“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” “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.”-Mike Jeffries Abercrombie & Fitch CEO

Anyone who’s been to Abercrombie & Fitch in the last few years has probably noticed that they don’t carry XL or XXL clothing for women and their waist sizes for men leave room to be desired. Why? Because, they don’t want overweight young people wearing their brand!

According to this popular teen clothing retailer "fat kids" will never be a part of the “popular crowd” and will therefore never be a part of their brand. 

With two of Abercrombie’s biggest competitors, H&M and American Eagle, both offering XXL sizes for men and women; why would they possibly want to exclude average sized people from their brand?

Abercrombie’s attitude towards plus-sized teens derives from CEO Mike Jeffries. Jeffries has publically made inflammatory statements towards overweight teens and his desire for them not to be associated with his brand. 

As a young adult who suffered from an eating disorder, through much of middle and high school, I remember looking at the ads for Abercrombie & Fitch or combing the racks and not seeing anything that fit me. As silly as it seems, as a kid, it made me feel worthless to not be able to wear the "it" styling that everyone else was wearing. For the 30.54 percent of teens that struggle through weight problems they know my sentiment. But now I know that I am not worthless; infact I am FULL of worth and it's time we show young people across the world that they are too! Instead of inspiring young people to make healthy choices and better themselves, Mike Jeffries and his company have told them they will never be good enough. Well he is wrong.

Mr. Jeffries owes young people an apology, because contrary to what he may believe, whether you can fit into Abercrombie or not, you are beautiful. It's time Abercrombie & Fitch to embrace that beauty! Please join me in this fight by adding your name to this petition and asking Abercrombie and Fitch to embrace the beauty in all sizes by offering XL and XXL sizes for women and men! 

Stay up to date with all of the news on this cause by following Ben O'Keefe on twitter @benjaminokeefe