Why I “Don’t” hate Abercrombie and Fitch

This article is written by Dwight McBride, it is an article that gives his opinion and more or less his feelings of what Abercrombie and Fitch really is. Now do I believe that McBride is 100% accurate in his statement? No, not at all. He does however have some views that I do agree with, but for the most part, I don’t think that McBride is right with his sayings. First off, Abercrombie has been criticized for unique and reveling form of advertising. I do believe that it is an inappropriate way for a store to advertise. Also, they barely show the product in the advertisement. Their main theme is that sex sells. Now whether or not I like it does not make it right or wrong. I wouldn’t think that an advertisement that didn’t show the product would actually sell, however, this method seems to be working for them, so more power to them. It is an new way of advertising and if it is working for them to not have the product in the advertisement, then let them do as they wish. If they go out of business for failing to advertise then it is their risk that they are willing to take. On the aspect that their advertising is too revealing then I do believe that possibly some changes need to be made, but if they are succeeding with this advertising then it is not likely that they will change and also not their fault for not changing their advertising. I place this blame on society. If society promotes this type of behavior and continues to shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, there is no reason why they should be forced to change something that people will flock after. There main goal in the world is to get business, if that way gets them business, then they should not be forced to change their ways as long as they are not harming anyone or breaking any laws.
McBride also stated that Abercrombie and Fitch’s main consumer line is towards white middle to upper class. I don’t believe that this is always the case. I believe that they are trying to sell up scale clothing to rich people, but I don’t believe that it is only directed towards white people. I am a white male of mostly middle to upper class and I don’t shop at Abercrombie and Fitch because I think the clothes are outrageously priced and I can get the same type of clothes somewhere else for much cheaper. McBride argues that by Abercrombie and Fitch saying that their clothing is the, “Real American Look” that they are saying that all people that live in America should look like this and this is how all white Americans dress. This is a stereotype by both A&F and McBride. Abercrombie and Fitch have a rich history in America, beginning in 1907 by selling outdoor clothing, they have evolved into an up scale clothing industry. By saying that they are “Real American”, they are only using their history to their advantage, by saying that people in America have bought their clothing for a long time. McBride I feel tries to change this around into A&F is saying that all people in America look like this. This is a misinterpretation of how I feel A&F really intended their slogan to be used. Also, I feel this is a case where McBride is actually the one that is stereotyping people that wear Abercrombie and Fitch clothing to be white, middle to upper class Americans. I don’t believe that it is only white, middle to upper class Americans that buy their clothing either, it is a style of clothing that all types of people from many different backgrounds buy, not just white middle to upper class people.