Shoppers Beware: "Faux Fur" Is Actually Real

Consumers in the market for faux fur are warned to be extra vigilant this holiday season after an HSUS investigation revealed that Burlington Coat Factory, with stores nationwide, is currently advertising a "faux fur trim" jacket that is, in fact, trimmed with real fur from animals raised and killed in China.

The jacket in question is advertised both on Burlington’s website—"Down Jackets With Faux Fur Trim"—and with prominent full-color signs in some stores that say "Baby Phat Down Jackets with Faux Fur Trim." Supporting the message of the ads and signs, one sales clerk told our investigators that all of Burlington’s coats are "fake fur" and that "they used to sell [real fur], [but] they don't sell any more." However, contrary to the advertisement, signs, and sales clerk that all insisted the fur is fake, many of the jackets in question are labeled: "Trim: Racoon [sic] Fur of China Origin" or "Trim: Genuine Coyote Fur of China Origin."

The HSUS has notified Burlington Coat Factory (read the notice of violations) that it may file suit to ensure that consumers are not induced into purchasing inhumane animal fur products by false representation that the products in question are produced with synthetic fur. The HSUS intends to commission DNA tests to determine whether the fur trim on the jacket in question is mislabeled wildlife fur or even dog or cat fur brought into the United States illegally.

China supplies half of all the finished fur products that enter the United States for sale. China is a country with no animal welfare laws, where animals have been documented by multiple sources being skinned alive for their fur, and where dogs and cats are killed and their fur believed to be mislabeled, marketed, and sold as being from other types of animals. Wild animals documented being caged and killed in large numbers in China [PDF] include foxes, mink, and, of particular note, raccoon dogs [see video], a species of canine whose fur resembles raccoons' fur. Domestic dogs and cats [PDF] are also raised for fur in China. Chinese fur is sold by many retailers and designers, who may or may not be aware that their products might be from animals who were skinned alive.

In 1997-1998, the HSUS documented the trade in millions of dogs and cats for their fur in China and other parts of Asia (read the report [PDF], or watch the video). As part of that investigation, Burlington Coat Factory was found to be openly selling fur-trimmed garments labeled as "Mongolia dog fur." In response to the investigation and evidence of domestic animal fur being sold in the United States, the U.S. Congress enacted the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000, which prohibits the import of any dog or cat fur product. However, the suspicion remains of dog and cat fur slipping into the country illegally, either mislabeled as another species, or not being labeled at all under the loophole in the Fur Products Labeling Act. A line from the HSUS dog and cat investigation seems especially relevant now: "As trim, [German shepherd] fur bears a striking resemblance to that of coyote, raccoon, or other species commonly exploited for use as trim."

Knowing the amount of cruelty that goes into producing fur in China and other countries, consumers should never buy real fur, or what they suspect might be real fur. Unfortunately, consumers cannot always rely on retailers to identify the nature of garments, so if there is ever any doubt, don't buy it. Sign the Fur-Free pledge to help us put an end to the cruelty and deception of the fur trade.

See the Video

Burlington Coat Factory: More than Fake Coats