Chinese market regulators say over 20 batches of luxury clothing, including those of big brands such as Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Burberry, Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood have failed quality tests. The Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau reported 23 batches, or 18 per cent of the 130 batches that were tested, failed the pH index, poor colour fastness, unmatched fibre content and pilling tests.
Seven batches failed the test for poor colour fastness. A batch of Burberry knitted garments failed to deliver on colour fastness to alkali perspiration, while another batch of Marc Jacobs dresses was found to be substandard for wet rubbing colour fastness and acid and alkali perspiration colour fastness, the Shanghai Bureau said.
A batch of Vivienne Westwood women's coats failed the test in terms of colour fastness to water, acid and alkali perspiration as well as fibre content, the Bureau added. Colour fastness is a compulsory standard of clothing in China and dye in clothing with poor colour fastness can bleed on to human skin — which is harmful. Almost 18 batches were found to have unmatched fibre content types, or amount, as against what was marked on their labels.
The label of a batch of Giorgio Armani coats indicated a content of 93 per cent cashmere and 7 per cent of mulberry silk, while tests by the bureau found they actually contain 80.3 percent of cashmere, with the rest mulberry silk and wool, bureau officials noted. The bureau reported three batches failed for pilling, an important index indicating fabric quality, included a batch of MaxMara knitted sweaters and a batch of Etro women's garments. A batch of Burberry cashmere sweaters failed for both pilling and fiber content.
Two batches of clothing, namely a batch of Patrizia Pepe skirts and that of Gegina T-shirts, failed pH index tests — substandard pH index in clothing can cause skin allergies. The bureau has demanded that these brands stop selling substandard items and clear their stocks. They should also rectify and protect consumer rights.
