RMN'S Blog

Abercrombie Under Fire Again

Date: September 12, 2013

Earlier this year, the CEO of Abercrombie was criticized for stating his company only markets to “good-looking people” and refuses to allow his stores to carry sizes over XL or XXL for women.

Now, Hani Kahn,  Muslim teen worker of an Abercrombie and Fitch store, won an anti-discrimination lawsuit against the company. Cited in the company’s dress code, there is a section that insists to not wear a hijab to work. She was fired from her job at Hollister, a sister company of Abercrombie and Fitch, because she refused to remove her hijab while at work. Khan said, “They just don’t feel like it fits in with their ‘Look Policy’, which I feel is very unfair.” She was offered her job back 11 days post termination if she agreed to not wear her hijab, but she declined the offer.

The retailer argued that the hijab worn by Muslim women would negatively affect sales, but the judges said “Abercrombie failed to offer any evidence from those four months showing a decline in sales.” The federal judge issued a ruling stating that Hani Khan was discriminated against by Abercrombie and Fitch.

Federal laws to protect people from discrimination have been established for decades. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. In this case, Hani Khan was being discriminated against based on her religion, and she is fully protected under this federal law.

Abercrombie and Fitch has dealt with criticism and lawsuits from all directions in recent times, from human rights issues in France, to burning clothing that is not sold rather than donating them, to the CEO blatantly stating their clothing is only for a “certain type of person”.

Do you think the negativity Abercrombie and Fitch has faced will affect its sales?

What lawsuit do you think will be next for the clothing retailer?