Abercrombie & Fitch and Accessibility: A Shopper’s Perspective

As brands strive to be more inclusive, accessibility inside stores should be a top priority—especially for national retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch. During my recent visit to their store at NorthPark Mall, I found the shopping experience as a wheelchair user to be incredibly frustrating and disappointing.

Cramped Layout with Little Room to Move

From the moment I entered, it was clear the store was very tight. The aisles and pathways were too narrow, making it extremely difficult to navigate. While most items were technically within reach, the cramped layout made it nearly impossible to properly browse. I felt restricted at nearly every turn, and it was hard to get a good look at anything.

A Personal Letdown: Missing Out on the McLaren Jacket

As a big F1 fan, I was excited to check out a McLaren x Abercrombie jacket I had seen online. I went into the store hoping to try it on and maybe purchase it, but I was quickly met with disappointment. The moment I got inside, I realized just how tight the entire layout was. As I struggled to move through the store, staff saw me navigating with difficulty but no one offered help.

When I finally spotted the jacket, the section it was in was far too cramped for my wheelchair to access. It was right there, but just out of reach—which made the experience all the more frustrating. At that point, I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and left the store without even getting a proper look.

Final Thoughts

Stores like Abercrombie & Fitch need to rethink their layouts and train staff to be more aware and helpful when it comes to customers with disabilities. Style shouldn’t come at the cost of accessibility.

⭐ 1 out of 5 rating! ⭐

A fashionable brand with a long way to go in terms of inclusivity.