Abercrombie and Fitch history, info and trivia

A luxury brand Abercrombie & Fitch is a specialty retailer encompassing four brands:

Abercrombie & Fitch,

Abercrombie Kids,

Hollister Co.,

Ruehl 925.

The merchandise is sold in the brands' retail stores, catalogs, and online. As of 2006, the company operated 350 Abercrombie & Fitch stores in the U.S. states except New Mexico and Wyoming, in the District of Columbia, and three stores in Canada.

Founded in 1892, the company was for decades an elite sporting goods retailer. After many years of success, the company struggled in the late 1960s , 70s, and 80s, until it was purchased by The Limited in 1988 and revamped as a lifestyle brand.

During the beginning of the 20 th century, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. was one of the most popular stores for America's sport elite. The East Coast company's clientele consisted of mainly big game hunters, fishermen, and outdoorsmen. Abercrombie & Fitch fitted wealthy people, and some of America's most influential leaders and celebrities on excursions. Every president from Theodore Roosevelt to Gerald Ford is said to have been fitted by the company in some capacity (Teddy Roosevelt was an especially enthusiastic outdoorsman and Abercrombie & Fitch customer, and he frequently visited the store in preparation for his famous African safaris). Other famous people to pass through Abercrombie & Fitch's doors include Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable, and author Ernest Hemingway, who killed himself using a shotgun purchased at an Abercrombie & Fitch store

The founder of the company a Mr Abercrombie, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, was a former prospector, topographer and railroad surveyor. He was also an inventor, an ingenious designer of tents, rucksacks and other camping equipment. It was his love of the great outdoors that inspired him to begin Abercrombie & Co., a shop dedicated to selling only the highest quality camping, fishing and hunting gear. His clientele consisted mostly of professional hunters, explorers and trappers. In 1900, Ezra Fitch, a wealthy New York lawyer and loyal customer, wanted to buy the company. Abercrombie accepted the offer, and Fitch joined as a partner. Soon thereafter, the shop moved to a larger location at 314 Broadway St. In 1904, the store became incorporated and the official name of the company was changed to Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

In 2003, the company expanded its New Albany, Ohio headquarters.

Trivia

Origin of the name Abercrombie

William de Abercromby did homage to Edward I of England in 1296 for his lands in the parish of Abercromby, Fife. The lineage of the family passed to the house of Abercromby of Birkenbog in Banffshire in the early seventeenth century.

The history of the Abercrombies is intimately connected to religious discord, not only because the lands in Banff were granted to Alexander Abercromby by the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1362. Robert Abercromby (1534-1613) was a Jesuit priest of the Scottish mission who vehemently opposed the Reformation and its effect on the Scottish church. Most notably, he is alleged to have converted Queen Anne of Denmark, wife of James VI, to Catholicism before her death.

In a similar vein of religious dissent, Alexander Abercromby became a fervent Covenanter strongly opposed to the imposition of an Episcopal church in Scotland by Charles I. This was a provocative and defiant stance that was punished by the quartering of troops at Birkenbog as part of a famous campaign to restore the authority of Charles I conducted by the Marquis of Montrose. A military connection is of equal importance to Abercromby history.

Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801), revered as one of the greatest military reformers, was a mentor to Wellington during the retreat from Europe in 1795 at the outset of the Napoleonic wars. The eventual success against Napoleon is attributed to Abercromby's restructuring of the army.

Other famous Abercrombie's

Fort Abercrombie was established on August 28, 1858, on the Red River in Dakota Territory by Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie.

Congressman Neil Abercrombie was named “Scot of the Year” on January 27th by the Caledonian Society of Hawaii. The recognition occurred at the group’s annual Robert Burns Supper at the Honolulu Elks Club, where Abercrombie wore his new kilt in the Abercrombie clan tartan. Abercrombie, who is of Scottish descent, cosponsored a resolution which passed the House of Representatives in 2004 recognizing the achievements and contributions of Scottish Americans to the United States.

Walter Abercrombie born September 26, 1959 was a running back and kick returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL from 1982 to 1987

Origin of surname Fitch

The Fitch family name dates back to the time of the Anglo Saxon tribes of Britain. It is from an early member of the family who was a person of iron point which may have been made in reference to a soldier or warrior. The surname Fitch originally derived from the Old English word Fiche which referred to iron point.Spelling variations include: Fitch, Fitchett, Fitchitt, Fittch, Fitche, Fitchet, Fitchit, Fitz, Fitts and many more.First found in county Suffolk where they held a family seat from early times.

Names that sound similar to Abercrombie

Names that sound similar to Fitch

The term Fitz is similar to the word Fitch. Fitz is Irish and means son

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