Abercrombie & Fitch pulls raunchy clothing catalogue

Staff,, brandrepublic.com, Friday, 05 December 2003, 8:30am,

NEW YORK - Preppy US fashion label Abercrombie & Fitch has pulled a Christmas catalogue featuring models having group sex, but says it is to make way for a new fragrance range and not because of complaints.

The chain is famous for its catalogues, which it sells to customers for $7. According to reports, the latest catalogue was more about the promotion of orgies than polo shirts -- famously it is not until page 122 of the 280-page book that clothing makes an appearance.

Abercrombie & Fitch said that it was taking the catalogue off the shelf because it needed to make way for a new perfume line. But reports say that it has come under pressure from conservative organisations in the US, such as the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, which has dedicated an entire website to promoting a boycott of the company.

And it is not just conservatives who are up in arms at the catalogue, which suggests group masturbation is a "pleasant and supersafe alternative" to group sex. Liberals have pointed out that the models used in the catalogue are exclusively white.

Abercrombie & Fitch said that it would return with sex and irreverence in its spring catalogue.

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This article was first published on brandrepublic.com