As the "padding filling mislabeling" scandal repeats every winter in the fashion industry, a consumer group urged the industry and the government to come up with countermeasures.
According to the fashion industry on the 21st, North Face, run by Youngone Outdoor, is under fire after it was revealed to have misstated the blend ratio of padding fill. North Face announced on the 3rd that, based on its own full inspection, it confirmed that filling information was incorrectly listed for a total of 13 items. The company said it will proceed with sequential refunds for customers who purchased products during the relevant period.
The controversy began with doubts raised by consumers who bought products through fashion platforms such as Musinsa. It turned out that although recycled down mixed with goose and duck feathers was used, the product information field stated "goose down 80%, feathers 20%." In particular, in the case of the "1996 Nuptse Air Down Jacket," incorrect information was exposed for about two years from Nov. 2023 through last month.
The Korea Consumer Association defined this incident as a "Labeling and Advertising Act violation" that deceived consumers and formally reported it to the Fair Trade Commission on the 12th. Considering the scale of damage and the seriousness of the matter, the association is also leaving open the possibility of pursuing collective dispute mediation or legal action.
The association said the verification system across the down jacket market is lax, not only at North Face. An association official said, "The product management systems of brands and distribution platforms and the lines of responsibility must be clearly checked." It strongly urged the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to implement effective measures to prevent a recurrence.
In a recent check of 24 goose down products on fashion platforms, the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) found that five products fell short of the goose down standard (80% or higher), and two used duck down instead of goose down. W Concept, affiliated with Shinsegae, also confirmed last month that a "Frontrow" product failed to meet content standards and initiated a voluntary recall.