For many years, A&F has bothered me with their existence. Their stores and imagery almost represent most of the isms out there. Then their prices are way out there, yet people still love them. And that's fine, but I still have issue with them.
One reason revolves around the hiring practices: four years ago, Abercrombie & Fitch was hit with accusations of discrimination against minority employees. A 2004 lawsuit — González, et al. v. Abercrombie & Fitch Case No. 03-2817 US District Court Nor. Cal. — accused the company of discriminating against minority employees by offering desirable positions to White employees. The company lost, paying US$45 million to rejected applicants and involved employees. Then as a reaction, instituted policies and programs that promote diversity in its workforce and advertising campaigns, hired recruiters to seek minority employees, got a Vice President of Diversity, and stop recruiting employees at primarily white Greek systems.
Then there were the T-shirts: In 2002, the smart and talented company paid tribute to Asian people by creating shirts with the slogan "Wong Brothers Laundry Service—Two Wongs Can Make It White" with smiling figures in conical straw hats and slanted eyes. Later, they created shirts that depicted West Virginia as incestuous and this gem, "Who needs brains when you have these?"
And there's the sex: They overly use sex to sell their clothes, blending sexuality and abs into the mix. The A&F Quarterly, which was discontinued in the United States amid protests from family groups and politicians, will be sold in London. They believe it will do well there. I've seen the mag and it's cute, but at the same time it was a big turn off. If I want soft core, I'll just watch Cinemax or Battlestar Galactica. And if I want more, well that's what the internets are for, right?
But A&F try something new, there's a reason why y'all can't get stars to represent the brand. I mean, look at Jaclyn Smith, she's been selling her clothes for years without showing a nipple. In fact, she probably keeping K-Mart alive. So it can be done. And since A&F on my mind, there's a great book called Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch: Essays on Race and Sexuality, by Dwight A. McBride. It provides a interesting view of A&F's influence in our culture.
Then there were the T-shirts: In 2002, the smart and talented company paid tribute to Asian people by creating shirts with the slogan "Wong Brothers Laundry Service—Two Wongs Can Make It White" with smiling figures in conical straw hats and slanted eyes. Later, they created shirts that depicted West Virginia as incestuous and this gem, "Who needs brains when you have these?"
And there's the sex: They overly use sex to sell their clothes, blending sexuality and abs into the mix. The A&F Quarterly, which was discontinued in the United States amid protests from family groups and politicians, will be sold in London. They believe it will do well there. I've seen the mag and it's cute, but at the same time it was a big turn off. If I want soft core, I'll just watch Cinemax or Battlestar Galactica. And if I want more, well that's what the internets are for, right?
But A&F try something new, there's a reason why y'all can't get stars to represent the brand. I mean, look at Jaclyn Smith, she's been selling her clothes for years without showing a nipple. In fact, she probably keeping K-Mart alive. So it can be done. And since A&F on my mind, there's a great book called Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch: Essays on Race and Sexuality, by Dwight A. McBride. It provides a interesting view of A&F's influence in our culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment