A TikToker Exposes Abercrombie & Fitch's Controversial Labor Practices

A TikToker is making waves online after 'exposing' the alleged labor practices of the mid-aughts' premier shopping destination, Abercrombie & Fitch, where he worked as a model for five years. Known for its preppy basics, scantily-clad teenage models, and cavernous, heavily perfumed stores, Abercrombie & Fitch was once a fixture among malls and shopping destinations worldwide. And while the brand has continued into the present-day—with some important policy overhauls—the name Abercrombie, for most consumers, is still synonymous with a certain mid-2000s to 2010s sensibility.

TikToker Joris Lechêne is tapping into viewers' collective memory by sharing his experience as an in-store Abercrombie "model," a position which he describes as being "a glorified living fixture." His candid revelations have stirred discussions on social media about beauty standards, labor practices, and the culture surrounding retail jobs in the fashion industry. As he recounts his experiences, many viewers find themselves reflecting on the past and questioning the values that brands like Abercrombie & Fitch have promoted over the years.

Lechêne recounted the story to his over 80,000 followers in a five-part series. In his first video, he describes moving to London in 2011, where he hoped to pursue professional modeling. Walking down the street one day, he says he was approached by an Abercrombie & Fitch recruiter and soon interviewed for the role. "The interview was actually bulls***," he says. "You could answer literally anything. If you looked like a model, you'd get hired."