Clothing retailer pulls controversial in-house catalogs

Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has pulled its controversial in-store catalogs after outraged parents, conservative Christian groups and child advocates threatened a boycott over material they said was pornographic.

However, a company spokesman said the move had nothing to do with the public outcry. The catalogs were pulled to make room near cash registers for a new Abercrombie & Fitch fragrance, he said.

“We’re trying to drive sales,” said spokesman Tom Lennox. “We think there’s greater opportunity with our fragrance, Now. ... It’s about making these stores as productive as possible during the biggest time of year for us.”

The New Albany, Ohio-based company pulled the holiday edition of the A&F; Quarterly, a combination catalog-magazine that targets teens and college-age consumers, from 300 stores on Saturday, about a month after its publication. The perfume began appearing almost immediately, Lennox said.

The 280-page “Christmas Field Guide” features naked or nearly naked young models in outdoor settings and offers advice on group masturbation, oral sex and orgies. “Sex, as we know, can involve one or two, but what about even more?” reads one piece.

Several groups, including the American Decency Assn., Focus on the Family and the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, petitioned the company to remove the catalog from stores.

This is only the second time the company has pulled one of its catalogs since its controversial photo spreads began appearing in 1997. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Abercrombie & Fitch pulled an issue from stores, saying its racy material was “out of step” with the mood of the country.

With titles such as “XXX,” “The Pleasure Principle” and “Naughty and Nice,” the catalogs revel in the risque. In one issue, an interview with porn star Jenna Jameson appeared opposite a story about a child prodigy. Another issue featured an article on how to be a Web exhibitionist.

“It represents the A&F; lifestyle,” said Lennox. “The magazine itself is intended for mature audiences.”

The next issue of the catalog is scheduled to appear in stores in mid-January.