Trio of retailers to settle FTC 'faux' fur charges

[March 20, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The FTC said Tuesday that Neiman Marcus and two other retailers have agreed to settle charges that they claimed certain products were made of "faux" fur when they actually contained real fur.

In addition to the upscale department store operator, the retailers include DrJays.com Inc. and Eminent Inc., doing business as Revolve Clothing.

The Federal Trade Commission said the companies also violated federal laws by not naming the animal that the fur came from.

The FTC also charged that The Neiman Marcus Group Inc. claimed that a rabbit fur product had mink fur, and failed to disclose where the fur came from for three fur products.

The Neiman Marcus violations involved website claims related to a Burberry Outerwear jacket, a Stuart Weitzman ballerina flat shoe and an Alice + Olivia Kyah coat. Neiman Marcus also misrepresented the fur content of the shoe in its catalog, at bergdorfgoodman.com, and in advertisements mailed to consumers, the FTC said.

The FTC said DrJays.com misrepresented the fur content and failed to disclose the animal name for a snorkel jacket by Crown Holder with a fur-lined hood, a vest by Knoles & Carter with exterior fur and a New York subway leather bomber jacket by United Face with fur lining.

Meanwhile, Eminent, doing business as Revolve, misrepresented the fur content and failed to disclose the animal name for four products including fur-trimmed boots, a Mark Jacobs Runway roebling coat, a Dakota Xan fur poncho and an Eryn Brinie belted faux fur vest, the FTC said.

Under the proposed settlement, the retailers would be prohibited from violating the laws for 20 years.

The commission approved the consent order for public comment with a 4-0 vote. The deals remain subject to public comment for 30 days, after which the commission will decide whether to make them final.

[Associated Press]

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