• The President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, has charged Lord and Polskie Sklepy Odzieżowe (Lavard brand) with misleading consumers.
• Laboratory tests confirmed that in many cases the stated composition of clothing was false.
• Tags or labels must include true information.

The information concerning true material composition of clothing must be included on tags or labels. A consumer is not able to verify this data on their own and must trust the specifications stated by the manufacturer or distributor. The composition of materials used affects consumers’ decisions - their assessment of quality, intended use and price of the product. In some cases there are even health and safety concerns, as the selection of appropriate materials is driven by existing allergies. The type of fabric is also relevant for the intended use and maintenance of clothing. If clothing is washed or ironed in a way unsuited to its actual composition, this may lead to deterioration of its appearance, loss of value or even destruction.

Inspections conducted by the Trade Inspection Authority and in-depth laboratory tests showed cases where the raw material composition of clothing declared by the distributors of Lord and Lavard brands was inconsistent with the facts – consumers were being mislead as to the kind and percentage composition of fibres used. Tests identified significant disproportions between the declared and actual raw material composition, e.g. complete absence of wool when the label states 70 percent wool.

“Consumers have a right to receive accurate information about the characteristics and quality of a product, as it is necessary to make an informed decision whether to make a purchase. In the case of clothing, the buyers cannot check whether the specifications provided on the tag or label are true. They should be able to rely on the specifications stated by the business responsible for the product. We are there to help consumers by testing the composition of various products in accredited laboratories of UOKiK to verify if declarations made by the manufacturers are true. We regularly inspect clothing and check its quality to ensure that consumers have access to correct information about the raw material composition,” said Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

UOKiK in cooperation with the Trade Inspection Authority regularly checks labelling and quality of clothing available from wholesalers and retail outlets – women wear, menswear and kids wear are all subject to inspection. In 2021, inspectors assessed 780 batches of men’s formal suits. Regrettably, the percentage of irregularities continues to be comparable to that of previous years, amounting to 26 percent.

Documentation available to UOKiK, provided by the Trade Inspection Authority for the purposes of currently pending proceedings, indicates that out of:

• 11 samples of Lord brand clothing - 10 did not match the declared raw material composition,
• 27 samples of Lavard brand clothing - 24 did not match the declared raw material composition.

Examples of irregularities identified on the basis of laboratory tests:

The investigations opened against companies operating under the name Lord and Polskie Sklepy Odzieżowe are a continuation of actions aimed at verifying whether declarations made by manufacturers are accurate. In March 2022, the President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, imposed a total fine of over PLN 2.1 million on manufacturers of formal menswear: Kubenz, Recman and Dastan Logistics.

If the charges filed against Lord and Polskie Sklepy Odzieżowe are upheld, the businesses may have to pay a fine equal to up to 10 percent of their revenue.

What to pay attention to when buying a lounge jacket?

• Outer fabric - choose it accordingly to your expectations. Consider whether the suit should endure long travel, frequent folding and transport in a suitcase, and during what seasons it will be worn.
• Fabric weight – usually ranges from 220 to 400 g, this corresponds to the weight of a square metre of the fabric. The colder it gets outside, the bigger the weight should be.
• Strand twist - standard labelling is Super 100’s, 120’s or 130’s. They refer to the thickness of the thread hair from which the strand is made. The higher the number, the finer and softer the fabric, but also more prone to creasing and wrinkling.
• Wool and addition of other fibres. Merino wool is comfortable and soft to the touch, it can be cleaned easily, you do not need to wash and clean it often. However, it is prone to creasing. Slight admixture of polyester or polyamide (5-10 percent) increases the friction resistance of woollen fabric.

Do you have any concerns or doubts regarding clothing quality or labelling? Report them to the Provincial Trade Inspection Authority Office.

Consumer Support:

+48 801 440 220 or +48 222 66 76 76 – Consumer helpline
E-mail: [SCODE]cG9yYWR5QGRsYWtvbnN1bWVudG93LnBs[ECODE]
Consumer Ombudsmen – in your town or district

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone: 22 55 60 246
Email: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL
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