Neiman Marcus this week admitted that some of its fake fur was real fur. The nonfinancial penalty agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was announced Tuesday. The complaint had been filed by Washington, D.C.-based The Humane Society of the U.S.
Clothiers Neiman Marcus, DrJays.com and Eminent Inc. (dba Revolve Clothing) settled the complaint, admitting some real fur had slipped into the faux fur pile. They agreed to correctly label their furs and to refrain from mislabeling fur for the next 20 years. Another eight clothing companies did not settle the 2011 complaint. The complaint also cited mislabeled countries of origin on some furs.
Under consent orders that apply for 20 years, the retailers agreed to abide by the Fur Act and never again to market products as faux fur when they contain fur. “Substantial fines” for failing to comply are promised by the FTC.
Said Humane Society spokesperson Kaitlin Sanderson in a statement to the Business Journals: “Neiman Marcus and two other retailers have settled charges of selling fake fur that contained actual fur. The Humane Society of the United States filed a legal petition with the Federal Trade Commission against 11 nationally and internationally known retailers for the false advertising and mislabeling of fur-trimmed products in November 2011 ”“ including the three who settled charges today.”
The settlement opened a window on the world of fur, where, according to industry sources, even dogs can be fair game and “fur” can define a look rather than fur itself. The non-faux fur involved in the settlement was reported to be raccoon and rabbit, and possibly mink.
The remaining companies in the complaint are Barney”™s New York, Beyond the Rack Enterprises, Bop, Dillard”™s, Gilt Groupe, Sscence, Summit Sports and Yoox Group; all are corporations or L.L.C.s.
Dallas-based Neiman Marcus, with a retail presence in White Plains, did not reply to a request for comment.
“There is an epidemic of false advertising in the fur industry,” said Ralph Henry, deputy director of animal protection litigation for the Humane Society. “The Humane Society of the United States encourages the FTC to continue to diligently prosecute any violations of fur labeling laws, until consumers who wish to avoid animal fur are no longer duped into buying the product.”
