Backlash against Abercrombie; "Fitch the Homeless"

[OneGrassRoot]

At first I was turned off, thinking homeless persons were once again being used as pawns, an example of the "unattractive people" the douchebag CEO of Abercrombie speaks of. Then I read this part in the article and am behind this; plus, it may spur people to interact with others they normally pass by and realize they are human beings as well.

* * *

CEO Jeffries, 61, also has no problem admitting the company won’t hire unattractive people to work in its stores. “Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.”

<snip>

Enter writer Greg Karber. Upon reading another article—this time from 2010—in which an Abercrombie district manager said the company burns damaged clothing to keep them out of the hands of the homeless, Karber decided enough was enough.

“Abercrombie and Fitch doesn’t want to create the image that just anybody, poor people, can wear their clothing,” the manager said. “Only people of a certain stature are able to purchase and wear the company name.”

Karber is calling Abercrombie protesters to action. In a new video, Karber shops the “douchebag section” of Goodwill stores for Abercrombie clothes, then hands them out to homeless people hanging out on Skid Row. And he’s encouraging others to do the same, hoping to make Abercrombie & Fitch “the No. 1 brand of homeless apparel.” The topic is even trending on Twitter using the hashtag #fitchthehomeless.


http://www.wallstreetinsanity.com/l-a-filmmaker-strikes-back-against-abercrombie-with-fitch-the-homeless/

[madokie]

1. Thats a plan

I could support.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. I never cared for the clothing from Abercrombie in the first place. But I would never

buy anything from there because they think their better than anyone else.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I don't really shop...lol

Can't remember the last time I bought clothes. I've never shopped there and didn't know much about them until the comments by their douchebag CEO came to light in the last week or so.

He is one of my least favorite people on the planet now.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. Well am the same. I just can't see spending a bunch of money on cloths now that am

retired. When I was a young woman I had my dresses made. I'm a heavy person and I just don't like my cloths tight. I like shift dresses. Good god back then I wore nylons, high heels and had my hair done once a week. Even matching hand bags. But even then I didn't spend a lot of money on handbags or even shoes. Today I have nice house dresses I wear. Even those are to expensive to buy but you have to wear something. I usually buy on sale because I buy from Women Within (which is for heavy ladies). But these dresses will last me forever. I most like won't buy anymore cloths. Maybe underwear but that's it.

[diabeticman]

4. My wife just said after reading this: "Has this guy looked in the mirror recently?"

Please note my wife isn't normally shallow like that but she showed me a picture of this guy and well .... YEAH okay.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I thought the same thing when I saw him. The ugly inside took over outside. n/t

[HangOnKids]

8. But He Is a "Cool Kid"

Jesus, didn't he leave Junior High about 50 years ago?

[FSogol]

14. High School Hero, Real Life Zero

[whathehell]

16. +10

"didn't he leave Junior High about 50 years ago"?

[Babel_17]

19. He was drunk when he made his deal with the dark side

Upstairs, in his attic, is a portrait of himself that remains forever youthful and handsome.

Woops!

[erpowers]

20. He Has Issues

I did not know who the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch was, or what he/she looked liked until today. After your post I looked up pictures of the guy. Yeah, the nice way to address his looks is to say he is not good looking. You have to have issues to look like that guy and say you do not want fat, ugly, and uncool people wearing your clothes.

[Earth_First]

5. Saw the video on this last night...

I'm glad you posted an OP.

[HangOnKids]

7. I love this idea!

Greg Karber rocks, and I am going on a thrift store binge this weekend. The Salvation Army store near the ritzy McDonald neighborhood in my town will have a shit load of A&F clothing.

[Rainforestgoddess]

9. I recently picked up two ambercrombie shirts

At value village. My son and husband are both extremelytall, I find I can get shirts for them with long enough sleeves in the abercrombie brand.

Now I am worried people will think they are douchebags.

[Victor_c3]

10. Sounds good to me

I remember in 2004ish they were having problems with slumping sales. So what did they do? They raised their prices and suddenly they saw their sales increase. I guess people thought that since they were paying more for the clothes that they were buying something that was more exclusive.

[In_The_Wind]

11. They lost my business!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=387861

[Scuba]

12. A different (better?) idea.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022845895

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Brilliant!

Not sure if it's better since it doesn't involve helping others in the process as this idea does, but it is indeed BRILLIANT!

[trusty elf]

21. Here's one with Castro.

[IMG][/IMG]

[OneGrassRoot]

22. wow! n/t

[whathehell]

17. Good for Greg Karber..

Jeffries is a POS.

[Arcanetrance]

18. Never had an interest in buying any of the companies clothes due to their history of being the main

Supplier of rich assholes hunting for big game.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. I know just where to start!

I have four trash bags of clothes my daughter left behind when she cleaned her closet (and the overflow in her brother's closet) It was mostly her high school clothes which she had grown out of.

Question though, where is a good homeless shelter in Orlando to donate to? Most of my donations get picked up by thrift shops which turn around and sell them.

[Not Me]

28. In Orlando, check out the Coalition for the Homeless

on West Central Blvd. Or just take a walk around Lake Eola park in the early evening. Another option is the evening church feeding at St. George's church on Rosalind and Wall street...behing the Main Library around 5:00 pm.

[Baitball Blogger]

29. Thanks! Appreciate it!

[OneGrassRoot]

31. Thank you! :) n/t

[zipplewrath]

32. Coalition, Sally Army, or Rescue Mission

Those are the big 3 in O-town. Especially if your goal is to get them on the truly homeless.

Goodwill will end up selling them REAL cheap, but probably not to the truly homeless.

[Baitball Blogger]

33. I just might drop a bag at each place.

Thanks!

[mountain grammy]

24. If I ever shopped there I would stop. I won't even buy AF clothes at Goodwill.

which is where I buy 90% of my clothes. The face of the 1% just keeps getting uglier.

[OneGrassRoot]

25. Literally

It really hit me when you wrote "The face of the 1% just keeps getting uglier."

While I applaud cosmetic surgery in instances of medical necessity or after horrific accidents, the kind of plastic surgery associated with those who HAVE discretionary spending -- versus the majority of us merely struggling to survive as far as basics of life each day (food, shelter) -- is UGLY.

I know that's not true for everyone, but look how disfigured these people become from the multiple surgeries as they attempt to achieve whatever perfection they envision.

They no longer seem to realize how they look to others. They take on a grotesque, almost inhuman, plastic appearance.

It's most often those with a lot of wealth who can afford such an addiction.

Using their wealth for that purpose is literally making them uglier, imho, even if beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

[That Hobo Cat]

26. Considering the CEO of A&F looks like the drugged up basement brother of Gary Busey...

He is the most delusional man ever if he thinks he's one of the "cool kids" he's talking about.

[hrmjustin]

34. Welcome to DU my friend!

[Sunlei]

27. excellent idea! logo A & F hat/bandana be great to give away.Homeless need to keep summer sun off.

[Skidmore]

30. A&F was also on the losing end of a lawsuit for discrimination against minorities in its

hiring and promotion practices. They are being monitored to make sure they are in compliance.

See, exclusivity is white.