Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

What does Abercrombie & Fitch own?
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. owns and operates three primary fashion brands: Abercrombie & Fitch (premium casual fashion for young adults), Hollister (teen-focused casual fashion), and Gilly Hicks (lounge wear and intimates). The company operates approximately 800 stores globally across these brands. Abercrombie & Fitch does not own Victoria's Secret, which is owned by Victoria's Secret & Co. (formerly L Brands).

Is Abercrombie & Fitch publicly traded?
Yes, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ANF. The company has been publicly traded since 1996.

Who founded Abercrombie & Fitch?
Abercrombie & Fitch was founded in 1892 by David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch in New York City. The company was originally established as a sporting goods retailer before evolving into a fashion retailer over the decades.

Where is Abercrombie & Fitch headquartered?
Abercrombie & Fitch is headquartered in New Albany, Ohio, USA. The company maintains its corporate headquarters and major operations in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area.

How many stores does Abercrombie & Fitch operate?
Abercrombie & Fitch operates approximately 800 stores globally across its three brands, located in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The company also operates robust e-commerce platforms serving customers worldwide.

Who owns Abercrombie & Fitch?
Abercrombie & Fitch is publicly owned with shares traded on the NYSE under ticker ANF. The company is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders, with no single controlling shareholder.

What is Abercrombie & Fitch's revenue?
Abercrombie & Fitch reported net sales of $5.27 billion for fiscal year 2025. In Q1 2026, the company reported record first quarter net sales of $1.1 billion, up 2% year over year. Full-year 2026 guidance projects net sales growth of 3% to 5% and EPS of $10.20 to $11.00.

Abercrombie & Fitch was founded on June 4, 1892, by David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch in New York City as a specialist retailer of high-end sporting goods and outdoor equipment. The company established a reputation for quality products, catering to wealthy customers seeking premium sporting equipment for outdoor activities.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Abercrombie & Fitch became famous for its outdoor and expedition equipment, supplying gear for notable figures including Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway. This period established the brand's association with adventure and quality.

Following World War II, the company gradually shifted from sporting goods to fashion apparel. By the 1960s, Abercrombie & Fitch had transitioned primarily into a fashion retailer. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1996.

The late 1990s and early 2000s marked the peak of Abercrombie & Fitch's cultural influence, with the brand becoming synonymous with youth culture and casual luxury. However, this period also brought significant controversy, including lawsuits over discriminatory hiring practices, criticism of exclusionary sizing, and backlash over sexualized marketing. Under former CEO Michael Jeffries, the company explicitly pursued an exclusionary brand strategy, offering only smaller sizes and marketing primarily to white, conventionally attractive young adults.

The 2010s saw a comprehensive brand revitalization. CEO Fran Horowitz, who joined in 2014 and became CEO in 2017, led a transformation focused on inclusive marketing, extended sizing, improved product quality, and enhanced digital capabilities. The Netflix documentary "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" (2022) chronicled the brand's controversial past and turnaround efforts.

In fiscal year 2025, Abercrombie reported net sales of $5.27 billion, representing continued growth. In Q1 2026, the company delivered record first quarter net sales of $1.1 billion, up 2% year over year, with growth led by the Americas (up 3%) and APAC (up 24%), partially offset by a 10% decline in EMEA driven by Middle East conflict impacts. The company maintained its full-year 2026 outlook of 3% to 5% net sales growth and EPS of $10.20 to $11.00.

Abercrombie & Fitch has established sustainability initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact, which the company signed in 2019. The company's sustainability strategy focuses on three areas: Social Impact, Environmental Impact, and Product Sustainability.

Environmental commitments include reducing GHG emissions by 47% in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030, achieving 100% renewable electricity for operations, and reducing waste by 50% compared to a 2017 baseline. The company aims to source 25% recycled polyester and 30% Better Cotton Initiative cotton. In fiscal year 2024, Abercrombie achieved 96% recycled polyester sourcing for units containing polyester fill.

The company maintains supplier codes of conduct addressing worker safety, fair wages, and ethical business practices. As a Buyer Partner of Better Work (a partnership between the International Labor Organization and International Finance Corporation), Abercrombie works to improve labor standards across its supply chain. The company's HERD (Helping Empower, Recognize and Develop) initiative supports female leaders in its supply chain.

Abercrombie publishes annual sustainability reports and participates in CDP climate disclosure. The company is not a Certified B Corporation.

• Forbes Best Employers for Diversity (2024 and 2025): Recognition for inclusive work environment and diversity initiatives
• American Century Sustainable Investment Recognition (2025): Highlighted as a prime example of successful brand turnaround through sustainability practices and inclusive policies
• Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index: Recognition for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and equality policies
• Fashion Revolution Index: Included for supply chain transparency and ethical manufacturing practices
• CDP Climate Disclosure: Participates in CDP climate disclosure demonstrating environmental transparency
• Great Place to Work Certification: Recognition for workplace culture and employee satisfaction

Historical discrimination lawsuits (2003 to 2015): Abercrombie faced multiple class-action lawsuits alleging racial discrimination in hiring and employment practices. In 2003, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed Gonzalez v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, challenging employment discrimination against minorities. The EEOC reached a landmark resolution requiring Abercrombie to ensure minorities and women are promoted into management positions, with ongoing monitoring compliance.

Exclusionary branding and size discrimination (2012 to 2015): Under former CEO Michael Jeffries, Abercrombie's brand strategy explicitly excluded larger body types. Jeffries stated in interviews that the company wanted to market to "cool, good-looking people" and was "absolutely" exclusionary. The company only offered sizes up to Large while competitors offered extended sizing. Analysis of 2003 catalogs showed 67 of 68 female models were white. The Netflix documentary "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" (2022) brought renewed attention to these practices.

Cultural insensitivity: The company faced backlash for offensive T-shirt designs featuring caricatures of Asian people, which were recalled after customer complaints. The company's in-store experience, with signature fragrances, dark lighting, and shirtless male models, was criticized as creating an exclusionary atmosphere.

Environmental practices: Abercrombie was criticized for burning unsold clothes rather than donating them, raising environmental concerns. The company has since adopted more sustainable disposal practices.

Brand image recovery: Under CEO Fran Horowitz, Abercrombie has implemented comprehensive reforms including extended sizing, diverse hiring practices, sustainable sourcing, and inclusive marketing. The company has been recognized for rebuilding customer relationships through intentional outreach to communities that felt excluded from the brand in the past. Critics continue to monitor whether changes represent genuine transformation or marketing response to consumer pressure.