Selima filed the suit in New York.
A lawsuit against France-based Kering claims that the “Made in Italy” labeling the brand places on its luxury eyewear is not accurate.
Eyewear company Selima Optique filed the litigation in federal court in New York, The Fashion Law reports.
Selima sells Kering brands along with its own products. Kering’s portfolio includes names such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent.
According to The Fashion Law, Selima claims in the lawsuit that Kering falsely represents its eyewear as being made in Italy when “in truth, their products, or substantially all parts of their products, are made in China, and (at best) shipped to Italy for final assembly and packaging, and then exported.”
Selima states in its filing that last year it received YSL frames from Kering that were stamped with both “Made in Italy” and “Made in China.”
A Kering spokesperson told INVISION on Tuesday that the company denies all of Selima’s claims.
The spokesperson said the mislabeling occurred because of a mixup at a facility in Italy. The “Made in China” stamp was intended only for certain Puma sunwear that is indeed produced in China, the spokesperson said.
But Kering stated that its luxury eyewear is made in Italy and labeled in accordance with applicable laws.
In all, 21 frames were mislabeled, and Selima received one of those frames, the Kering spokersperson said. The company states that it offered to replace the incorrectly labeled frames.
Read more at The Fashion Law