Abercrombie and Psh!

I'm sure everyone saw this Abercrombie and Fitch thing. Just in case you missed it, here it is (taken from John Green's blog, with commentary).

Like most everyone else, I was bugged to read what the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch had to say. However, I wasn't shocked about it. His company projected elitism as hard as they could, even before he said those words. Who is really surprised that he feels this way? Furthermore, I'm sure he's not the only designer who doesn't want to see his clothes on ugly, uncool, overweight, poor people. If he was, a lot more things would be a lot more affordable, there'd be a lot more variety in what models look like, and nobody would have to overpay for jeans at The Big Fine Woman Store. 

I remember seeing the actress Camryn Manheim on a talk show in the 90s. She had been nominated for some big award. When that happens, designers will contact the actress and say, "Hey, let me make you a super fantastic dress. You don't have to pay me for it, just say my name on the red carpet." It's a win-win: the actress gets a great outfit and one less thing to worry about, the designer gets publicity, each is elevated by association with the other's acclaim, and the fans of both get to see their favorite thing looking awesome on TV. It's a whole system and it's worked for years. Camryn was approached by several designers, and each time she'd ask, "Do you normally make clothes in my size?" Often they'd reply, "Well, no, but we CAN. We would for YOU," and she'd be all, "Mkay. I'm not gonna wear your smelly dress. Take your design and shove it up your nose, so you can use it to snort drugs because it's the 90s and 'heroin chic' is in," (that's not verbatim). I love this story. I love that she didn't jump at the chance to sit at the cool table. I think she did finally find a designer up to her moral code and got her dress. Even if she'd had to buy off the rack I'd still love this story because she didn't compromise. 

The thing is, companies get to make their own brand and culture. He can make his brand reflect his values and he can market those values along with his product however he likes. We all want to make the world a better place, and there are many definitions of "better." To some people, a better world may be a few million more over-sexualized children with unlimited disposable incomes flouncing through hallways their granddaddies paid for, playing sports for the enjoyment of being seen playing sports, and taking half nude pictures of each other as they look down their beautiful noses at the rest of the world in order to reaffirm their own superiority, which exists in their own minds. To each his own, I say. This may sound like I'm defending him. I'm not. I think he's a terrible human. You get to make your own choices, sure, but you don't get to choose the outcome of those choices. I just saw this campaign against his brand. 

I have mixed feelings about this. I was a little bugged because it seemed like the kid behind the movement is being a bit hypocritical. "He's a jerk for calling people ugly, so I'm gonna call him ugly." "He's a jerk for looking down on people, so I'm gonna give his clothes to the undesirables upon whom we all look down so he won't be cool anymore." Then I realized he was using this CEO's definition of "cool" and I felt better about it. Also, I can't help but get excited at the idea of the CEO getting knocked down a peg.  

There are a couple of reasons I want to see this guy go down. 

1) I learned in church that pride is supposed to be followed by a fall. I realize that when and how and where somebody falls is really none of my business, and I ought to be worried about myself and forgiving of others, but I am human and I have my own faults. It would be very satisfying to see him get his comeuppance. 

2) I learned from 80s movies that the preppy douche always gets it in the end. His empire crumbles, his street cred runs out, and nobody thinks he's cool anymore. That's what would happen if John Hughes wrote and directed the Internet. You can do it for John, or you can do it for your inner 17-year-old, whatever works for you. 

Either way, if you've been shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch it'd be awesome if you stopped (not necessarily forever; I don't want to make the guy destitute, I just want to make him sweaty and uncomfortable for a while). Also, giving clothes to the homeless is a good thing to do, regardless of what brand you're giving out. I see another win-win here.