By Last week, RAN activists infiltrated an exclusive investor’s conference in New York and exposed the scandalous risk of rainforest destruction in Abercrombie & Fitch’s fabric supply chain.
Abercrombie & Fitch was recently named the ‘most-hated retailer in America’
RAN activists slipped into an executive conference in a swanky Times Square hotel to hand-deliver a new report to Abercrombie & Fitch’s Chief Financial Officer, Joanne Crevoiserat, as she spoke at the exclusive Telsey Advisory Group Annual Conference. The new report, “Rebranding for the 21st Century”, detailing the risk of rainforest destruction and human rights abuses in Abercrombie & Fitch’s supply chain, was covertly placed at the seat of conference participants, including Ms. Crevoiserat’s podium before she spoke. RAN activists, who were initially thrown out of the conference for distributing the report, were later able to quietly re-enter and complete their mission before demonstrating outside with a banner.
Currently, Abercrombie & Fitch stocks almost 300 items that use fabrics made from trees––like rayon, viscose, or modal. When fashion companies, like Abercrombie & Fitch, ignore the sourcing of their fabrics, they threaten critical ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous and frontline communities.
Its no surprise that Abercrombie & Fitch was recently named the ‘most-hated retailer in America’ considering the company’s sordid history of racism, sexism, fat-shaming, and discriminatory hiring practices. Last week’s action and report should be a clear wakeup call to the company’s leadership that Abercrombie & Fitch now has an opportunity to break from its controversial past and become a leader for forests and fashion. If Abercrombie & Fitch wants to be truly profitable with today’s conscious consumer, then it needs to ensure that its products are not hurting the rainforest or the people who depend on it.
Let’s continue the momentum from last week’s action and make sure that Joanne Crevoiserat and Abercrombie & Fitch leadership hear this message loud and clear. Send your important message to Abercrombie & Fitch’s leadership today.
