US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said that overseas expansion remains “the future” for its brands as global operations continued to prop up its struggling US arm.

In its full-year to January 30, 2010, sales slid 16% to $2.93bn (£1.86bn). Final-quarter net US sales to the same date fell 12%, but international turnover soared 86%.

But the group - which is expanding its Hollister chain in the UK - is facing a backlash here over its staff hiring policy.

Legal experts have warned that Abercrombie & Fitch could face a tribunal over its ad to attract staff to its new store in Aberdeen, asking for “cool and good-looking people”.

The chain is renowned for employing model-like staff and having topless men greeting customers at the doors of its Abercrombie & Fitch stores.

Last year the retailer had to pay a former employee with a prosthetic arm £9,000 for unfair dismissal.