Many of us can be total suckers for a good pair of Abercrombie & Fitch pre-ripped jeans or a comfy t-shirt. But how do you feel about A&F since the CEO was recently quoted saying he only “wants thin and beautiful people” wearing the brand? In a recent public statement, Mike Jefferies claimed that Abercrombie is “completely opposed to any discrimination…based on body type” but that it does “target its marketing at a particular segment of customers.”
While the clothes are seemingly sized for a particular demographic, a well-known blogger has decided she simply won’t stand for it. Known as The Militant Baker, blogger Jes is size 22, comfortable in her skin and took this opportunity to stand up to Michaels with a letter and photo shoot. The photos called “Attractive & Fat” show Jes in A&F gear, paired with a perfectly fit male model.
A&F Controversy: Fitting the Abercrombie & Fitch Mold
In the blog post that hosts her letter and photos to Jeffries, she shares that Jeffries’ “opinion isn’t shocking; millions share the same sentiment” and also, “reinforce[s] the unoriginal concept that fat women are social failures, valueless and undesirable.” Jes also went on to say, “I was inspired by the opportunity to show that I am secure in my skin and to flaunt this by using the controversial platform that you created. I challenge the separation of attractive and fat, and I assert that they are compatible regardless of what you believe.”
How do you feel about this – were Michaels’ statements discriminatory? What do you think of the Militant Baker for standing up for women who don’t fit the A&F mold?
