Vintage Abercrombie & Fitch Shirt. The story of Abercrombie & Fitch began in 1892, when outdoor enthusiast David Abercrombie opened an upscale sporting goods company at 36 South Street in downtown Manhattan, New York. in 1988 The Limited purchased Abercrombie. Famous for owning Victoria’s Secret, Lerner, Bath & Body Works, and a host of other fashionable stores, The Limited rebranded Abercrombie as the premier store for young adults. Stores quickly became favorites of tween’s, teens, and young adults who turned skintight T-shirts and low-rise jeans into must-have commodities. The company was also famous for presenting an overly-sexualized image. The chain further came under fire for carrying only limited sizes, not including minorities, and hiring models that had a certain look rather than actual salespeople.