The Abercrombie Guys
Sometimes it only takes one person to speak, for others to be heard. Investigating a dark secret in the US fashion industry.
It was once the epitome of cool - 鈥渟exy clothes on sexy people,鈥� as one former employee put it.
Former CEO Mike Jeffries transformed US fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch from a failing retail chain to a multi-billion dollar empire 鈥� the must-have label for teenagers around the world. But there was a dark side to the fantasy.
For almost three years, reporter Rianna Croxford has been investigating allegations of exploitation and abuse, speaking to men who say they were recruited into an operation that was created to satisfy the sexual desires of Mike Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith.
Silenced for years by the fear of breaking non-disclosure agreements, these men describe feeling exploited and traumatised by their experience. One high profile American lawyer has called for prosecutors to investigate.
Sometimes it only takes one person to speak, for others to be heard. From 大象传媒 Radio 5 Live this is World of Secrets: Season1 - The Abercrombie Guys.
Have you got a story to tell? Email rianna@bbc.com. Let us know what you think of the season using the hashtag #WorldofSecrets
This podcast refers to sexual abuse and contains interviews that some listeners may find upsetting, as well as some occasional strong language.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this series, please contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.
World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys is presented and investigated by Rianna Croxford
Series Producers: Ruth Evans and Alys Harte
Senior Producer: Emma Close
Investigation Editor: Ed Campbell
Podcast Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Executive Editor: Emma Rippon
Studio Engineers: Neil Churchill, Andy Fell, Gareth Jones, and Ali Rezakhani
Production Coordinators: Debbie Rainsford and Sophie Hill
Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Executive: Louise Kattenhorn
Assistant Commissioner: Natasha Johansson
This podcast is made in collaboration with 大象传媒 Panorama.
If you are in the UK, you can watch Panorama: The Abercrombie Guys - The Dark Side of Cool on 大象传媒 iPlayer now, or on 大象传媒 Select if you are in the in the US.
World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys is a 大象传媒 Long Form Audio production for 大象传媒 Radio 5 Live and 大象传媒 Sounds.
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