Fast Company’s senior fashion writer Elizabeth Segran explains how the company overcame a problematic history to pull off a renaissance in this rebroadcast of our episode from July. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Matt Collette, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members Abercrombie & Fitch models in 2005. Photo by David Pomponio/FilmMagic for Paul Wilmot Communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
Summer of 1999. Britney had her first hit. TLC had their millionth. American Pie was in theaters. Carson Daly was on TRL. And the cool kids wore Abercrombie and Fitch. Abercrombie didn't invent the American teenager. Hollywood did that.
You're tearing me apart!
But for a time, it defined what it meant to dress and act like a teenager.
Look at him. It's like Abercrombie's making people now.
But then the brand cratered, done in by the cheap shots it took at women, Asians, West Virginia, and male gymnasts, among others, and a CEO who was recently charged with running a sex trafficking ring. But quietly, Abercrombie has been mounting an incredible comeback. You might even find yourself in one this Black Friday, and you will not be alone. Coming up on Today Explained.
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Yes, hi, I'd like to order a pizza. Okay, can I ask you a question? Is the cute blonde guy delivering tonight?
Very Abercrombie and Fitch? I'm Noelle King with Elizabeth Segrin. She's a senior staff writer at Fast Company. She writes about the fashion industry. And Elizabeth's early memories of Abercrombie?
Okay, so I did not grow up in this country because my dad worked for an airline. I spent most of my childhood in Europe and Asia. And so my first experience even hearing about Abercrombie & Fitch came in 1999 when I was a junior in high school. It was called Summer Girls by LFO. It was such an iconic song.
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