Abercrombie & Fitch announces return to publishing pornographic catalog

By: American Decency Staff

Between 2000 and 2003 we alerted our readers and supporters to Abercrombie & Fitch’s pornographic catalog. Month after month we beat the drum on this issue. The images in the catalog were clearly toxic. Michigan’s then Attorney General Jennifer Granholm (presently Michigan Governor) notified A&F in 1999 to cease and desist or face prosecution for selling their catalog to minors. Upon becoming aware of this matter, American Decency Association began to lead the charge on exposing the catalog for what it was – pornographic. Here is but one example – taken from our July 2001 newsletter: Quoting: “The pornographic Abercrombie & Fitch Summer Quarterly begins with 121 pages of full page, explicit photographs of nude, semi-nude and provocatively posed young people (teen-age/college student age). There are over 30 photos of nudity – both female and male. Page after page sends the message to their customer base, teenagers, of recreational and promiscuous sex and deviant behavior. Viewing the “catalogâ€Â gives the feeling that you’ve just paged through a Playboy. Advertisements for A&F clothing do not begin until page 122 of the 280 page catalog. The catalog also includes 54 pages of articles and interviews – tied to the catalog’s theme of ‘pleasure’.â€Â As we communicated doing many interviews nationwide and sending email alerts, etc., others began to spread the word as well including Dr. Jim Dobson via his radio program in late 2003. With the mounting pressure, A&F discontinued to publish and distribute their disgusting pornographic catalog targeting adolescents.   It was a major victory. In recent months and years, we have heard that A&F has been in serious financial trouble. Do they somehow think that bringing back pornography targeting kids is going to bring them prosperity? It didn’t before. Why would it now? Quoting from Slate (hardly a conservative publication) from December 8, 2003 In retailing, the most important metric is same-store sales, or how much money shoppers have spent at outlets that have been open for a year. The figure highlights whether a retailing concept has staying power. Abercrombie & Fitch's monthly sales releases, visible here, spin a tale of economic decline. In November 2003, same-store sales were down 13 percent compared to the previous November's sales. That's bad. Worse, it was the fourth straight year of same-store sales declines in November—the leading edge of the Christmas season. … Every year Abercrombie & Fitch goes to greater lengths to appeal to teens' prurient interests, too, hoping hormones will translate into sales. It's not working. It may be that the firm has signally failed to understand its customer, which is the most fundamental rule of retailing. The catalogs titillate teens, but they're increasingly angering their parents. While 16-year-olds may be able to go to the mall by themselves, most still rely on their parents to pay for the clothes they buy. http://slate.msn.com/id/2092175/ Here are Abercrombie & Fitch’s words on their website at their sign up button for the new to be released catalog: The A&F Quarterly contains adult content, including nudity, and should only be purchased by persons who are 18 years of age or older. By clicking "I agree" below, I represent and warrant that (I) I am 18 years of age or older, (II) I am purchasing the A&F Quarterly for myself or another individual who is 18 years of age or older, and (III) I am not located in a jurisdiction where purchasing and receiving adult content, including nudity, is prohibited by law. I agree to indemnify Abercrombie & Fitch, Inc., its related entities, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and costs (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising from any violation of my representations and warranties herein. With great sadness we once again enter into this fray. As many of you were aware, we never saw any real evidence that A&F had changed at the management level. We had kept a close watch on their wall and window displays during the interval between 2003 through June 2010. We intend to keep you abreast of developments. For a free boycott Abercrombie & Fitch bumper sticker, email: kimberly@americandecency.org “Ditch Fitchâ€Â Abercrombie Peddles Porn Your financial help is needed in these days more than ever. Donate online: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association P.O. Box 202 Fremont MI 49412 American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. ———————— American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org/ http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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