Neiman Marcus Settles ‘Faux’ Fur Case with FTC

Neiman Marcus and two other retailers agreed to settle federal charges on Tuesday over claims it sold products containing real animal fur as "faux fur," and mislabeled the true source of the fur.

Under the agreement, privately-held Neiman Marcus will not face a financial penalty, but has agreed not to violate fur product labeling laws for 20 years. The Federal Trade Commission said that, in addition to selling real fur as fake, Neiman Marcus and two other retail chains did not identify the source of the fur in products they sold, as required by law, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to Neiman Marcus, the retailers include DrJays.com Inc. and Eminent Inc., doing business as Revolve Clothing. The FTC approved the proposed settlement by a unanimous vote, but will consider public comment on the agreement for 30 days.

"The Fur Act protects all consumers, including those who don't want to buy fur," said Matt Wilshire, a staff attorney for the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, which investigated the retailers and reached Tuesday's settlement.

The FTC alleged that Nieman Marcus, for example, advertised on its Web site a jacket with "Black faux-fur hood with snap-tab detail" when the garment's own labeling showed that the hood was made with fur. In a Nieman Marcus coat, fur was discovered on what was advertised as a "faux fur" collar.

The FTC also charged that The Neiman Marcus Group Inc. claimed that a rabbit fur product had mink fur, and failed to disclose where the fur came from for three fur products.

Last year, the high-end retailer partnered with discount chain Target to market a collection of holiday products.