Abercrombie & Fitch is celebrating Black joy with a new line that expands upon its February capsule collection “For Justice.”
In collaboration with Columbus, Ohio, artist Francesca Miller, the teen retailer debuted “For Justice, For Joy,” featuring three uniquely designed T-shirts centered on optimism and beauty in the Black community.
The previous collection that launched in honor of Black History Month was co-designed by members of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s BIPOC Associate Resource Group (ARG) and spoke to racial justice. Featuring an array of neutral color ways, the collection included gender-inclusive T-shirts and sweatshirts depicting the words “change,” “equality” and “unite.”
The latest drop, which is also gender inclusive, includes designs of bright colors and cheerful faces next to phrases like “beauty, brilliance, resilience,” and shifts the conversation to the community’s perseverance. A collection like this is important, Miller says, as there’s more to the story of what it’s like to be Black.
“We are beautiful beings. We don’t just cry—we laugh, too. We love. We dream,” said Miller. “My work about Black joy documents that side of our story. The ability of people who look like me to experience joy, despite oppression and denial of equal treatment and respect, is what protects and empowers us.”
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. CEO Fran Horowitz stated that she hopes the collection serves as inspiration to “maintain momentum in the ongoing march toward equity, justice, respect, inclusion and dignity for Black communities.”
In addition to the collection, the company is donating $35,000—the capsule’s anticipated net proceeds—to The Steve Fund, an organization that supports the mental health of young people of color.
These efforts follow through on the Abercrombie brand’s Equity Project, its social justice and racial equity initiative. In honor of Black History Month in February, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.-owned teen brand Hollister donated $70,000 to The Academy Group, which provides education and mentorship for young people in underserved communities across the country.
The “For Justice, For Joy” collection is now available online, and T-shirts range from XXS to XXL and retail for $29.
