Netflix Documentary Recommendation: White Hot: Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (2022)

Posted on 04/30/2022 by Pisaries Creator

Malls haven’t become a trend of the past completely. They still exist. Someone always knew when Abercrombie & Fitch was close by from the gallon of cologne sprayed into the air. You could smell it a mile away. I’ve never walked this store back then and never would now. There are many sides of a story but there rarely are many TRUTHS. The employees have different takes on the clothing establishment they once worked for but what is clear is this: Mike Jeffries created a company that was successful even though it was based on customer exclusivity, sexualized advertising, and strict hiring practices (read overweight and average looking people need not apply). Unlike LuLaRoe as a pyramid scheme, A&F’s downfall were stores offering cheaper clothing and students aren’t as into proving they are part of the “pseudo elite.” The allegations into unfair hiring practices, work policies, and legal troubles didn’t help the company either. Jeffries was no longer CEO in 2017 and the company did the best they could to reinvent their image. I’m sure this documentary doesn’t help them either. It’s a good reminder of but can a company started with unsavory practices completely change their platform? After all, Jeffries hated companies trying to be vanilla. For someone who didn’t know much about A&F, it was an eye opener, and a little alarming at times.

I rate White Hot FOUR FINGERS at 90%.