Abercrombie & Fitch to pull tees after "girl-cott"

**johnnymk** · 11-21-2005, 05:01 AM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said on Friday it would stop selling some of its T-shirts after a national boycott by teenage girls, who objected to slogans emblazoned across the shirts such as "Who needs brains when you have these?"

The teen-oriented apparel company, often criticized for its suggestive advertising featuring scantily-clad young models, did not specify which T-shirts it would pull but said in a brief statement that "We recognize that the shirts in question, while meant to be humorous, might be troubling to some."

Earlier this week, the Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania launched a "girl-cott" of the store in protest over the T-shirts, launching an e-mail campaign and appearing on NBC's "Today" show to air their concerns.

Other T-shirts featured the slogans "Blondes are adored, brunettes are ignored," and "I make you look fat."

The latest controversy is not the first for the New Albany, Ohio-based retailer. Two years ago, Abercrombie & Fitch pulled its glossy catalogs that featured nude men and women after protests, and in 2002 it discontinued a line of T-shirts that Asian-Americans claimed was racially insensitive.

**Freelance Superhero** · 11-21-2005, 05:12 AM

they are just full of bright marketing ideas over there, aren't they?

**cheapie** · 11-21-2005, 05:21 AM

they love attention like this.

**nickel** · 11-21-2005, 05:24 AM

most expensive overrated cheaply made clothes evah!

**Mommypooh** · 11-21-2005, 07:18 AM

I have never been in one of their stores, I have never worn their clothes nor will I ever of allow my children to ever wear thoes clothes.

**blueindian** · 11-21-2005, 07:22 AM

**ialsohaveadream** · 11-21-2005, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by blueindian

I'm sorry, did you guys say something?

**bachviet** · 11-21-2005, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by ialsohaveadream

I'm sorry, did you guys say something?

though

**DarkFury** · 11-21-2005, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by blueindian

WOOT!!!

Hooray for B(.Y.)BIES!!!!

**avlena** · 11-21-2005, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by blueindian

i don't find these t-shirts anymore offensive then some of the other shirts i've seen out there. it's about the same as wearing a t-shirt that says "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any other of the sayings you can find by walking into a teenage clothing boutique. they're funny, and if i had bigger breasts, i wouldn't mind wearing that, though probably a knock-off because i can't stand abercrombie & fitch.

**nickel** · 11-21-2005, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by avlena

i don't find these t-shirts anymore offensive then some of the other shirts i've seen out there. it's about the same as wearing a t-shirt that says "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any other of the sayings you can find by walking into a teenage clothing boutique. they're funny, and if i had bigger breasts, i wouldn't mind wearing that, though probably a knock-off because i can't stand abercrombie & fitch.

you would really wear that shirt avlena?

**Merlin** · 11-21-2005, 10:14 AM

I love these shirts. When I get caught staring at a girl's rack I can say I was just reading her t-shirt.

**Freelance Superhero** · 11-21-2005, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by blueindian

wait.. i take back my sarcasm. this is brilliant!

**esme** · 11-21-2005, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by avlena

i don't find these t-shirts anymore offensive then some of the other shirts i've seen out there. it's about the same as wearing a t-shirt that says "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any other of the sayings you can find by walking into a teenage clothing boutique. they're funny, and if i had bigger breasts, i wouldn't mind wearing that, though probably a knock-off because i can't stand abercrombie & fitch.

......there are so many tops out there that are similar to that

**avlena** · 11-21-2005, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by nickel

you would really wear that shirt avlena?

yeah, assuming i had the goods to prove it right (which i sadly don't), why not? i know that i have brains, but i also recognize that you can flirt your way into getting a lot of things. why exactly do people find it offensive? because it calls attention to breasts? well, any low-cut shirt does that. because it says that women can get through life based on looks? if you've ever flirted your way out of a ticket, or into a bar, or to get a guy to buy you a drink, then you're guilty of what the shirt says.

It's a JOKE - the shirt is meant to be funny, not a serious commentary on the status of women in society.

**zero2dash** · 11-21-2005, 11:38 AM

So a song like "Don't Cha" is ok...

I know you like me (I know you like me)
I know you do (I know you do)
Thats why whenever I come around shes all over you
And I know you want it (I know you want it)
It's easy to see (it's easy to see)
And in the back of your mind
I know you should be home with me

[Chorus]
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha

...but this t-shirt is frowned upon?

What a joke...literally.

If a woman portrays herself as short-minded, shallow, insecure, anorexic, whore-ish...*check* it's ok.
If someone prints a t-shirt with a boob joke...*buzz* lawsuit & discrimination.

WTF?

Why not close down every Hot Topic store while you're at it since all they sell is those stupid 'slogan' t-shirts.

**ialsohaveadream** · 11-21-2005, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by avlena

It's a JOKE - the shirt is meant to be funny, not a serious commentary on the status of women in society.

...but I think the reason people got pissy is because A&F is a store for trendy, labelwhoring teenage girls. If the shirt were sold at Spencer's or something,

**hapoo** · 11-21-2005, 11:43 AM

if people don't like it or find it offensive, they wont buy it. It doesn't need a boycott.

**avlena** · 11-21-2005, 11:48 AM

after talking this out with Graf, I though i'd expand a bit:

This shirt is NOT acceptable for a young girl to wear (nor is "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any of the other overtly sexual shirts out there). However, I see no problem with a confident woman wearing this during a night on the town.

Yes, it sends the wrong message to young girls who are too impressionable to realize the joke, but so does a bazillion other things, so perhaps those groups should be boy-cotting magazines and movies and tv and every other media that re-enforces the stereotype that it's important for a woman to look good to enjoy life.

**zero2dash** · 11-21-2005, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by avlena

after talking this out with Graf, I though i'd expand a bit:

This shirt is NOT acceptable for a young girl to wear (nor is "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any of the other overtly sexual shirts out there). However, I see no problem with a confident woman wearing this during a night on the town.

Yes, it sends the wrong message to young girls who are too impressionable to realize the joke, but so does a bazillion other things, so perhaps those groups should be boy-cotting magazines and movies and tv and every other media that re-enforces the stereotype that it's important for a woman to look good to enjoy life.

You just made my day, avlena...I'm glad to see a woman in this day and age see through the smokescreen of crap that most (young) women fall for. I'm sick of this era where people are so damn hung up on looks and material possessions and they put down anyone else.

(edit) w00t another star + ranking for me

(500 posts)

**nickel** · 11-21-2005, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by avlena

after talking this out with Graf, I though i'd expand a bit:

This shirt is NOT acceptable for a young girl to wear (nor is "hottie", or "your boyfriend wants me", or any of the other overtly sexual shirts out there). However, I see no problem with a confident woman wearing this during a night on the town.

Yes, it sends the wrong message to young girls who are too impressionable to realize the joke, but so does a bazillion other things, so perhaps those groups should be boy-cotting magazines and movies and tv and every other media that re-enforces the stereotype that it's important for a woman to look good to enjoy life.

eh, i wouldn't wear it even if i had the goods. to me it might as well say "i am a bimbo."

**hapoo** · 11-21-2005, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by nickel

to me it might as well say "i am a bimbo."

does that mean your not???

j/k

**nickel** · 11-21-2005, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by hapoo

does that mean your not???

j/k

a bimbo just might spell it "your" instead of "you're"

j/k

**avlena** · 11-21-2005, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by nickel

eh, i wouldn't wear it even if i had the goods. to me it might as well say "i am a bimbo."

i'm confident enough to know i'm not a bimbo. i have my ditzy moments (who doesn't?), but i know i am an intelligent woman, and i'm not about to let a shirt define who i am.

again, if you've ever flirted to get your way then you're using your boobs and not your brains. but does that make you stupid? of course not. it's a shirt with a joke on it... it's not your job title or anything like that.

**Thesifer** · 11-21-2005, 02:10 PM

Now correct me if I am wrong but this shirt was sold at Abercrombie and Fitch and not Abercrombie correct? A&F Being the store for the "Older" clothes and not the Childrens/Young Teen line. I really don't see a problem with it whatsoever, and I know for a fact that my girlfriend could care less.

**Freelance Superhero** · 11-21-2005, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Thesifer

Now correct me if I am wrong but this shirt was sold at Abercrombie and Fitch and not Abercrombie correct? A&F Being the store for the "Older" clothes and not the Childrens/Young Teen line. I really don't see a problem with it whatsoever, and I know for a fact that my girlfriend could care less.

i didn't know there were two separate stores...

**Memo** · 11-21-2005, 02:27 PM

My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps! Check it out!

**Butch** · 11-21-2005, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Thesifer

Now correct me if I am wrong but this shirt was sold at Abercrombie and Fitch and not Abercrombie correct? A&F Being the store for the "Older" clothes and not the Childrens/Young Teen line. I really don't see a problem with it whatsoever, and I know for a fact that my girlfriend could care less.

They are one and the same.

Abercrombie has a tremendous heritage as an outfitter for grand expeditions, etc. . . . they outfitted Teddy Roosevelt and Arctic expeditions, among others . . .

The Abercrombie name was purchased by the current entity and is used to sell 'pop culture' crap . . .

I have an old Abercrombie shearling coat my dad bought yearssss ago . . great coat . . . just wish it fit me a bit better . . . will have to get it altered at some point.

**nickel** · 11-21-2005, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by avlena

i'm confident enough to know i'm not a bimbo. i have my ditzy moments (who doesn't?), but i know i am an intelligent woman, and i'm not about to let a shirt define who i am.

again, if you've ever flirted to get your way then you're using your boobs and not your brains. but does that make you stupid? of course not. it's a shirt with a joke on it... it's not your job title or anything like that.

but that shirt would be defining who you are or what you think of yourself.

i couldn't care less if someone else wanted to wear it, or if A&F sells it, but it's not something i'd grab.

here's the last t-shirt i bought with a saying on it:

see, that defines me.