October 24th, 2008 by New York Threads

Starting as a hunting-and-fishing-supplies company in 1892, Abercrombie and Fitch is now operating as a retailer of luxury American clothing company. Currently, this lifestyle brand includes among its subsidiaries its flagship brand Abercrombie and Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Co., RUEHL No. 925, and Gilly Hicks. It currently operates in stores in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom and plans to open stores in Japan for its Asian expansion and in Venezuela for its South American expansion. The company manufactures casual apparel for men, women and kids and offers sportswear gear, shirts with graphic designs and bearing its visible brand name, fleece, jeans and woven pants, shorts sweaters, and outerwear. Its other subsidiaries also sell intimate apparel for women such as bras, underwear, and personal care products.

Outdoorsman David Abercrombie started the company by selling high-end fishing rods and safari gear and then a devoted customer Ezra Fitch joined him later. After the company’s profits declined, it closed in 1977 after filing for bankruptcy and then later on bought by Oshman’s Sporting Goods, now Sports Authority. The buyout also did not bring in any profits to the company. Later on, the company would be sold to Limited in 1988. Everything then changed under the new owner when he revolutionized the brand with trendy clothes that easily captured the young crowd. By 1996, Abercrombie and Fitch expanded rapidly and already had 105 stores and sales that reached $236 million.

Despite getting under fire for lawsuits involving racism and discrimination in its workplace as well as eliciting protests on sexually suggestive designs on some of its shirts, the company continues to rake in profits and even outperforming its competitors. After opening its stores in Canada and Europe, its Asian and Latin American expansion hopes to make it a global brand with its success focused on its catchy logos, status, and looks that capture the spirit of the young generation.

ABERCROMBIE A & F Mens Lake Champlain Cargo Shorts 28 US $59.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:12:04 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH * A&F WOMENS MINI PLAID SHORTS sz 2 US $5.50 (5 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:12:30 PST Add to watch list

Womens Abercrombie Hand Crafted Loop Fringed Scarf NWT US $71.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:13:38 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch blue denim jeans - size 0 -Nice US $5.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:14:13 PST Add to watch list

AbErCrOmBiE too cute navy/white dressy tank size 16 MS US $2.93 (3 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:15:43 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie and Fitch Women's Lot. Size small-medium US $9.49 (5 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:24:51 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie Boys Short Sleeve Polo Shirt Size Small US $6.72 (2 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:27:06 PST Add to watch list

WOMEN'S JUNIOR SZ L ABERCROMBIE GREEN MINI SKIRT* CUTE US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:29:20 PST Add to watch list

Classic ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Dress Shirt Size M NR! US $0.30 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:32:53 PST Add to watch list

Boy's Abercrombie shirt Sz L US $8.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:35:03 PST Add to watch list

girls sz 16 ABERCROMBIE cord jeans LOOK!! US $0.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:37:06 PST Add to watch list

NWT A&F@ABERCROMBIE KIDS GIRLS DENISE BROWN SWEATER M US $52.90 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:39:05 PST Add to watch list

NWT A&F@ABERCROMBIE KIDS GIRLS ADRIANA SWEATERS SZ XL US $34.90 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:39:05 PST Add to watch list

NWT A&F@ABERCROMBIE KIDS GIRLS ADRIANA SWEATERS SZ L US $34.90 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:39:06 PST Add to watch list

NWT Abercrombie girls jeans Size 8 US $19.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:39:30 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie Girls Fur Hoodie Jacket HELEN XL-Super cute US $19.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:40:53 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE MINI SKORT SKIRT XL 12 14 GUC 1005 COTTON US $6.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:44:31 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie Athletic Sweat Pants - Men's Size Small US $13.00 (4 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:48:32 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE &FITCH kakhie green cargo shorts sz 31 US $7.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:49:03 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch DISTRESS BAXTER Boyfriend Jean 30 US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:49:59 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE Boys Fur Lined Hooded Sweatshirt Hoodie S US $19.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:51:25 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH V - NECK SWEATER SIZE MED US $4.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:52:12 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE&FITCH,XS BLUE AN WHITE BUTTON UP SHIRT US $8.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:53:53 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE MENS LONGSLEEVE SHIRT SIZE L FREE S/H US $9.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:54:50 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch Men's Corps Cargo Short ~CHOCOLATE~ US $54.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:58:18 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch Men's Corps Cargo Short ~CHOCOLATE~ US $54.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:58:18 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch Men's Corps Cargo Short ~CHOCOLATE~ US $54.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:58:18 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch White Gray Fleece Hoodie Moose S US $19.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:59:10 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch Brown Fleece Hoodie Moose Medium US $19.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:59:30 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH MEN'S Wakely Jacket US $29.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:08:37 PST Add to watch list

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH * WOMENS WIDE LEG LOUNGE PANTS sz M US $5.95 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:08:39 PST Add to watch list

NWOT, ABERCROMBIE & FITCH SIZE 4 JEAN SKIRT US $3.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:09:06 PST Add to watch list

09%Abercrombie & Fitch Summit Rock Mens Vest Navy Sz M US $99.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:10:20 PST Add to watch list

09%Abercrombie Summit Rock Mens Vest Dark Red Sz L US $99.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:11:54 PST Add to watch list

CUTE~GIRLS GAP & ABERCROMBIE & FITCH OUTFIT 10 & 14 US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:14:29 PST Add to watch list

09%Abercrombie & Fitch Summit Rock Mens Vest Olive Sz S US $99.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:15:13 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie Fitch Women's Navy skirt sz 2 NWT US $36.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:18:05 PST Add to watch list

Abercrombie & Fitch long sleeve 100% cotton XL shirt US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:18:32 PST Add to watch list

NWT ABERCROMBIE KIDS GIRLS CASEY NAVY SWEATERS SZ L US $34.90 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:32:03 PST Add to watch list

NWT A&F@ABERCROMBIE KIDS GIRLS VANESSA BLUE SWEATERS L US $31.90 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:32:04 PST Add to watch list