Abercrombie and Fitch - marketing genius or pure discrimination?

I have NEVER liked Abercrombie and Fitch, or Hollister. Out of principle, I have never even walked into the Hollister shop in my local Bluewater shopping centre. I guess the overly tanned 17 year old half-naked guy with a six pack just doesn't entice me in - can't think why... I find the whole method of 'scouting' their sales assistants and then labelling them as 'models' utterly pathetic and testament to the superficiality of society. If you don't fit into their narrow criteria, then clearly you are inadequate as a person. Why on earth would you want to shop with young, underweight, vacuous sales assistants wandering around with fake American accents? The whole ridiculousness of the situation is highlighted in my nearest store, which is located in Dartford - chav town if ever there was one. Fake Cali accents just don't cut it, I'm afraid.
However, regardless of all my ranting, it seems to work. There are always queues outside the store and I see countless young people with Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch bags, holding them as though they possess some sort of elevated status. I can only think that it is a sorry indictment of people's ambitions in life: the need to be seen as 'cool' or have the 'in' thing. Any business that openly states that they want 'no fat people' ( read: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/fashion-beauty/398018/No-fat-people-Abercrombie-Fitch-admit-not-wanting-larger-people-in-their-stores) is absolutely disgusting in my opinion. It can only aid to contribute to the negative body image that the media already promotes and exhibits a complete lack of responsibility.