Important Dates for Columbus Retailers

Abercrombie & Fitch has undergone many changes since its beginnings as a sporting goods store stocking clothes worn by Teddy Roosevelt. Here are some key moments in the company’s history.

1892: David T. Abercrombie opens a sporting goods store catering to New York City’s elite. The company sells high-quality camping equipment, fishing gear, and guns. 1900: Wealthy lawyer and real estate mogul Ezra Fitch buys a majority stake in the company, becoming a co-owner. Abercrombie & Fitch becomes the retailer of choice for President Theodore Roosevelt, author Ernest Hemingway, and aviator Amelia Earhart. 1927: Charles Lindbergh wears Abercrombie during his historic transatlantic flight. 1940s: During World War II, Abercrombie supplies military gear and uniforms to servicemen and women. 1976: After years of financial difficulties, Abercrombie files for bankruptcy in August and finally closes the following November. 1978: Houston outdoor retailer Oshman’s Sporting Goods buys the brand name, continuing the company’s tradition as an outdoor retailer. 1988: Les Wexner buys Abercrombie for $47 million to further add to his growing fashion empire. The headquarters moves to New Albany. 1992: Wexner hires Mike Jeffries as CEO of Abercrombie. Under The Limited, Abercrombie moves away from outdoor gear and focuses on youth clothing. 1997: Abercrombie launches the risqué quarterly magazine, A&F Quarterly. 1998: Abercrombie spins off as an independent public company and quickly becomes one of the nation’s largest apparel retailers. That same year, the company launches a children’s clothing line, Abercrombie Kids. 2000: Abercrombie launches Hollister Company, a teen brand that embodies the laid-back California lifestyle. 2003: The company faces a class action lawsuit brought by thousands of former employees and job seekers. The lawsuits allege Abercrombie discriminated against blacks, Latinos, and Asians in its hiring practices and advertising. The lawsuits ultimately settled for $40 million. 2007: Abercrombie expands in Europe. 2013: Comments made by Mike Jeffries in a 2006 interview in which he belittled “the not-so-cool kids” and described Abercrombie as “exclusive” resurface. The backlash sparks a popular online campaign called “Fitch the Homeless,” which mocks Jeffries’ comments and has the goal of donating Abercrombie clothes to homeless people. 2014: In October, Fran Horowitz becomes president of Hollister. Mike Jeffries abruptly resigns in December. 2015: Abercrombie petitions the U.S. Supreme Court to argue that it had a legal right to refuse employment to Muslim women who wore headscarves, arguing that the attire violates the “appearance code” ban on headwear. Abercrombie loses 8-1. 2017: Abercrombie celebrates its 125th anniversary and opens its first new store prototype in over 15 years. 2018: A&F Co.’s annual digital sales surpass $1 billion. 2019: Abercrombie launches its Curve Love denim line. 2023: Abercrombie’s stock price rises 285%, making it one of Wall Street’s best-performing stocks. 2024: In May, Abercrombie announces that first-quarter sales reached $1 billion.

Sources: Abercrombie & Fitch, Slate, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Men’s Vogue, The New Yorker