Silk Scarves
CPSC Recall #96-163 — July 9, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-163 |
| Recall Date | July 9, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | 5,421 |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail boutiques and gift shops sold the scarves nationwide between January 1989 and May 1996 for between $8 and $9. |
Product
Silk Scarves
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, India Arts Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 5,421 dangerously flammable sheer silk scarves. The sale of the scarves violates the federal Flammable Fabrics Act because the scarves present a serious risk of burn injuries. In fact, these scarves typically burn faster than newspaper. India Arts and CPSC are not aware of any injuries associated with these scarves. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The scarves, which measure 29 inches by 29 inches, were available in six colors. This recall affects purple, turquoise, and black scarves. The scarves bear a label that reads, "INDIA ARTS" and another label that reads in part, "100% Silk ... DRY CLEAN ONLY ... MADE IN INDIA ... R.N. 28049." Retail boutiques and gift shops sold the scarves nationwide between January 1989 and May 1996 for between $8 and $9. CPSC urges consumers to stop wearing the recalled scarves immediately and return the scarves to the retailers where they were purchased. Retailers taking part in this recall will provide a refund, credit or information on returning the scarf for a replacement. For more information about this recall, consumers should contact India Arts Inc. at 20 Heron St., San Francisco, CA 94103 or call (800) 352-1717. This recall does not affect red, green, or blue scarves imported by India Arts. CPSC discovered this hazard during a joint CPSC/U.S. Customs import surveillance program.
Hazard
The sale of the scarves violates the federal Flammable Fabrics Act because the scarves present a serious risk of burn injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
India Arts and CPSC are not aware of any injuries associated with these scarves. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
CPSC urges consumers to stop wearing the recalled scarves immediately and return the scarves to the retailers where they were purchased. Retailers taking part in this recall will provide a refund, credit or information on returning the scarf for a replacement.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace 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, Replace) 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.