Faux fur sweaters

CPSC Recall #95-081 — February 14, 1995

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-081
Recall DateFebruary 14, 1995
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected907
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

The sweaters were sold by approximately 100 retailers nationwide from July 1993 through October 1994 for $175 to $200. Major retailers such as Nordstrom
Bloomingdales
Lord and Taylor
and Loehmann's sold the sweaters.

Product

Faux fur sweaters

Description

Washington, D.C. - CPSC, Michael Simon Inc. of New York is recalling 907 faux fur sweaters in four styles, including three cardigans and one pullover. Based on tests conducted by CPSC, the faux fur fabric of the sweaters fails to comply with the flammability standard under the Flammable Fabrics Act. The garments, considered "dangerously flammable," are unsuitable for use for clothing because of rapid and intense burning. CPSC learned of the problem while investigating a burn injury involving one of the recalled sweaters, reported by the Northbrook, Illinois, Fire Department. CPSC and the company are not aware of other injuries involving the sweaters. The four styles are as follows: Style #7348 Spot Cardigan in black and white; Style #7384X Puppy Cardigan in black only; Style #9047 Fur Cardigan; and Style #9048, Fur Popover pullover sweater in solid colors of black, ivory, steel blue, and pink. The sweaters, which are available in Size 1 (Small to Medium) and Size 2 (Medium to Large), have a sewn-in neck label that reads, "MICHAEL SIMON NEW YORK," with a second neck label reading in part, "88% Rayon/Rayonne 12% Nylon/Nylon Made in HONG KONG ***" or "Made in CHINA *** RN 73106." The sweaters were sold by approximately 100 retailers nationwide from July 1993 through October 1994 for $175 to $200. Major retailers such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Lord and Taylor, and Loehmann's sold the sweaters. Consumers should stop wearing the sweaters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price. Consumers who have questions can call Michael Simon at (212) 382-1910.

Hazard

Based on tests conducted by CPSC, the faux fur fabric of the sweaters fails to comply with the flammability standard under the Flammable Fabrics Act. The garments, considered "dangerously flammable," are unsuitable for use for clothing because of rapid and intense burning.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC learned of the problem while investigating a burn injury involving one of the recalled sweaters, reported by the Northbrook, Illinois, Fire Department. CPSC and the company are not aware of other injuries involving the sweaters.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop wearing the sweaters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.