Abercrombie Plans to Quit Publishing Racy Catalog

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a casual clothing retailer that caters to teenagers, said Tuesday that it planned to cease publishing a quarterly catalog that sparked protests over photos of scantily clad models.

The publication will end with its Christmas issue and will be replaced by a new marketing campaign early next year, the New Albany, Ohio-based company said in a statement.

The Christmas issue was removed from the retailer’s stores this month after being criticized by the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, which said it promoted promiscuity among teenagers.

Abercrombie & Fitch has faced controversy about the quarterly in the past, including a 1998 issue that included an article titled “Drinking 101.”

The company operates 694 stores, including 164 under the Hollister Co. name.

Shares of Abercrombie fell 30 cents to $24.37 on the New York Stock Exchange. They have risen 19% this year.