Riam Dean vs. Abercrombie and Fitch: Discrimination Scandal

We love to blog about models such as those from Abercrombie and Fitch but we don’t like it when fashion industry people discriminate against people who are not cool which is what Abercrombie did in this story.

We give props to Riam Dean for standing up for herself and for other people with disabilities. The Daily Mail reports:

Riam Dean was born with no left forearm. She was working at the Savile Row branch last summer when one of her managers told her to get off the shop floor. She was told that by wearing a cardigan to cover her disability she was violating Abercrombie’s strict ‘Look’ policy.

Last week, a tribunal heard that the firm had both unlawfully harassed Riam and dismissed her without good reason. She was awarded £9,000 in damages.

But the size of the payout, she says, is not the issue. ‘The compensation doesn’t even cover my legal fees but I feel a sense of moral victory,’ she insists.

‘Abercrombie & Fitch needs to realise that people come in different shapes, colours, sizes and disabilities. Ignorance isn’t an excuse.

‘They have a disturbing sub-culture. I hope they realise that beauty lies in diversity rather than perfection. And if they don’t, I’ve still helped a lot of disabled people realise they shouldn’t take what people say to them.’

You go, girl. Congratulations on your victory and may your example serve as an inspiration to others. You are the real model that young (and old) people should emulate.

Interesting tidbit on Abercrombie: Michael Jeffries, the CEO for Abercrombie and Fitch, is the 10th highest paid CEO in the U.S. He made US$71 million in 2008.

Photo courtesy of the Daily Mail

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