Abercrombie's sexy undies 'slip' No stranger to controversy, retailer is under fire again for marketing controversial clothes.
May 22, 2002: 2:36 PM EDT
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Abercrombie & Fitch, the retailer that has been criticized for sexually and racially provocative catalogs and designs, is under fire -- again.
Several consumer advocacy groups said they have sent e-mails to A&F to protest against the chain's latest offering of thong underwear in children's sizes with the words "eye candy" and "wink wink," printed on the front.
In the latest controversy, OneMillionMoms.com and OneMillionDads.com, a nonprofit Christian group based in Tupelo, Miss., said they are calling for a boycott.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF: down $1.10 to $28.11, Research, Estimates), based in New Albany, Ohio, has constantly been the target of consumer complaint before.
Last year, the youth clothing retailer angered many consumer advocacy groups with its summer and Christmas catalogs of teenage-looking models looking sexually provocative in the nude.
And last month, the retailer pulled a line of Asian-themed T-shirts after Asian-American advocacy groups complained that they were a blatant example of racist stereotyping.
The T-shirts were carrying caricatures of slant-eyed Asians in conical hats along with slogans such as "Wong Brothers Laundry Service: Two Wongs Can Make It White."
A&F said it is not their intention to offend anyone. "The underwear for young girls was created with the intent to be lighthearted and cute," the company said in a statement. "Any misrepresentation of that is purely in the eye of the beholder."
So far, the company said it has no plans to recall the underwear.
