Substandard Top Brand Clothes Removed

Source: Shenzhen Daily

Global fashion brands such as Giorgio Armani, Dior and MNG have removed goods from their Shenzhen stores after authorities in Shanghai declared them substandard, a claim that is viewed with "high concern".

It is the second large-scale quality scare for international top brands on the mainland after U.S. luxury skincare brand SK-II was forced to suspend its sales due to potentially harmful substances found by the national quality watchdog.

The Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce sampled 59 products of 27 internationally prestigious labels, with 25 to 40 percent failing the examination.

Chanel, Zara, MNG, Armani, Christian Dior, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren and Ermenegildo Zegna were among the brands whose dresses, suits, coats and pants were found to be substandard. The watchdog forced a halt to sales of problematic garments due to the problem and potential health risk.

Most of the 27 fashion brands except for Chanel, Zara and Pink, have chain stores at The Mixc or CITIC Plaza in Shenzhen.

A spokeswoman for the Shenzhen Administration for Industry and Commerce said through a telephone interview yesterday that sales of substandard items will be suspended and customers can ask to return the goods for a refund.

Most of the fashion labels said their sales in Shenzhen had not been affected and hadn't received any refund requests, but were highly concerned about such an announcement.

Burberry, Dior, Loewe, Max Mara, MNG and Polo Ralph Lauren had already removed related garments from stores in Shenzhen and other cities nationwide.

According to a notice posted by the Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce's Web site, problems found in the 25 luxury brands included high levels of formaldehyde, a chemical that can cause cancer; unacceptable acid levels and poor dyes.

A Zara dress was found to contain twice the amount of formaldehyde allowed. A 17,000 yuan (US$2,125) Chanel silk suit and a MNG coat had unacceptable pH levels, a potential risk for skin health.

The suspected garments were priced between several hundred to 40,000 yuan. (By Tan Xiaomi)

Editor: Helena Zhang