Thread: Whom to root against? CAIR sues Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Faces Lawsuit Over Muslim Headscarf
By SEAN GREGORY Sean Gregory
11 mins ago

Given the hyper-sexualized advertising that Abercrombie & Fitch has long embraced, it is no surprise that the company encourages its employees to let their hair down. But is the company practicing discrimination if it won't hire a young woman who covers her head for religious reasons? Yes, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Last week the EEOC filed suit against Abercrombie on behalf of Samantha Elauf, a 19-year-old community college student from Tulsa, Okla., who is Muslim. The suit alleges that Abercrombie "refused to hire Ms. Elauf because she wears a hijab, claiming that the wearing of the headgear was prohibited by its Look Policy," or employee dress code. The suit says that Abercrombie "failed to accommodate her religious beliefs by making an exception to the Look Policy. These actions constitute discrimination against Ms. Elauf on the basis of religion."


Elauf, who had experience working in retail, interviewed for a position at a Tulsa Abercrombie Kids store in June 2008. During the interview, she wore a black hijab, or headscarf, in line with Muslim religious tradition. According to the EEOC, Elauf got word through a friend, who worked in the store, that the headscarf cost her the job. The EEOC alleges that during its investigation, Abercrombie & Fitch flatly told the agency, in a position statement, that "under the Look Policy, associates must wear clothing that is consistent with the Abercrombie brand, cannot wear hats or other coverings, and cannot wear clothes that are the color black." Elauf is suing for back pay and compensation related to emotional pain and anxiety. "If these allegations are true," says Chuck Thornton, deputy director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, "they are serious. In this day and age, it's not acceptable. Certainly, a headscarf is part and parcel of the Islamic experience." (Read "How to Reach Teens in a Recession? Ask A[a {e**]ropostale.")


When contacted for a response, Abercrombie & Fitch issued the following statement: "We cannot comment on pending litigation. We have a strong equal-opportunity policy, and we accommodate religious beliefs and practices when possible. We are confident that the litigation of this matter will demonstrate that we have followed the law in every respect."


Was Abercrombie & Fitch within its rights to enforce its dress code? Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination. "It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to fail or refuse to hire .... any individual ... because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex or national origin," the law states. The key language, says Stewart Schwab, an employment lawyer and dean of Cornell Law School, is found in a 1972 amendment to Title VII. This amendment defined "religion." It reads, "The term 'religion' includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business."


This case could hinge on a jury's interpretation of the phrase "undue hardship." If Abercrombie & Fitch had made an exception of its Look Policy for Elauf - a "reasonable accommodation" - would that move have hurt the Abercrombie brand? On the surface, that argument seems specious, at best. Would shoppers at that Abercrombie Kids store have been so jarred by the hijab that they wouldn't have bought the company's jeans? If the company makes that case, it doesn't think much of the religious tolerance of the good folks of Oklahoma. (Read "Abercrombie & Fitch: Worst Recession Brand?")


Still, this case is far from a lock for Elauf. "You can't give a blanket statement that this clearly violates her rights," says Schwab. "Employers often win cases involving dress codes. There's a general feeling that employers are entitled to set an image in their stores." If a company sells sex - you can sometimes find a shirtless male model hanging out in front of Abercrombie stores - let's face it, head coverings aren't ideal.


No matter how the suit turns out, Abercrombie & Fitch doesn't need another headache. The company just announced more dismal sales figures: August same-store sales declined 29%. In 2004, the EEOC sued Abercrombie for limiting its hiring of minorities; that case was settled for $50 million. A British woman sued the company for discrimination after Abercrombie's management allegedly shunted her to the stockroom for wearing a cardigan to cover her prosthetic arm. In August, a tribunal awarded her nearly $15,000. The EEOC has also sued Hollister, a teen retailer owned by Abercrombie, for allegedly firing a Pentecostal worker who asked to dress more modestly. That case is still pending.


As for Elauf, she is under attorney's orders to keep quiet about the case. But her grandfather, Ata Elauf, is clearly irked. "They put a wedge into her Americanism," says Elauf. "She grew up here speaking the language, going to school. Why did they do this? She's sort of confused."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2009092...08599192560700

I wonder if a christian person asked for time in the day to pray if it would be given to them? I highly doubt it.

Where I live, we have a Mosque nearby and a large muslim community to go with it. As a result, we have lots of stores where the signage is in whatever you call their scribble, but not english. They do not hire non-muslims. So how is it that non-muslims must hire them? Also, look at that they get SBA loans and grants with interest at 0%, money from us US taxpayers but they can keep it all muslim. I am so sick of all this crap.

Take for a revolution

Me

I am 49,fat and ugly. If I do not get the Hooters job then can I sue? I doubt it.

I guess if at first you don't succeed ... try, try again ( or is that "sue, sue again" ? )


Muslim woman sues Abercrombie & Fitch over hijab
By Jason Dearen, Associated Press – 2 hrs 32 mins ago



SAN FRANCISCO – A former stockroom worker for Abercrombie & Fitch Co. sued the clothing retailer in federal court Monday, saying she was illegally fired after refusing to remove her Muslim headscarf while on the job.

Hani Khan said a manager at the company's Hollister Co. store at the Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo hired her while she was wearing her hijab. The manager said it was OK to wear it as long as it was in company colors, Khan said.

Four months later, the 20-year-old says a district manager and human resources manager asked if she could remove the hijab while working, and she was suspended and then fired for refusing to do so.

It's the latest employment discrimination charge against the company's so-called "look policy," which critics say means images of mostly white, young, athletic-looking people. The New Albany, Ohio-based company has said it does not tolerate discrimination.

Still, Abercrombie has been the target of numerous discrimination lawsuits, including a federal class action brought by black, Hispanic and Asian employees and job applicants that was settled for $40 million in 2004. The company admitted no wrongdoing, though it was forced to implement new programs and policies to increase diversity.

"Growing up in this country where the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion, I felt let down," Khan, now a college student studying political science, said at a news conference. "This case is about principles, the right to be able to express your religion freely and be able to work in this country."

Abercrombie defended its record in a comment provided to The Associated Press, saying diversity in its stores "far exceeds the diversity in the population of the United States."

"We comply with the law regarding reasonable religious accommodation, and we will continue to do so," said Rocky Robbins, the company's general counsel. "We are confident that when this matter is tried, a jury will find that we have fully complied with the law."

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco comes after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in September that Khan was fired illegally. Khan's lawsuit was filed in conjunction with the EEOC's lawsuit.

It is not the first time the company has been charged with discriminating against Muslim women over the wearing of a hijab.

In 2009, Samantha Elauf, who was 17 at the time, filed a federal lawsuit in Tulsa, Okla., alleging the company rejected her for a job because she was wearing a hijab.

The EEOC filed another lawsuit for the same reason, saying the company denied work to a hijab-wearing woman who applied for a stocking position in 2008 at an Abercrombie Kids store at the Great Mall in Milpitas, Calif.

Khan's attorney said her client is looking to get Abercrombie to change its "look policy" to allow religious headscarves to be worn by employees, and for unspecified damages. The lawsuit alleges violations of federal and state civil rights and employment laws.

"Abercrombie prides itself on requiring what it calls a natural classic American style. But there's nothing American about discriminating against someone because of their religion," said Araceli Martinez-Olguin, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center. "Such a look policy cannot be squared with our shared values. No worker should have to choose between their religion and their job."

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110...adscarf_firing

comments

It's called a dress code. Live with it or work somewhere else. I have to wear these stupid pants and dress shirt. And no, they aren't going to let me wear a hat indoors.

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I agree with many comments here. As an American, born of Italian and German heritage, I have been brought up in a world where there are rules, restrictions, and structure. I cannot imagine telling my "boss" that I disagree with the dress code of the company for which I work. In my own time, I dress as I wish. When I am representing my company, which I chose to work for, I will represent them as so directed. My choice. Just use common sense. Let's get out of the courts, people.

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If she were such a dovoted muslim, she should have gone to Saudi and apply for a job there while exercising her religious freedom.
But then, in Saudi, she would need to have a male relative to accompany her to work.

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This has less to do with 'religion' and more to do with "We're here and you cannot do anything about it". It is an act of aggression. Women who cover or wear their hijabs AND THE MEN WHO MAKE THEM do more harm to the women's rights and anyone else.

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This woman obviously does not follow the Quran as no where in the Quran does it state that a woman must cover herself with a Hijab / Jilbab. The Quran only states that a woman should dress 'modestly'. The word 'modestly', however, has been interpreted to mean that a woman should cover herself completely from view.

Considering that illiteracy runs quite high in some of these Islamic based nations, those who say that they follow the teachings of the Quran, are really saying that the follow the interpretations of the Quran by an Iman or other individual, as they themself can not read the Quran. And if this other person has fanatical beliefs, they will tell this illiterate person that the Quran says that they should cover themselves, completely and that they should kill westerners and submit themself to being raped by their husband.

The Hijab is not a religious symbol. It has nothing to do with religious rights or freedoms. It is a garment worn by the illiterate who have accepted these misguided beliefs as factual and passed them on to their own offspring

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She did not follow the written dress code,was given an option to keep her job and refused.I wear a cross necklace the employer I have has a written policy and dress code that does not allow jewelry,so I take it off when I go to work and put it on when I leave.She had a choice make money or religion and she chose religion so she should not be looking for a handout of money now.Don't hide behind your faith with your hand out,when you had a choice to keep your job in this difficult economy,you were lucky you even had one look at the millions that

Ex-worker sues Disney; says forbids Muslim head scarf
By Lisa Richwine | Reuters – Mon, Aug 13, 2012



(Reuters) - A former Disneyland restaurant employee sued Walt Disney Co on Monday for harassment and religious discrimination, saying she was fired because she wanted to wear a Muslim head scarf at work. Imane Boudlal, a 28-year-old Muslim, worked as a hostess at the Storytellers Cafe, a restaurant inside Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Two years into the job, Boudlal asked permission to wear a hijab, a head scarf worn by Muslim women, while at work. She said she offered to wear a scarf that matched the colors of her uniform or featured a Disney logo. According to her lawsuit, Disney managers denied her request, saying it would violate the company's policy for how employees "look" while on the job. Among the restrictions, the policy prohibits visible tattoos and fingernails that exceed a quarter of an inch, the lawsuit said.

Boudlal said she was given the choice of working in a back area, away from customers, or wearing a fedora-style hat on top of her head scarf. When Boudlal refused, she was fired, the lawsuit states. A U.S. citizen who was born in Morocco, Boudlal said she was also subject to anti-Arab and anti-Muslim slurs, including being called "terrorist" and "camel" by co-workers and supervisors. She said she reported the incidents to managers, but they took no action. "Disneyland calls itself the happiest place on earth, but I faced harassment as soon as I started working there," Boudlal said in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. "It only got worse when I decided to wear a hijab."

Disney said it offered Boudlal several options for a costume that would accommodate her religious beliefs, as well as four different jobs where she could wear her own hijab. "Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has a history of accommodating religious requests from cast members of all faiths," Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown said in a statement. "Unfortunately, (Boudlal) has rejected all of our efforts and has since refused to come to work," Brown said.

The lawsuit seeks punitive damages and an order that states Disney may not prohibit employees from wearing hijabs. It also asks that Disney be ordered to provide anti-harassment training for employees about Muslim issues.

The case is Boudlal v. Disney.

http://news.yahoo.com/ex-worker-sues...--finance.html


comments

Sounds like they tried to accommodate her.....she will also have to explain the fact that she worked 2 years without it....

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There is a dress code, don't like it then don't work there. Sorry just because you want to smoke does not give you the right to smoke in the non-smoking section.

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Disney's dress code is pretty strict. Like Big Al said, they are called "cast members" and their uniform represents the area of the park in which they work. Disney is a huge company and the fact that they offered her other jobs in order to make her happy should have been enough.

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Working at Disney isn't just a normal job, as Chi Chi said they are called "cast members" for a reason. Working at Disney is no different than an actress saying to her Director of a movie that she won't wear the costume assigned for her role. Any director would fire an actress for this....just because Disney hires more openly shouldn't have them treated any different. The fact that they gave her options to hopefully compromise toward her beliefs speaks volumes about their company. She should have complied or been fired.

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I suspect that when she accepted the job, she accepted the dress code that went with it. If someone was hired to be Cinderella, there is a dress code that goes with it. "Cinderella" couldn't expect to continue in that job if she decided to wear a hijab - why is a hostess position any different? Sounds like Disney tried to accomodate her request wher their dress code and her religious beliefs were not in contradiction. If Disney was truely allowing for harassment, don't you think there would have been a class action suit by the Muslim employees at Disney?

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Sounds like they gave her plenty of options to try and accomdate her that would also have satisfied her religious headdress.

I also don't know if I believe that she was insulted and the subject of discrimnatory slurs. Why would she continue to work there for 2 years after being subjected to this and not getting any help from management after filing complaints? Something doesn't add up except the dollar signs in her eyes.

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You have to take religion out of the picture. Since she was not hired that way you cannot all a sudden expect your employer to accommodate whatever you want to do.

All of a sudden wanting to wear a hijab after 2 years on the job is no different than another employee deciding they are going to dye their hair bright pink and put on whatever earrings they want while on the job. In the case of Disney you would be asked to color your hair back and remove the earrings or you would be reassigned to backstage. Refuse that and you are fired.

Disney = actors for the public. Try this: go onto a movie set as a man or woman cast and decide that you are going to wear your own headgear regardless of the character you are playing or the script or what the director and producer says. See how long that works for you. Religious or not you would be out on your --- faster than you can count to 10.

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Was she not Muslim when she took the job? Did she ask before she was hired? This seems frivilous.

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If I feel so strongly about my religion, I feel strongly enough not take the job that violates my religion.

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Different companies have different dress code policies. You can't take a job at Hooters and then say you want to wear a burqa. SHe knew the dress code when she was hired. She was offered other jobs.

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I think maybe her lawyer should review the part of her hiring agreement that she signed which states "Both parties agree to At Will Employment" and explain that to her. She agreed to the rules when she was hired - wear a uniform. If I were on the jury she would not get a dime.

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Explains Why He Hates Fat Chicks
Sean Levinson• May 3, 12:14pm

Anyone who’s been to Abercrombie & Fitch in the last few years has probably noticed that they don’t carry XL or XXL sizes of women’s clothing because they don’t want overweight women wearing their brand.

According to this popular teen clothing retailer, fat chicks will just never be a part of the “in” crowd.

They take a big risk with this tactic because two of Abercrombie’s biggest competitors, H&M and American Eagle, both offer XXL sizes for men and women.

The largest women’s pants available at Abercrombie are a size 10, while H&M goes up to 16 and American Eagle goes even farther to 18.
Abercrombie’s attitude towards plus-sized women derives from CEO Mike Jeffries. Robin Lewis, author of The New Rules of Retail, spoke to Business Insider about the kind of people Jeffries wants advertising his brand.

“He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”

Lewis said that the only reason Abercrombie offers XL and XXL in men’s sizes is to appeal to large athletes.

In a 2006 interview with Salon, Jeffries confirmed that the communication between hot people is his primary marketing tactic.

“It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our 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,” he said.

Jeffries also told Salon that he wasn’t bothered by excluding fat people. In fact, he said that not limiting his ideal demographic would make his clothing less desirable.

“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he told the site. “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. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either,” he told Salon

One might wonder why Mike Jeffries only wants to be in the company of good-looking people. That curiosity will end after seeing what this freak looks like.

After seeing a picture of Mike Jeffries, it can only be concluded that he was never around good-looking people as a kid and is now making up for the glamorous youth he wishes he had.

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/abe...es-fat-chicks/

comments

Mike Jefferies is ugly. I refuse to shop in stores with ugly CEO's!

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the ceo is an idiot. I can't even walk by one of their stores because I choke to death from the stench of their disgusting perfumes wafting into the mall so he doesn't have to worry about this fat chick wearing his clothes. I'm not sure I know anyone who wears their crap anymore anyways.

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Yes Mr. Jeffries, because the clothes you sell are TOTALLY fashionable! Seriously? You don't even follow any trends. You've sold the same freaking stuff for ages. No one freaking wears polos anymore. Literally not a single thing you sell is in style. #that'sembarrassing

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I was in A&F the other day....I left not too long after getting in the store because all of the clothes reminded me of something my grandfather would be wearing. I 100% agree with your assessment.

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This is bs, just another rich ahole who thinks hes better than those that might be slightly heftier than a size 10. Shoot back in marlyn monroes day being bigger than a size 10 was considered attractive.

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Another classic for your viewing: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-1...underwear.html

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Since only good looking people are allowed to shop in his stores, where in the heck does he shop?

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Forget that the unattractive CEO wants only the "good looking and thin" to wear the clothes, WHY anyone shops there is a mystery. Overpriced, horrible customer service (does anyone know where anything is or even ask to help you?), loud music, over sexualized ads, over sexualized (too short) shorts and tops for girls, stinky perfume and very few people of diversity working in the store gives an atmosphere of "you pay for us to let you in". Many other stores in their same price range give you a better shopping experience. I work hard for my money, I want other folks to give at least some service to get it and offer a product that doesn't make women look like cheap street walkers.

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I can't go into the stores. In fact, I avoid that section of the mall entirely. Their scents are so overpowering that it set off my asthma. Not to mention the music is so loud it can be migraine-inducing. And the kids who wore those clothes when I went to highschool were usually the preppy, rich snobs that no one except OTHER preppy rich snobs hung out with. And I went to a private school so that is saying something

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I am disappointed that someone in his position in this day and age would even be quoted for saying something of that nature, he is just looking for trouble. He is not the example I would want set for the youth and for his information, clothing does not make you popular, the person and individual you are on the inside makes you popular. He promotes a lot of things we try to discourage in our youth, you can dress an ass in a thoroughbred coat, but when he opens his mouth he is still an ass. Clothing is nothing and that quote will hurt him big time. Thank heavens there are stores you reflect a good healthy life style and image, I will buy my clothing from them and so will my girls.

Please Share.

This is me…not wearing Abercrombie.

I remember the moment as though it were yesterday (which is saying a lot, because it was nearly two decades ...ago…) Last week of 8th grade. One of the “popular girls” walked over to me in gym class and asked if she could write in my yearbook. When she handed my book back, I excitedly turned the cover, only to discover that she had written (in beautiful penmanship) the following:

Have a great summer. Stay thin.

Except the word “thin” had been crossed out with a single line.

I have always struggled with my weight. Big-boned. Plus-size. Thick. Curvy. Voluptuous. Padded. Pick your adjective. Over the years I learned to deal with it in different ways. I learned to ignore it. Compensate for it. Deny it. Dress it up. Cover it over. Like everyone who struggles with something physical, I wear my battle on the outside for the world to see. There’s no running from it, because there is no hiding it.

According to Elite Daily, Mike Jeffries, CEO of Abercombie + Fitch, has allegedly commented on everything from why he hates fat chicks to why he doesn’t want “not-so-cool” kids shopping in his stores.

While I was initially outraged by the story, by the time I reached the end of the article, I felt more of a sense of overwhelming pity for the Abercrombie CEO than anything. A man blessed with unimaginable success proudly spouting off soundbites reminiscent of a cruel little girl I knew in eight grade? It would seem Mike Jeffries is a deeply unhappy man.

Mean-spiritedness aside, Mr. Jeffries’ comments raise a flag about a bigger, more troubling cultural issue. Pretend, for one moment, that instead of fat chicks, unattractive people or “not-so-cool” kids Mr. Jeffries had said “African Americans” or “homosexuals” or “single moms.” As a society, we would rise up and crucify any brand that flaunted that kind of exclusionary business plan.

I’m not slamming Abercrombie, proposing that they start carrying larger sizes or suggesting they welcome everyone into their stores. What I am questioning is why, in a country where two out of every three adults are considered overweight, is it acceptable for anyone, let alone the CEO of a major company, to proudly and publicly sling what could be considered by some to teeter on hate speech?

With each brand that joins arms with companies like Dove, TOMS and Anytime Fitness, opting to lead with their values in order to drive new, important conversations, a positive change is happening. Who do you think will thrive? I’m willing to bet at least two out of three Americans can answer that question…and they’ll do so with their dollars.

Now on to the letter.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. MIKE JEFFRIES, CEO ABERCROMBIE + FITCH

Dear Mr. Jeffries,

Hi there. It’s me, Amy. We’ve never met, but since it seems we won’t be sitting at the same lunch table (or crossing paths in your stores) anytime soon, I thought it was important that you get to know me if you’re going to hate me. I’m one of the two out of three Americans you can’t stand and don’t want in your stores. I’m your neighbor. Your doctor. The young woman working behind the hotel check-in desk. I’m your child’s third grade teacher. Your sister’s best friend. I’m the veterinarian who saved your dog’s life…twice. And the lady sitting next to you on the flight to Los Angeles. I’m the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I’m the housewife with one heck of an expendable income. I’m the 13-year-old teetering on the verge of an eating disorder. And the 22-year-old battling depression and low self-esteem. I’m the employee working in your office, living in fear that two pounds are the difference between my paycheck and the unemployment line. I’m the American Woman…and I’ve got something to say to you.

Mike (can I call you Mike?), I’m not only a fat chick, I’m also a “not-so-cool” kid. Always have been, always will be. I’ve had 31.5 years to come to terms with that. Along the way I have been bullied, tortured, teased and harassed. Somehow I came out the other end better for it. In case you haven’t noticed, those not-so-cool kids are the ones who are passing people like you by–and doing some pretty amazing things. (You can read about a couple of them here and here and here.) Funny thing about wearing your struggle on the outside: it makes you stronger. It teaches you how to adapt. It forces you to dig deep and do more. And while people like you are sitting at the cool kids table intent on holding others down, the ragtag team of not-so-cool kids is busy pulling others up…and we’ve become an unstoppable force driving the world forward.

You got me, Mike! I don’t wear a size 4. You should probably also know that my middle fingers curve ever-so-slightly outward and I have a Morton’s toe. I’m terrible at long division and I’m not that great at parallel parking. But I’m a good person. I have an awesome job, great friends and a family that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have mentors with brains as big as their giant hearts, and a rescue dog who is always happy to see me at the end of the day. Like everyone (size 4 or size 24), I have wants and hopes and dreams. I dream of writing a children’s book and inheriting a large sum of money so I can open a rescue retirement home for all the old shelter dogs that nobody wants. I like to pay for the person behind me at the toll booth sometime, and it’d be nice to get around to taking the “Great American Road Trip” one day. Overall I’m a pretty happy person. I’m a loyal friend and I strive to make the world better whenever and however I can. I love my community and I’m proud to call Columbus home. Although Abercrombie is headquartered here, you don’t represent the voice or the spirit of the place I know and love. When people think of this city, it is my hope they’ll choose to forget your name and instead think of people like Jeni Britton Bauer and Christian Long and Liz Lessner; doers and thinkers giving Columbus (and humankind) a good name.

As a marketer, I understand where you’re coming from on some level, Mike. I really do. When you say “a lot of people don’t belong in our clothes–they can’t belong,” I get it. For consumers, every purchase is a declaration. With each dollar a consumer spends, they are saying, “I am part of this brand and this brand is a part of me. I believe what this brand believes. I support what this brand supports.” As I sit here wrapping up this letter, I am proud to say that I may be a not-so-cool kid and the extra pounds I carry may not be a thing of beauty, but I am nothing like you or your brand–and that, Mr. Jeffries, is a beautiful thing.

Facts that will blow your mind : Abercrombie burns it's unsold clothes. They don't donate them because it's a bad image for the company for poor people to wear them.

How Does The Worst Human Being Of Retail Sleep At Night? After He Sees This, He Won't.

After hearing Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries express his desire of not wanting larger-sized women or "not so cool" kids wearing his brand, this guy decided to fight back. He helps a group of people who could really use the clothes that Jeffries tries so hard to keep out of the hands of people he doesn't deem worthy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O95DB...layer_embedded

Check under the video for other ways in which you can help the homeless. http://www.upworthy.com/how-does-the...s-this-he-wont

Abercrombie Just Got Served: Ellen Is Like a Decency NinjaWatch Ellen as she takes on the ridiculous comments made by Abercrombie’s CEO and masters her ninja skills.
http://www.upworthy.com/abercrombie-...ninja-2?c=ufb1