"Uhh.. we're selling CLOTHES, right? RIGHT?!?"
 

Company in question: Abercrombie & Fitch
Website in question: http://www.abercrombie.com/

NAVIGATE TO QUESTIONABLE CONTENT!
As soon as you click to enter the site, you are confronted with a nude (or semi-nude) body. Click on A&F Quarterly and you encounter an image in which there are 3 human bodies and the total count of clothing articles is 1. Click on Lifestyle > Movies and you will find a distinct lack of product for sale. Hey, even watch their movie. I don't think you see much for sale in that thing. Now click on Lifestyle > Photos and the motive becomes even more clear. No clothes this time, just a prelude to a nice gangbang video. Browse through their photo archive for more evidence. Now check out their Screen Saver! Ok when do we get to the point where we're selling clothes? More Links... Contact Us, CNF Mail, ok you get the point.

Hey it's not like we in the adult industry have a particularly reputable product as a whole, but at least we don't dupe you about what we're selling*! I dont think I'm surprising many of you with this post, but I think it needs to get out there for discussion. Here are a few quotes I thought of while browsing this site:

"What... nobody on this site is wearing anything.. what am I buying again?"
"Buy, but dont *wear* our clothes."
"Two men for every girl who wears one of our tops... and then takes it off."
"There's something about these clothes... must be laced with pheromones or something because I am getting hard staring at this girl... who isn't wearing any. So odd."
"Does their retail store Musak include audio tracks from porno?"

Yeah, the forumla is obvious. Link your product with sex. The strategy is as naked as their models. Does anyone else feel cheated or something? I mean.. they aren't breaking any rules, and for a porn webmaster like myself to call them indecent would be hypocritical. Well, they DO sell to kids who are younger than 18 years old, I guess that's where a little outrage could come from.

Let's hear some thoughts.


* most of the time.

"You can't shop at this store"

they should just have a sign that tells you whether or not you are allowed to shop at A&F seeing as how they will not help you if they think you shouldn't be wearing their clothes.

i've personnaly never been in the store; it is too expensive and the same clothes as most other stores, 'cept they say A&F instead of another company.

should figure out how to link the TB for rookies to the A&F website... some might be fooled...

ok bad idea...

but funny

looks like they're sellin nude pics.

http://a1008.g.akamai.net/7/1008/521...s/art/afq2.jpg

WHAT THE FUCK?????? how are 3 almost nude people smiling supposed to sell clothing?

http://a1008.g.akamai.net/7/1008/521...art/photos.jpg

am i the only person noticing the 2 guys 1 girl theme?

and i looked thru the rest of the photo's and i didnt see a piece of clothing that they would advertise.

is a pervert the president of the company?

Hey, I dig the Abercrombie cut for jeans... no other brand I've tried has had anything that fits as well and makes me look good.

I don't dig anything else they sell though... but I have yet to find comparable jeans

Isn't abercrombie the makers of the pre-teen thong? Also, that chick kissing the guy has a "pre-teen" look to her. This is pretty disturbing stuff. This pretty much describes our society nowadays though...sex, sex, and more sex. And people wonder why there are 12 year olds getting pregnant. When they see nothing but sexual references at stores, on T.V., and in music, how are they NOT supposed to learn about it at a young age? I don't care what the record industries say, Britney Spears parading around wearing next to nothing DOES influence the way little girls dress/act.

They have a (very lame) way of selling to kids. http://www.abercrombiekids.com/kids/...ore/index.html

I work at Abercrombie and we get that alot. The storty behind it is that they are trying to sell sex. They openly admit it. It's a college store, and that's what attracts college kids. Oh, and to make it better (or worse depending on how you look at it), I walked into work last weekend and there are two models (pretty much naked) in the front of the store. They weren't really models, they work at the store. But yeah, we get complaints alot. So if you guys dont like it (and many do, I assure you) don't shop there. We will still pull in $50,000 every four hours...

Abercrombie doesn't make a thong for the kids store. Check the website to be sure. Sorry guys, I just feel like I have to defend them.

If you've never been in one, how do you know we don't help everyone? We do help everyone and no one at my story anyway, has the high school mentality that only certain people can shop there.

My mistake then, but I could've sworn I heard there was a store that recently made headlines for having a "pre-teen" thong. Lemme see if I can find a link somewhere...brb :D

Personally, I just avoid the mall.

Turns out I was right. :(

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/may02/43941.asp

That's kinda twisted... Especially the part where they call it cute and fun and sweet.

loyalty for the company you work for is very admirable.

NEVERTHELESS

i have a strong dislike for ANF. College is primarily about development knowledge in case anyone forgot. The sex, although an integral part of the college life, need not be so shamelessly flaunted to sell clothes by not showing clothes, by forgetting the clothes and just being so blatantly suggestive.

Perhaps the marketing sector of ANF is brain dead. The purpose of advertisers is to make products look appealing, if they want sex appeal, make sexy clothes, or they can advertise it in a sexy way. Even in pornography some of my favourite pictures are BEFORE anyone's clothes are gone. This is a matter of skill. There is no skill demonstrated in the marketing of ANF clothing. None.

I dig good advertising, this is not good advertising, and a company isn't respect worthy if while they're earning tons of money, they can't even put out proper marketing stratgies.

Thank you for the link, Tex. I had no idea our consumer driven country had fallen so far. And people wonder why there are pedophiles out there! Jesus, this trend with children dressing like sluts (and there is NO other word for a prebubesent girl wearing high heels, make up and skimpy outfits) just makes me ill!! Are these parents going to take responisiblity when they let thier kids go out in public like that and then something happens? Do they think that this is OK?!?

This is so fucking pathetic. If something doesn't change, and fast, where will our society be in 10 years? A&F will be selling girls kneepads...

To be fair, most of the links on their website are to a legitimate catalog. Yes, the sex is heavy. But this isn't a Toys R
Us website. It's a designer clothes company. They are in just as much of the business of selling a lifestyle as they are an article of clothing. People like to see sex, and be assured that their lifestyle is hip and sexual. This company is selling to its audience, which isn't really all that evil. Giving people what they want to advance your product is the American way.

That said, on a personal level I find it obnoxious. So I won't shop there (viva la Target!) But I can't get myself riled up enough about it to be offended.

All I am trying to say is that if you don't like the clothing or the atmosphere, then don't shop there. The reason they make clothing like this is because it sells. Today because of back to school we made over $200,000, so that just proves that people may be angry, but they will still buy the clothing.

They don't care about respect, its about money. All of society is about money. There is skill in the marketing because everyone knows who A&F are, either because they wear the clothing, or they don't agree with it. Doesn't matter which one... As long as it brings in cash.

Frankly, I don't care if AF wants to sell sex (and in turn its clothes) to college students. Most of them are adults, and get to make their own decisions. So originally, I was going to bitch at everyone for being a little "churchladyish". However, once I got to the "cute, fun and sweet" thongs for little girls I changed my mind. Kids today have enough crap thrown at them, that they do not need to be encouraged to be sexy/sexual at such a young age. Let's be honest, who out there can, with a strait face, defend a thong for little girls. Basically, I am fairly liberal but ... well, you all know what I 'm trying to say.

well, a whole lot of kids at my high school wore AF clothing (it was the cool thing to do), considering we didnt have an AF in our town.

Nah, no A&F for me. I'd rather not spend $60+ on a pair of jeans or a shirt that simply says "Ambercrombie & Fitch" on the front.

Too much damned money. Its not worth it. I dont feel like buying pre warn jeens that look like someone else has been in my 40 dollar pair of fucking jeens.

dammit.
how come they don´t sell this brand over here.

actually, i´ve never seen this label before... but from this, i take it that they don´t have much of a product line.

Stormberlin is right. The website and the catalog is the way it is because ANF's Marketing Dept. KNOWS that people (kids) like to see sex, and they know it sells. Also, they know that this not only attracts business, it stirs people up. That gets more people seeing your site/catalog and hearing your name.

Now, I also don't agree with this tactic. Therefore, when I have kids, they will NOT shop there, I won't shop there, and I won't allow my little girl to wear a thong until she doesn't live at my house anymore.

In the meantime, welcome to the world of today my friends. This is one more cog in the wheel of "social progress." I don't mean to get preachy, but this is the way it will continue to be. Morality is on the decline, and no one except the "right wing extremists" seem to care.

This may or may not be true, I don't know. I'm cynical and twisted, but I must be an optimist at my core 'cause I refuse to believe this.

If you were to say that all of society is about fucking, I'd probably have less of a problem with it. But then I don't see sex as a problem in itself. Sex is healthy, keeps us happy, and is not evil in itself.

I don't have a problem with A&F. I suggest that if y'all have a problem with what they're doing, that you reconsider your own motivation. Exactly what about their ads bothers you, and why? Did you decide this for yourself, or were you aimed at that conclusion by someone else? If so, by whom?

I don't think they're being particularly deceitful, Halx. They're perhaps going a bit beyond what you're used to. Consider how "shocking" South Park is these days versus what was acceptible 10 years ago.

I suspect the bit about the thongs for little kids isn't even all that bad. Consider that people get their infant's ears pierced and put little earrings in them. Would I do any of that to a child of mine? Not a chance, granted. But don't you aim your Puritanical attitude at society at large and say that it's society with the problem. Eh hem, certain people...

Question for those outside the USA: how do A&F's ads and catalogs compare with ones in your home country?

Feh. You're a Conservative. If it's not what you're used to, and it's not you doing it, it's EEEEEEVIL!!

Granted, most people are like that...

we're not selling clothes, we're selling a whole lifestyle.

blah, blah, blah, whatever....

I don't need a big corporation to enjoy porn. And get those damn kids out of here, right now.

Just a question here, haven't most of the people on this board been drawen to it by sex ( porn ) ?
You can prob. guess where I'm headed with that so I'll just drop it.
And as far as far as college being the place for development of knowledge perhaps, but it was also a great place to party.

I'm sorry, but they've got a lot of nerve charging what they do for their clothes if they think they're going after a college student market. Where I went to college, 85% of the students were on financial aid, and no one had $75 to spend on a pair of jeans...no one even had $75. I went to class in my pajamas with everyone else.

I simply won't shop there because their clothes don't fit. I realize it's unfashionable for women to have hips and breasts and, you know, look like women instead of prepubescent boys, but I can't help my genetics. I prefer to take my business someplace where I can actually wear what I buy. I know, I know, I'm so old-fashioned ;)

And get laid! :D

I guess I'm just a bit taken back by this marketing ploy 'cause Hal your right -- they are selling sex to minors. I brought this up to a friend of mine and he informed me that the A&F catalog has long been a favorite of the Gay community and is frequently used as a coffee table book. Just doesn't make me feel comfortable looking at the semi-nude bodies of minors.

Never bought clothes there and now never will.

I was the manager of my local Abercrombie for about a year. No, I'm not proud of it.

I quit shortly after the fiasco with the nudity started... this was three years ago. I wasn't going to be apart of a company that was like this...

Not to mention the thong underwear we sold for 12yr olds. Gross.

over priced rags that cost next to nothing to make... hell no would i spend my $$$ on that crap.

I'm so glad i don't own a piece of their clothing. If you wear their shit, you're a walking billboard, they sell almost NOTHING that doesn't have their name plastered on it somewhere. It's truly a disgrace.

My problem with all this argument is that they're not selling to college kids really. I just graduated from a relatively wealthy popluated Private college, the people who would have the money for abercrombie, and most of them didn't wear it. I knew lots and lots of people who wore it in highschool, but people were over it by college. I think their target market is the 14-18 crowd. Just look at the sizes, and styles they carry. Anyways, i just steer clear of the place, and that suits me just fine. If people want to pay too much, for pre-ripped clothing, and classless advertising, that's their perogative.

On a last note, i think that after clicking on that child thong link above, the racial thing is pretty disgusting as well. i just think the people who market/run that place are sleazy. what can you do, besides avoid the place?

I think that if America didn't have as many hangups about sex as we do, we wouldn't be having this discussion. If we were more liberal about our bodies, like Australia, Brazil, and even Great Britian, we probably wouldn't see ads like this because we wouldn't be as stimulated by it. I was recently in one of their stores and actually bought some stuff. All over the walls were huge murals of half nekked people without any signs of clothes. I am ok with it as I am an adult, but I am not ok with the fact they are trying to ring in such a young market sector....18 and younger....very disturbing stuff. Where do we draw the line? Genitilia piercings for 5 year olds?

sex sells...as i'm sure we've already figured out...look at almost any advertisment for any product, and i'm sure you'll find something "sexy"...and as far as their nudity goes...it's a little ludacris..i work at aeropostale...which is and has been a store that caters to late middleschool/highschool kids (having bright flashy clothes with the logo plastered all over it)...we ourselves just got in 3 different pairs of thongs...which are quite thongish, it was a little strange...funny how they havn't been selling at all...anyways the point is, we as a store, called h/q to find out what was up..and apparently they're changing their look to a more "college style a/f or a/e store" (less logo's more trendy) which i'm totally cool with, they're just showing older kids now having more "fun" in their advertisments, (for when they do advertise)....
being an advertising major, it's interesting to see how far companies will go, just to get press/attention...
take a look at some other examples:

Music-Eminem/marilyn manson/NWA
VideoGames- BMX XXX/Grand Theft Auto Series
Movies- Think about it, what havn't they had to edit just to make it R and Not NC-17 or MA or whatev...

and i agree with water boy..about the hangups part...

I have never even stepped foot into an Abercrombie store. Never will either so whatever their ads are trying to do don't work on me. Although, it is obvious what they're trying to do. *shrug* They're doing whatever they can to sell their product, and I don't have a problem with it. Sex sells. It's old news.

I can certainly say that i have absolutely no respect what so ever for Abercrombie & Fitch and i'm not going to waist any of my money on anything they sell.

First of all their clothing sucks!

Secondly it's too expensive for such regular looking clothing. The only thing unique about the T- shirts is that they say Abercrombie & Fitch on the front of them.