Popular clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch is feeling the weight following an interview which illustrated the prejudices against larger sizes.
According to People, a book entitled The New Rules of Retail draws attention to the brand and their decision to not offer clothing larger than size 10. Additionally, the brand does not offer an ‘Extra Large’ size for women.
The book also caused a 2006 interview with CEO Mike Jeffries to resurface in which he defends the company’s decision saying, “In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids … A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”
Just last week Jeffries told Business Insider that he “doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people."
According to the report, the store does offer a bigger size for men in order to attract bigger, bulky football player-looking males.
The company also burns old and damaged clothes rather than donating them to the needy.
Since the news surfaced writer Greg Karber took to the streets where he handed out A&F t-shirts, pants and the like to the homeless to promote that the brand should create clothing for everyone.
On Wednesday, Jeffries posted a statement on Facebook in which he claims that his statements from 2006 were "taken out of context."
"While I believe this 7 year old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense," the statement begins. "A&F is an aspirational brand that, like most specialty apparel brands, targets its marketing at a particular segment of customers. However, we care about the broader communities in which we operate and are strongly committed to diversity and inclusion."
"We hire good people who share these values," the statement continues. "We are completely opposed to any discrimination, bullying, derogatory characterizations or other anti-social behavior based on race, gender, body type or other individual characteristics."
image: Abercrombie & Fitch Twitter