Who is the owner of Abercrombie & Fitch?

Abercrombie & Fitch is an American lifestyle retailer that focuses on casual wear, headquartered in New Albany, Ohio.

The company operates three other offshoot brands: Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Co., and Gilly Hicks.

The original Abercrombie & Fitch was founded in 1892 in New York City, New York, by David T. Abercrombie as an outfitter for the elite outdoorsman.

Ezra Fitch—a wealthy lawyer and real estate developer, and devoted customer of the Abercrombie Company—bought a significant interest in the business in 1900.

In 1904, it was incorporated and renamed “Abercrombie & Fitch Co.” Fitch eventually bought Abercrombie’s share of the business becoming the sole owner from 1907 to 1928.

The company was an elite outfitter of sporting and excursion goods, particularly noted for its expensive shotguns, fishing rods, fishing boats, and tents.

At one time it had outfitted Theodore Roosevelt’s safari and Adm. Richard E. Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica.

Ernest Hemingway was also a regular customer.

Once known for its sexualized ad campaigns, the company has toned down its imagery and no longer displays nearly nude models in their advertisements.

According to then-Chairman Arthur Martinez, these changes were implemented to show that the company is evolving along with its consumers and it is now targeting an older consumer, from ages 21 and up.

As of February 2020, the company operated 854 stores across all brands.