An Illinois state official has launched a Web site and called for another boycott of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. to protest the teen-oriented apparel retailer's use of partially nude models in two of its recent catalogs.
Illinois Lt. Governor Corinne Wood denounced the 2001 "XXX" Spring, and 2001 "The Pleasure Principle" summer catalogs as "a continuation of A&F’s deeply offensive and blatantly sexual marketing campaign that is aimed at our children." An Internet advertisement for the company's summer catalog promises "wet n' wild summer fun" as well as "pictures hotter than a backyard barbecue."
"I am disgusted by the sexual images Abercrombie & Fitch is using to sell its clothing line to a young, impressionable preteen and teenage audience," Wood said in a statement. "As a concerned parent and elected official, I feel parents should be made aware of how this company is recklessly targeting our youth."
Wood launched the site, located at http://www.stopAandF.com, last Thursday to gather support for her efforts.
In December 1999, Wood had initiated a boycott of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based retailer after she discovered the company's Christmas "Naughty or Nice" catalog in the bedroom of her then 14-year-old daughter and was "shocked" at the content and photography.
Following the boycott and support from various groups and organizations, Abercrombie & Fitch made some changes, such as requiring subscriptions, proof of age and shrink wrapping the catalog. Wood said the company needs to do more.
"It’s now clear that Abercrombie & Fitch just didn’t get the main point," Wood said in a statement. " With each new issue it seems that there are more and more pages devoted to materials that can only be called pornographic. This is greatly disturbing and we need to turn up our efforts to encourage this wayward company to clean up its act."
The Abercrombie "mag-a-logs" are issued quarterly featuring interviews with actors and other figures in the media, as well as photos of partially clothed male and female models in suggestive poses.
Abercrombie has a history of offending sensibilities and outraging advocacy groups with its catalogs.
In 1998, the company was forced to delete a story titled "Drinking 101," which Mothers Against Drunk Driving said encouraged irresponsible and underage drinking.
