Mike Jeffries, Abercrombie CEO, Bans Color Black: 'Not For Us'
Abercrombie CEO Michael Jeffries "hates" the color black. According to employees the retail boss has gone as far as to "ban" the color in stores and at corporate.
While many a girl may argue that life is not complete without a little black dress, they won't be finding one at an Abercrombie store anytime soon. Black and white ads aside-- they're on nearly every bag used by the store-- black clothing has been all but banned. According to one insider, however, that ban extends beyond the clothes that the store sells. Jeffries has allegedly banned employees who work at corporate from wearing the color as well.
"Management will tell people that Mike hates the color, and so we're not supposed to wear it to work," an anonymous employee revealed to Business Insider. "It even applies to coats in the winter."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Not ashamed of policing employees' workwear, the company readily released a statement regarding its policy in black.
"Abercrombie & Fitch does not sell black clothing and discourages wearing it at our home office and in our stores, because we are a casual lifestyle brand and feel black clothing is formal," the company said in a statement. "We have nothing against black clothing and feel it is perfectly appropriate for things like tuxedos."
The same rules do not apply elsewhere. Competing brands like Hollister and American Eagle are also casual brands, but appear to have no qualms about introducing black to their clothing lines- especially when it comes to outerwear.
Jeffries hasn't been shy about his tastes in the past. The Insider claims that Jeffries is also the reason why the brand does not sell extra large clothes or pants larger than a size 10, stating his preference for the "all-American kid."
"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," he told the site. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely," he told Salon in 2006.
