The co-founder of Abercrombie & Fitch alongside David Abercrombie was Ezra Fitch.
David Abercrombie founded Abercrombie Co. in Manhattan in 1892 as an outfitter specializing in outdoor equipment. Ezra Fitch, a wealthy New York businessman and enthusiastic customer, bought a major share in 1900. That investment made Fitch the company’s co-founder and led to the name Abercrombie & Fitch.
The partnership became strained because the two men had different ideas about the business. Abercrombie wanted to concentrate on professional outdoor gear, while Fitch favored expanding the store’s appeal to a broader public. Abercrombie eventually sold his share to Fitch in 1907 and returned to manufacturing outdoor equipment.
A common mix-up is confusing Ezra Fitch with later executives such as Mike Jeffries. Jeffries transformed the company into a youth-oriented fashion retailer nearly a century later, but he was not involved in its founding. The “Fitch” in the company name refers to Ezra Fitch, not to a later brand or executive.