H&M and New York & Co. Settle Lead Content Case

by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)
Posted Jan 27th 2010 at 8:21PM

Not all bags scream toxic like this one. Luckily, no one is actually selling this "radioactive' clutch.

Sure, we're used to metal on our handbags -- hardware has been a defining trend for the last few seasons -- but who knew there was actually metallic stuff (as in the toxic type) in the accessories?

H&M and New York & Co. have settled a lawsuit brought on by the Center for Environmental Health, a consumer watchdog and advocacy group, over unsafe lead contents allegedly found in their accessories.

The Center took the retailers to court over findings that some of the handbags, wallets and other accessories they were selling contained levels of lead between 13 and a whopping 115 times over the legally acceptable standard of 300 parts per million.

Not only were the findings shocking, but perhaps carrying around the season's latest accessories comes at a price not worth paying. The watchdog group's complaint alleged that pregnant women and children were susceptible to lead exposure through only average use of the products.

Presumably hoping to avoid public outrage, the defendants, H&M and New York & Co., settled the case through consent judgments approved by the Alameda County Superior Court in California.

"We entered into this agreement to be responsible," H&M spokeswoman Nicole Christie told WWD. Christie claims the company has its own tough internal standards, though, we must admit, we're a little relieved responsibility is written in legalese this time around.

Along with $35,000 settlement payments from each retailer, the companies are required to assist CEH in taking the products off the market.

However, since the case was brought under California law, the settlement only covers products sold within the state.

After its lead testing, the nonprofit notified additional brands and retailers that tested high on lead counts, including Walmart, American Eagle Outfitters, Aldo, French Connection, Macy's and Nine West

As for the defendants, Christie reassures shoppers that H&M plans to enact measures company-wide, while New York & Co. had no comment.

But don't think this taints our love for the fast fashion mecca -- H&M's collaboration with Sonia Rykiel offers up amazing knits and lingerie.

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