Contact: Caterina Russolillo

Public Relations Specialist

(972) 248-8442
caterinarussolillo@icloud.com
BACKGROUNDER
Aerie
77 Hot Metal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203
https://www.ae.com

Aerie Praised for New Campaign Featuring Models With Disabilities

Shopping for clothes online can be difficult, especially when advertisements use unrealistic
images that don’t represent the everyday woman. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, ethnicities
and abilities. Aerie produces top-quality activewear, swimwear, intimates and apparel. Every
single piece is designed to make every girl feel good. Committed to promoting body positivity
and diversity, Aerie launched their #AerieREAL campaign seven years ago. The mission of
#AerieREAL is to represent “real” women through unretouched photos and encourage their
competitors to do the same.

In an effort to reach a diverse consumer base, the Aerie Real campaign now includes models
with disabilities and illnesses such as vitiligo, down syndrome, fibromyalgia, arm crutches,
wheelchairs and insulin pumps. Tony-winner actress Ali Stroker joined the campaign in 2020.
Stroker, the first wheelchair-user ever to win a Tony award, applauds Aerie’s authentic disability
representation. The brand’s success has stemmed from staying connected to its loyal customer
base, ensuring they are always placed first in its decision-making processes.

History of Aerie

Aerie is a loungewear and lingerie line and sub-brand owned by American Eagle Outfitters. The
company was founded with one store, in Novi, Michigan, in 1977. Today, there are more than
1,000 stores and 40,000 associates worldwide. American Eagle Outfitters has built a distinctive
global company culture based on the core values of people, integrity, passion, innovation and
teamwork.

Aerie launched in February 2006, originally sold as a shop-in-shop in American Eagle Outfitters
stores. The first stand-alone Aerie store opened in August 2006 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The sub-brand has grown exponentially, with a total of 148 stores throughout the Unites States
by the end of 2019. This clothing line is targeted toward 15 to 25-year-old female customers.
However, the brand encourages customers of all ages to shop at Aerie.

Aerie Vision and Mission Statement

Aerie is committed to investing in and giving back to the communities that contribute to our
success. #AerieREAL is about not retouching. It’s about body positivity. It’s about
empowerment. We want everyone to feel confident inside and out. Let the real you shine.

Conclusion

Aerie is a successful clothing line and sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters. Using
unretouched photos of all body types helps women find the right style and fit when shopping
online. The brand ensures their customers’ voices are being heard by representing the social
causes that are important to them. The Aerie community is diverse, so it is important to represent
the different backgrounds and beliefs in everything they do.