Give Abercrombie & Fitch clothing to the homeless? What do you think?

[Common Sense Party]

A guy is trying to start a viral campaign to strike back at A&F's exclusionary "cool kids" bias:

An online campaign is attempting to "rebrand" Abercrombie & Fitch by donating its clothes to the homeless, after an author alleged that company CEO Mike Jeffries "doesn't want larger people shopping in his store."

The comments, made by Robin Lewis, were included in a Business Insider article published earlier this month. The piece also referenced, and breathed new life into, a 2006 Salon article in which Jeffries admits that A&F markets to "cool kids," while excluding those who are unattractive or overweight.

“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he says. “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

Since the comments went viral, an online campaign to undermine A&F's "cool kids" image has gained steam. Los Angeles-based writer Greg Karber launched the campaign, which uses the hashtag #FitchTheHomeless, in a video posted to YouTube on Monday.

http://mashable.com/2013/05/15/fitchthehomeless-abercrombie-fitch-homeless/

What do you think?

I like the idea of mocking A&F's snobby asshattery, but is this campaign basically "using" homeless people as props?

[Iggo]

1. I like the idea.

Do something nice for someone and say fuck you to an asshole at the same time.

Win. Win.

[NYC_SKP]

2. The most fair approach would be to give the people an informed choice:

Explain what you're doing and why, and offer them a choice between an A&F garment and identical unmarked one.

Anything less does smack of exploitation.

[siligut]

3. Plus the stuff is crap

With trendy styles and poor quality fabric and workmanship. Just shun A&F, they don't deserve our attention. Now homeless people, they could use a little positive attention, but not by giving them stupid clothing.

[Common Sense Party]

5. I've never examined their clothing, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that it's shoddy quality.

I agree that people without homes deserve better than poorly-made clothing, and deserve more than providing the punchline to a joke.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Not necessarily "using" the homeless and the poor as props -

just pissing off A & F by defeating their own brand image. I'm sure those given the clothes will appreciate them.

[Daemonaquila]

6. Not at all.

It's a win-win. The homeless folks getting free clothes aren't props, they're getting something new to wear. Unless they disagree with the political statement, why would they have a problem with it. The choice should be up to anyone who's offered the clothes.

[riqster]

7. A&F destroys their "seconds" instead of donating them

So as to maintain the state of affairs that their CEO described. So this will hack them off, big time.

Speaking as a formerly homeless man, anybody who gave me anything I could use got a grateful "thank you", regardless of their motivation or agenda. Good deeds are good deeds.

[Common Sense Party]

8. Thanks for providing your perspective.

I think receiving clothes would be very much appreciated.

I honestly did not know if the agenda would have offended.

I think it's a brilliant idea that would pop their corporate ego and provide clothing to people who need it...I just wouldn't want homeless men and women to feel like, "The only reason this person is giving me something is so they can stick it to A&F."

[riqster]

9. I imagine some folks might take offense.

But I always assumed that people had their own reasons for giving. And their reasons weren't my business, so I never got bent about it.

Keep in mind, lots of people have a very judgemental attitude towards anyone who is down on their luck: when they would give something, it usually came with a lecture of some shaming sort. After being on the receiving end of that crap a few times, I learned not to do it in reverse.

Das ding an sich, it is called in German: the thing in itself. The clothes,in their tangible selves are worth more than any intangible attitudes that may have been associated with them.

[Common Sense Party]

10. Well said.

And I suppose as this video suggests, if people donate the clothing to homeless shelters, that will eliminate any speeches or sharing of motivations.

[EC]

11. There is no quality

in that stuff...It'll (any piece of their clothing)fall apart in a few days, out on the streets.

[d_r]

12. if i had any i would

but i never had any

[Xyzse]

13. I don't see why buying A&F to give to the homeless is constructive

Why would I buy A&F, adding to their bottom line just to give away their shoddy workmanship?

Either way, it's helping them.

[riqster]

14. The people doing this aren't buying new

They are hitting thrift stores. No additional money goes to Asshole and Fucktard.

[Xyzse]

15. Thanks!

I saw that a bit earlier and forgot to correct myself.