"Gap" women's sweatshirts
CPSC Recall #78-035 - May 10, 1978
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 78-035 |
| Recall Date | May 10, 1978 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 4,150 |
| Manufactured In | Hong Kong |
Where It Was Sold
| The potentially flammable women's sweatshirts with the Gap label were sold by their stores nationwide during October |
| November and December 1977. |
Product
"Gap" women's sweatshirts
Description
WASHINGTON, D. C. (May 11) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been notified by the Gap Stores, Inc. that 4,150 potentially flammable women's sweatshirts with the Gap label were sold by their stores nationwide during October, November and December 1977. These sweatshirts failed to comply with a Federal flammability standard. They were purchased by the Gap from San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc., which earlier announced the recall of the same merchandise sold under its own label. If exposed to an ignition source, such as a cigarette ash, an open flame, or any spark, they could ignite and burn with a rapid and intense flame. (No injuries have been reported to date). These sweatshirts are being voluntarily recalled by the San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc. and the purchase price refunded. All the ladies' sweatshirts are 100% cotton, fleecy side out, with long sleeves. Sewn-in black labels at the back of the neck say "GAP" in light gray stitching, and separate labels say "Made in Hong Kong." The following styles of "GAP" labeled sweatshirts fail to comply with the Federal Standard for Flammability of Clothing Textiles: Winter white pullover, with small center pocket for hands; and Winter white or blue, with zippered front, regular collar, and two front pockets. Persons who believe they have these sweatshirts should write for refund procedures to: San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc. Attn: Nancy Bush 1111 - 17th Street San Francisco, California 94107 Or they may call CPSC's toll-free Hotline (800) 638-2772. San Francisco Shirt Works labels on the other suspect shirts say "San Francisco Tea Party," in addition to the Hong Kong labels. The "San Francisco Tea Party" labeled sweatshirts were sold by department stores and specialty shops throughout the nation as part of the company's 1977 holiday line but were not sold by "The GAP." Some 22,000 of these ladies' sweatshirts were imported by San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc., from a Hong Kong manufacturer and distributed nationwide to retailers during October and early November 1977. Sweatshirts which appear to be identical but which were delivered to retailers in approximately July of 1977 have passed the flammability test required by the Standard. Only those sweatshirts sold to retailers during and after October 1977 fail to comply with the Standard. Consumers are urged to stop wearing these sweatshirts and to start the refund process immediately. CPSC warns that burning clothing can cause severe and disfiguring burns, and urges women to return the potentially hazardous sweatshirts at once. This is the first time these companies' products have been the source of such hazards. San Francisco Shirt Works has permanently dropped the suspect fabric from its line of products and will not reorder the same fabrication from the manufacturer. The Gap Stores, Inc. is a national specialty retailer of casual apparel with over 300 stores.
Hazard
If exposed to an ignition source, such as a cigarette ash, an open flame, or any spark, they could ignite and burn with a rapid and intense flame.
Incidents & Injuries
No injuries have been reported to date.
Remedy Instructions
These sweatshirts are being voluntarily recalled by the San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc. and the purchase price refunded. Persons who believe they have these sweatshirts should write for refund procedures to: San Francisco Shirt Works, Inc., Attn: Nancy Bush, 1111 - 17th Street, San Francisco, California 94107.
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.