WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit Monday against Macy’s and five other major retailers and fashion designers alleging that they falsely advertise and label fur garments.
The suit claims that Dillard’s, Lord &Taylor, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and designer Andrew Marc misrepresent fur products by labeling and marketing them as “faux fur,” when they are not, or by advertising and labeling products as common raccoon, fox or rabbit fur, when they are really made from raccoon dog, a canine species from Asia.
The complaint also alleges that the retailers are in violation of the federal Fur Products Labeling Act and Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibit mislabeling of fur products.
Rebecca Judd, senior attorney with the Humane Society, said the group is seeking a court order to halt to what she called deceptive business practices by retailers.
“We filed this after we tried now for several years to have the fur industry stop their widespread false advertising and labeling,” Judd said.
She added that the group wants to alert consumers, especially those concerned about animal welfare, that fur garments are “best left out of the shopping bag.”
Judd said the suit was filed in D.C. under its Consumer Protection Procedures Act because the Humane Society focused much of its investigation in the Washington region. All the retailers named in the suit have stores in the area. Andrew Marc sells his brands online and in retail stores around Washington.
Raccoon dogs aren’t kept as pets. According to the suit, more than 1.5 million of them are being raised for their fur in China, and have been documented to be skinned alive. Importing raccoon dog fur isn’t illegal.
Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 doesn’t have to be labeled.
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