitch, the incorrigible clothier that proudly markets thong underwear to adolescent girls, has suddenly yanked a Christmas catalog that touted group sex and made Victoria's Secret models look like choir girls.

"It's been rotated out of stores to make room for the new fragrance," said Hampton Carney, A&F's New York flack.

Carney claimed the decision had nothing to do with my giving A&F a good beating two Sundays ago, or with several boycott campaigns around the country. They just needed to clear space to "launch" the new perfume.

"You expect me to believe that?" I asked Carney.

They drop an R-rated Christmas catalog on the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, and I'm supposed to believe it's because there's only enough room in stores for either the catalog or the perfume?

"This is the holiday season," Carney chirped, "and every inch of our store is valuable real estate."

Maybe perfume isn't a bad idea. Deodorizer would be even better, because Carney's explanation stinks to high heaven.

(By the way, the new scent is called "Now." I guess "Underage" was already taken.)

continued

and I guess I never will

but you have to admit that Carney is almost
as good as Rove at marketing...

this guy has a problem with group sex or what's the deal?

I think Steve's problem with a retail
clothing store publishing nude photos of
kids lying around with eachother is the
false message that this is a safe way to
have sex.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/abercrombie.asp

I don't really care about this catalog. It is only sold to adults, you have to have an ID to prove that you are over 18 to buy it. It seems mostly R rated t&a, including lots of mens bare bottoms. I think it's a lot of fuss about nothing.

The problem I do have with them is their employment practices. I have read a lot about them discriminating against people who do not fit the mold of their ideal employee - thin, white and attractive. They are being sued about this.

http://www.afjustice.com/

thanks for posting it.

snip

Introduction: Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Printer-friendly version

On June 16, 2003, a coalition of four organizations, including the national law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund ("MALDEF"), the Asian Pacific American Legal Center ("APALC") and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., filed an employment discrimination class action lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch Company. The named plaintiffs allege that Abercrombie discriminates against people of color, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and African Americans, in the hiring, job assignment, compensation, termination and other terms and conditions of employment.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is a clothing retailer marketing to young adults, teenagers and children. It employs over 22,000 employees, most of whom are college-age adults, in over 600 stores throughout the United States. To contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser regarding the Abercrombie lawsuit, click here.


Plaintiffs’ Allegations: Abercrombie Discriminates Against Latinos, Asian Americans and African Americans in Order to Create the “A&F” Look

When they hire, they grade an applicant on their looks.

Yes, you heard me...on their looks! You get a grade, one of three: ugly, (maybe), and pretty, though these are not the actual designations...it has slipped my mind.

A friend of mine who worked there let me in on their little secret.

Since then I have not even dreamed of going in to such a place. I might be too pug-ugly, you understand...