FTC Finalizes Order Against Clothing Accessories Company for False Made in USA Claims

Tags:

The Federal Trade Commission has finalized its order against a group of Massachusetts- and New Hampshire-based clothing accessories companies, along with their owner, Thomas Bates, for falsely claiming that certain company products were manufactured in the United States. The FTC’s order, first announced in June 2023, stops the company from making deceptive claims about products being “Made in USA” and requires it to pay a monetary judgment.

The FTC’s order against Bates and his companies Chaucer Accessories, Bates Accessories, and Bates Retail Group, which they have agreed to, includes a number of requirements about the claims they make:

The Commission vote to finalize the order was 3-0. The lead staff attorney on this matter was Julia Solomon Ensor in the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.