Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch: Essays on Race and Sexuality is a book regarding ethno-relational mores in contemporary gay African America with a nod to black, feminist and queer cultural contexts "dedicated to integrating sexuality and race into black and queer studies." It is written by Dwight A. McBride, the new dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Arts and Sciences. The book is published by New York University Press and used in Queer Studies as well as related college courses in universities McBride was a guest speaker at several universities speaking about the essay's subjects of race and sexuality in America. The collection of essays "offering contemporary cultural criticism" was a 2006 Lambda Literary Award and 2006 Hurston-Wright Legacy Award nominee as well as the Passing The Torch winner from the New York University Press.
The book is divided into three main sections: "Queer Black Thought," "Race and Sexuality on Occasion" and "Straight Black Talk" all exploring facets of the intersections of race, sexuality, class and gender issues. The often personal essays speak to the "ghettoization of black men in gay male porn" to broader subjects including the book's namesake Abercrombie & Fitch and how the clothing retailer influences the gay African-American male. McBride has been recognized as a specialist in bridging LGBT and racial issues illuminating both.
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Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) (NYSE: ANF) is an American fashiileon retar, headed by chairman and CEO Michael S. Jeffries. The A&F brand focuses on casualwear for a target consumer age of 18 through 22. With over 300 locations in the United States, the brand has embarked on international expansion throughout various world markets.Its youthful, racy image has become synonymous with the American youth and has been a mark of multiple parody and controversy. A&F currently operates four other brands: abercrombie, Hollister Co., Gilly Hicks, and RUEHL No.925 (shuttered by end of January 2010)collectively ranging between the ages of 7 through 35.
Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie, A&F had been an outfitter of sporting and excursion goods. It struggled financially from the late 1960s until it was purchased by The Limited in 1988 and repositioned, under the management of Mike Jeffries, as the aspirational "Casual Luxury" lifestyle brand in present form.Prominent figures who patronized the company in its excursion goods days.
Management and marketing
Corporate officials
* The following are the top corporate officials of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
* Michael S. Jeffries - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jefferies has held this position since the 1990s. He has renovated the brand and oversees all aspects of the company.
* Diane Chang - Executive Vice President of Sourcing
* Leslee K. Herro - Executive Vice President of Planning and Allocation
* David S. Cupps - Senior Vice President, Sec. and General Counsel
* Thomas D. Lennox - Head of Corporate Communications
* Richard Clarke - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
* Amy Zehr - Vice President of Stores
The company is headquartered at "Home Office". It has a European branch in Milan, Italy.
Stores
The modern Canoe store design features white molding and louvers on the exterior. The main marketing image lies against the front wall facing the entrance.The interiors are highlighted with dim ceiling-lights and spot lighting. Distinguishable aspects are the lingering scent of Fierce, an A&F fragrance, and the blasting electronic dance music. An undercover inspection which measured the noise levels in teen stores in a randomly selected mall, revealed that the noise level in Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Abercrombie kids stores was as loud as 90 decibels, comparable to heavy construction machinery noise and harmful to the ears. However, 80 decibels is the corporate store policy sound level.
There are a few remaining chain store design which feature plaid carpeting and preppy wallpaper. The company operates 1,059 stores across all five brands. The A&F brand holds over 353[20] locations nationwide the United States, three in Canada, and one in London. Three flagship stores are located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, within the The Grove in Los Angeles, and at 7 Burlington Gardens in London.
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Advertising
The official logo of
Abercrombie & Fitch is the moose. The company markets through its sensual photographs with a beach, architectural, or mountainous backdrop in grayscale. The marketing photographer is Bruce Weber, who is known for his sexual photography for Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren. Models and the photos pertaining to them were previewed seasonally on "A&F New Faces", a previous feature on the official website. After only featuring select photography, it was renamed "Photo Gallery." "A&F Casting" was introduced in place of "A&F New Faces" to advertise and to give information on being cast for marketing campaigns. The company only casts "brand reps" (store associates) for campaigns. They use especially good-looking models to attract young people to buy their clothes.
