CPSC Recalls Highly Flammable Chenille Sweaters

December 18, 1996
Release # 97-046

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For Immediate Release;
Contact: Jane Francis
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1187

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the stop sale and recall of more than 32,000 dangerously flammable chenille sweaters sized for girls and women. The sale of these sweaters violates the federal Flammable Fabrics Act, and the sweaters present a serious risk of burn injuries. In fact, these sweaters burn faster than newspaper.

Although CPSC has not received reports of injuries from these sweaters to date, the agency is issuing this safety notice and recalling the sweaters to prevent injuries from these dangerous products.

The sweaters, which were made in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States, are made in a variety of colors of very soft textured chenille. Sweater styles are primarily long sleeved or short sleeved with a crew or turtle neckline; although, there is also a v-neck vest style and a mock wrap style. The sweaters sold for between $38 and $130 at large department stores and small boutiques nationwide. Nearly all of these sweaters are made of 65 percent rayon/35 percent nylon; although, a few styles are made of 90 percent rayon/10 percent nylon, 67 percent rayon/33 percent nylon, or 100 percent rayon.

CPSC is working with a number of importers and retailers to recall these sweaters. CPSC surveyed over 100 retail stores in major U.S. cities to test for the fire hazard.

CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop wearing sweaters they believe may be involved in this recall. These flammable sweaters should be returned to the retailers where purchased. Retailers taking part in this recall will provide a refund or credit.

The following major retailers sold the sweaters:

CPSC found the following brand names and RN numbers on the labels of the sweaters that failed the flammability test. Consumers can call the importers and manufacturers listed for more information.

BCBG Maxazeria
RN 80734
BCBG Max Azria
Vernon, Calif.
(213) 589-2224

525 Made in America
RN 61680
525 Made in America, Inc.
New York, N.Y.
(212) 921-5688

Maille ISHYU
RN 78635
Pretty Talk Inc.
Miami, Fla.
(305) 717-3180

Sisters
RN 84332
Fredini, dba Miss LA
Los Angeles, Calif.
(213) 745-7921

Karen Kane Lifestyle Petite
RN 59168
Karen Kane
Los Angeles, Calif.
(800) 590-5263

Karen Kane Lifestyle
RN 59168
Karen Kane
Los Angeles, Calif.
(800) 590-5263

Karen Kane
RN 59168
Karen Kane
Los Angeles, Calif.
(800) 590-5263

The Limited
RN 54867
Limited Inc. Limited Too
Columbus, Ohio
(800) 723-8785

Express Tricot
RN 54867
Limited Express (Limited Inc.)
Columbus, Ohio
(614) 479-4031

N.Y. Jeans
RN 23243
Lerner New York Inc. (Limited Inc.)
New York, N.Y.
(800) 723-5111

There are sweaters with the brand names and RN numbers listed here that are not violatile. Retailers should be able to tell whether an individual chenille sweater is involved in this recall based on the style numbers they have.

The importers and manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to recall the sweaters from consumers and will issue recall information through the retailers who sold the products.

For additional questions about this chenille sweater recall, including information on other retailers participating in this recall, consumers can call the CPSC toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov or via Internet gopher services at cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.