Abercrombie Faces Discrimination Suit

CrimsonTide4 · #1 06-18-2003, 08:51 AM

Abercrombie Faces Discrimination Suit
Tue Jun 17, 6:47 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

By DEBORAH KONG, AP Minority Issues Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Abercrombie & Fitch, the clothing chain that promotes a "casual classic American" look, has been hit with a discrimination lawsuit accusing it of cultivating an overwhelmingly white sales force.

When it does hire minorities, it channels them to stock room and overnight jobs, says the lawsuit, which seeks certification as a class action.

The lawsuit, filed Monday by nine Hispanic and Asian plaintiffs, alleges that Abercrombie discriminates against blacks, Hispanics and Asians. It says company policy requires all sales people to exhibit an all-white "A&F look."

Catalogs and store promotional materials display models who are mostly white, according to the lawsuit.

"If you look at the material they put out, they are cultivating an all-white look," said Thomas Saenz, vice president of litigation at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, one of the attorneys for the nine Hispanic and Asian plaintiffs. "It is difficult to understand why, given that their target age demographic is even more heavily minority than the rest of the population."

The company, based in New Albany, Ohio, targets college students with its upscale casual clothing. Its Web site says it features clothing "that compliments the casual classic American lifestyle." It has about 600 stores and some 22,000 employees nationwide.

Spokesman Tom Lennox said Tuesday that Abercrombie had not received a copy of the lawsuit and he declined to comment on its specifics, but said the company does not discriminate.

"As a company that prides itself on diversity we are dismayed by the lawsuit and take this matter very seriously," he said. "Abercrombie & Fitch represents American style. America is diverse and we want diversity in our stores."

One of the plaintiffs, Johan Montoya, alleges a Canoga Park store refused to hire him because he is Hispanic, even though he had experience working at another store in the same mall.

"It's one of those things I never thought would happen to me," said Montoya, a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara. "We live in a day and age where discrimination is looked down upon so heavily, it was simply absurd."

The company has been accused of racial insensitivity in the past. Last spring, it removed T-shirts from stores after Asian-Americans complained about depictions of two slant-eyed men in conical hats and the slogan "Wong Brothers Laundry Service — Two Wongs Can Make it White."

The lawsuit was filed by the Mexican American fund with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

ClassyLady · #2 06-18-2003, 01:20 PM

I really do not like Abercrombie. I never liked their clothing, but now I do not like them as a company. They are discriminatory and offensive. It seems like the executives are going to offend and discriminate against whomever they want until somebody says something about it. After they made those thongs for 8 year olds, I have been waiting for someone to sue the pants off them and win.

treblk · #3 06-18-2003, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClassyLady
After they made those thongs for 8 year olds, I have been waiting for someone to sue the pants off them and win.

Say it aint so

toocute · #4 06-18-2003, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClassyLady
After they made those thongs for 8 year olds, I have been waiting for someone to sue the pants off them and win.

When was this????

Steeltrap · #5 06-18-2003, 03:01 PM

I think there were threads on GC that touched on the thong controversy. I can recall one on chit chat and one on either AKA Ave. or DST Blvd.

CrimsonTide4 · #6 06-18-2003, 03:49 PM

The thread was on the AVE last year started by exquizit.

**waving @ my family.

I am @ work on a break. Do you all miss me?!!**

Gina1201 · #7 06-18-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
**waving @ my family. I am @ work on a break. Do you all miss me?!!**

Are you talkin' bout GC fam? OF COURSE, we miss you. Hope the job is treating you nice.

CrimsonTide4 · #8 06-18-2003, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gina1201
Are you talkin' bout GC fam? OF COURSE, we miss you. Hope the job is treating you nice.

YES, I am talking about you all. I just had to come cast a ray of light.

RedefinedDiva · #9 06-18-2003, 03:59 PM

**waving at CT4** How does it feel to be back in the grind?

Anyway, WTF is an "all-white look"? I mean, I understand what they they are getting at, but what exactly is the Black look? Sometimes, the wording make sthings seem frivolous. I don't deny that A&F is discriminating. The Gap does it and I believe that they are under the same Co. with Banana Republic, which is also discriminatory.

I want to get upset sometimes, but why? "They" are the biggest buyers of hip-hop clothing, such as Sean John, Phat Farm, etc. Eevn though their sales don't really compare to bigger companies, they are making waves. If we stop patronizing these companies that ignore us, then maybe they will open their eyes.

Dionysus · #10 06-18-2003, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
**waving at CT4** How does it feel to be back in the grind?

Anyway, WTF is an "all-white look"? I mean, I understand what they they are getting at, but what exactly is the Black look? Sometimes, the wording make sthings seem frivolous. I don't deny that A&F is discriminating. The Gap does it and I believe that they are under the same Co. with Banana Republic, which is also discriminatory.

I want to get upset sometimes, but why? "They" are the biggest buyers of hip-hop clothing, such as Sean John, Phat Farm, etc. Eevn though their sales don't really compare to bigger companies, they are making waves. If we stop patronizing these companies that ignore us, then maybe they will open their eyes.

Yeah, Gap is under the same co. with Banana Republic and Old Navy. I didn't hear anything about Banana Republic. What happened with them?

Honeykiss1974 · #11 06-19-2003, 10:54 AM

Y'all should really check out the A & F thread out in Chit Chat.

The comments are pure comedy!

Ignorance must truly be bliss

-----------------------

Regarding the article, I am not surprised. Any company that would make thongs for kids

or after the whole Asian-themes T-shirts, I am not surprised to hear this.

i personally never liked their clothing.

toocute · #12 06-19-2003, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
The thread was on the AVE last year started by exquizit.

**waving @ my family. I am @ work on a break. Do you all miss me?!!**

*waving back*

Hey girl!

I'll have to search for that thread. Jeez. Thongs for kids.

Steeltrap · #13 06-19-2003, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Y'all should really check out the A & F thread out in Chit Chat.

The comments are pure comedy!

Ignorance must truly be bliss

-----------------------

Regarding the article, I am not surprised. Any company that would make thongs for kids or after the whole Asian-themes T-shirts, I am not surprised to hear this.

i personally never liked their clothing.

I've peeped that thread. Not all the comments are ignorant. There's one poster, in particular, who is making good, reasonable, non-ignorant points. Of course, since this is GC, there are two individuals who should never be discussing such issues, but can't resist putting in their tasteless two cents.

Honeykiss1974 · #14 06-19-2003, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I've peeped that thread. Not all the comments are ignorant. There's one poster, in particular, who is making good, reasonable, non-ignorant points. Of course, since this is GC, there are two individuals who should never be discussing such issues, but can't resist putting in their tasteless two cents.

Yes, you are right. I believe that poster you're refering to is Sugar and Spice. She has said some key things.

Regarding the other poster, if I hear that dag on story about how "a car of black women cut her off and called her a white binch" one more time..............

CTFU

Steeltrap · #15 06-19-2003, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Yes, you are right. I believe that poster you're refering to is Sugar and Spice. She has said some key things.

Regarding the other poster, if I hear that dag on story about how "a car of black women cut her off and called her a white binch" one more time..............

CTFU

I hear ya. Something is clearly missing in the cabezas of some folx. I'm glad that my tax $$$ aren't going to that one's education.