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Major Retailers and Designers Sued for Mislabeling Fur

November 24, 2008


	Bloomingdale's website advertised "faux" fur in 2007 that turned out to be from animals. Again in 2008, supposedly faux fur garments contained animal fur.

The Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against six of the nation's largest retailers and fashion designers for engaging in false advertising and mislabeling of fur garments.

The complaint, filed today in D.C. Superior Court, names Andrew Marc, Dillard's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The deceptive practices of these companies mislead consumers into unknowingly purchasing animal fur products and increase consumer confusion over the type and origin of fur that is used on clothing.

"Despite all the designers and retailers that have gone fur-free in recent years, a hardcore group of heartless holdouts continues to peddle raccoon dog coats to unsuspecting consumers," said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, vice president and chief counsel for animal protection litigation for The HSUS.

MISLABELED

See the complaint filed today [PDF]

See a chart of the violations [PDF]

These defendants are the worst of the worst, and just don't seem to care if consumers are buying their products thinking they are 'faux fur,' but are actually getting raccoon dog fur from China."

Canine Fur

Over the last three years, The HSUS has identified dozens of falsely advertised or falsely labeled fur garments across the retail industry. Although many of these garments are advertised or labeled as "faux fur," 70 percent of the garments actually contained fur from the raccoon dog.

Raccoon dogs are a member of the canine family native to parts of Asia. A graphic video, below, shows that raccoon dogs are skinned alive in China.

False Advertising and Labeling

The lawsuit, filed under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act, alleges that the six companies "misrepresent" the characteristics of the fur-trimmed garments by:

1. Advertising and labeling products as "faux fur," when they are, in fact, derived from real animal fur, or

2. Advertising and labeling products as common raccoon, fox or rabbit fur when they are, in fact, made from the wholly distinct species of raccoon dog—a member of the dog family.

The complaint also alleges violations of the federal Fur Products Labeling Act and Federal Trade Commission Act, which also prohibit the false advertising and mislabeling of any fur product.

The suit comes after several attempts by The HSUS to curb the fur industry's widespread deceptive advertising and labeling. Since 2005, The HSUS has sent dozens of letters to companies informing them of problems and urging corrective action. The HSUS also filed two legal petitions with the Federal Trade Commission (one in March 2007 and the other in April 2008) seeking enforcement action and criminal and civil penalties against more than 20 companies for violations of the FPLA, including the six defendants named in the consumer protection lawsuit today. These petitions are still pending before the FTC.

Examples of Defendants' Deceptive Ads and Labels

Last month, Andrew Marc advertised a coat as common raccoon fur on its online Web site, but upon purchase, it was discovered that the garment contained two conflicting labels – one identifying the fur trim as "natural raccoon" but the other identifying the fur trim as "real asiatic raccoon" – the federally required name for raccoon dog.

Last November, Dillard's advertised and sold a "faux fur" coat on its online Web site, even though the jacket was made from real animal fur. Dillard's also advertised, labeled and sold a "genuine raccoon" jacket on its online Web site that was, in fact, made from the wholly distinct species of raccoon dog – a member of the canine family.

Last December, Lord & Taylor sold an Andrew Marc brand jacket labeled as "polyester" fur at its retail store in Kensington, Md. Testing found that this purportedly faux fur garment was actually made from real raccoon dog and rabbit.

Macy's – through its retail division Bloomingdale's – advertised and sold a "faux fur" jacket on its online store in 2007 and again in 2008. However, both of these jackets contained animal fur.

Neiman Marcus sold a coat on its online Web site last November that although advertised as "faux fur," was actually made from genuine rabbit fur. Neiman Marcus also sold an Andrew Marc brand jacket labeled as fake "polyester" fur at its retail store in McLean, Va. Testing later found this jacket to be made from real raccoon dog.

In December 2007, Saks Fifth Avenue advertised and sold a "faux fur" jacket on its online store that was later determined to be made from genuine rabbit fur.

What You Can Do

Browse our list of fur-free retailers and designers

Always shop fur-free

Learn to tell real fur from faux [PDF]