Tom Tailor caught using real fur in product labelled 'fake fur'

Animal rights group Animals' Liberty recently accused German retailer, Tom Tailor, of using real cat fur in its products, after the group tested hats purchased from the retailer which labels stated the product contained 'fake fur'. However now Tom Tailor had rebutted the accusations and

published the findings of its own investigative research.

After the accusations, Tom Tailor pulled the mentioned items from its stock and initiated its own investigative research to assure the origins of the hat. In a company statement on its website, the German retailer stated that it “generally prohibits the processing of real fur”, adding that the product in question was an “isolated case”.

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Tailor added that it regrets its violation of its own internal guidelines, and customers are welcome to return the disputed product to any store for a full refund.

Results indicate that the hat contain real fur, despite 'fake fur' label

“The fur application used for the Knit Cap 'Chunky Beanie with Fur', which was made of real fur, does not stem from Felis Silverstris (domestic cat) and thus does not fall under the EU Law referring to the trading with cat fur,” stated Tom Tailor, after receiving the results carried out by two independent external laboratories commissioned by the fashion retailer.

The production, export and import of domestic animal fur (dogs and cats) was banned by the European Union in 2009. Animals' Liberty states that the fur most likely came from China, where there are no regulations in place to govern animal fur farms.

According to Animals' Liberty and other animal rights organizations, millions of dogs and cats are bred and slaughtered for the fur industry. The use of real fur is reportedly cheaper than the production of fake or faux fur. "A customer may go out and buy a parka with a fur collar, which according to the label states that it is '100 percent polyester,' but it still really could be real fur," says the German-based animal rights group.

Which was the case with Tom Tailor. According to the fashion retailer's expert's opinion, the hair structure tested from the hat matches the characteristics of the raccoon dog's fur, an animal commonly bred and kept in captive in Asia for the fur industry.

Tom Tailor concluded that it “regrets that against the Company’s principles real fur was processed”. The German retailer added that it will be increasing its preventive measures to monitor the materials used in its products.

Animals' Liberty still stands by its own research, the real cat fur was used in Tom Tailor's fur hat. The animal rights group posted the following on social media network Facebook: “We do not find it surprising that two different animal species were found. The two species are very often used for (artifical) fur trims on clothing and shoes.”