Top fashion houses among labels failing quality tests

Designer labels Armani, Ralph Lauren and Fendi are among manufacturers whose clothing failed recent quality tests by the city's quality watchdog.

Other well-known international brands and retailers whose goods fell foul of the watchdog included Marks and Spencer, Lacoste and Muji.

Problems were encountered with fiber content, color fastness, excessive levels of formaldehyde, a high pH index and labeling, the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau said.

Retailers were ordered to remove all offending items from their shelves immediately.

Bureau officials checked 226 batches of clothing and found 65 to be substandard.

Garments by famous names failed fiber content tests.

These included Fendi men's overcoats sold at the Italian fashion house's Plaza 66 outlet, Ralph Lauren women's coats sold at the Reel mall, casual wear by French label Lacoste sold at the Orient Shopping Center on Nanjing Road and hats and dresses from Japanese retailer Muji at its Infinite Plaza outlet.

Problems included content not matching labeling.

Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer trousers and blouses sold at Wanda Plaza in the Wujiaochang area had problems with color fastness, the bureau said.

And a batch of Armani Junior dresses sold at the Westgate Mall on Nanjing Road W. failed color fastness tests.

Labeling problems were also found with a batch of Diesel clothing sold at its Jing'an outlet.

Officials advised customers to always carefully check labels and garment quality.