#140 Abercrombie & Fitch of Columbus

Full page ad in USAToday--“100% filth, made in the U.S.A.” Isn't that sweet about a hometown company? It’s about their pandering “sex for teens” catalogs.

The ad points out that the 1998 catalog promoted drinking excessively. The 2002 catalog was selling thong underwear for 10 year olds. The 2003 Christmas catalog had 100 pages of nude models, including staged (I assume) group sex and an article promoting it. Even the title is suggestive, “The Christmas Field Guide.” Their stock has dipped 13%. Consumers have protested. Even an Urban Legend site on the internet confirms this, in case you think the group sex thing is a myth or rumor.

The catalog has been pulled, and the writer of this article adds, “A&F's CEO Mike Jeffries has for years sneered at those who complained about his quarterly's filth. Asking him softly to clean up his act didn't work, but big stick evidently did.”