Abercrombie & Fitch Co: Hooked on Adventure Since 1892
Image credit: Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. of New York City was the ultimate catch for outdoor enthusiasts! This outfitter didn’t begin its days selling low-rise jeans, it started with compasses, canvas tents, and the call of the wild.
Image credit: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | Mr David T. Abercrombie and Mr Ernest F. Fitch
Casting Off: The Early Days of Abercrombie & Fitch
The line was cast in 1892, when Mr David T. Abercrombie opened a small shop in Manhattan catering to explorers, hunters, and anglers. With his background as a topographer, Mr Abercrombie knew the lay of the land, and how to equip those who dared to explore it.
In 1900, Mr Ernest F. Fitch - a sharp-minded lawyer and loyal customer, joined the business venture. By 1904, ‘Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’ was officially born. While Abercrombie preferred supplying pros, Fitch saw gold in guiding wealthy amateurs into the wilderness.
Image credit: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and National Museum of American History
Gear for the Great Outdoors
During the early 20th century, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. became the outfitter for serious adventurers and weekend warriors. Whether customers were angling for trout or hunting big game, the store had their back. Notable names like Teddy Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and even Ernest Hemingway were all reeled in by the brand.
Their flagship store was an explorer’s paradise. Complete with a fly-fishing pool, a shooting range, and enough gear to kit out an expedition to Everest.
Image credit: Abercrombie & Fitch Co, AbeBooks, Fine Cane and Spinoza Rod Company
Hooked by a Catalog
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s catalogs were more than shopping guides, they were bait for the imagination of those seeking a life of adventure. Each edition offered everything from hand-crafted rods to rugged woolen gear. Flipping through the pages you could almost hear the campfire crackling and the rush of the river.
On the cover of their 1892 catalogue they called Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ‘The Greatest Sporting Goods Store in the World’.
Their Legacy Lives On
Although the original company filed for bankruptcy in 1977, its legacy cast a long shadow. A brand that once helped America answer the call of the wild has since changed course, but for those who remember, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. was once the reel deal.
Hero image credit: Abercrombie & Fitch Co.