Apparel & Fashion Accessories

Apparel & Fashion Accessories

In recent years, The Chanler Group's clients have investigated and tested numerous types of apparel and fashion accessories for phthalate chemicals and lead.  Products such as jewelry, bags, totes, wallets, belts, footwear, Halloween costumes, and key chains have tested positive for lead, di(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate (“DEHP”), butyl benzyl phthalate (“BBP”), and Di-n-butyl phthalate (“DBP”).

As a neurotoxin, lead negatively affects the nervous system in both adults and children.  Research has shown that repeated exposure to lead cumulatively affects the developing nervous system and, over time, can lead to attention deficit, learning disabilities, short-term memory loss, behavioral problems, and diminished intellectual ability. Children under the age of six are the most at risk of the developmental problems stemming from lead poisoning as a result of their frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors and their small body size. 

Phthalates are “plasticizers,” substances used in the manufacture of plastic components in consumer products to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. The Chanler Group’s clients regularly investigate the presence of phthalate chemicals such as DEHP, BBP, and DBP in consumer products.

The 2012 case Held v. Aldo U.S., Inc.; Aldo Group, Inc., et al. resulted in Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E. and John Moore, both Chanler Group clients, entering into a settlement agreement in which 146 independent companies, to date, have agreed to significantly reformulate their fashion accessory products.  By reducing the concentration of each toxin to no more than 1,000 parts per million in each accessible component of the fashion accessories, the companies virtually eliminated the presence of DEHP, DBP, and BBP.

Also in 2012, Dr. Held obtained an unparalleled settlement with manufacturers of Halloween costumes, accessories, and décor, in which manufacturers, including Almar Sales Co., Inc., agreed to reformulate their products to virtually eliminate the presence of seven chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. These chemicals included arsenic, cadmium, phthalates, formaldehyde, and lead.

Whether through numerous settlements with individual companies, or through larger settlements with dozens of companies such as Aldo U.S., Inc. and Almar Sales Co., clients of The Chanler Group continue to protect the public by securing a commitment from apparel and fashion companies to make their products safe for California consumers.

To review legal agreements which The Chanler Group’s clients have reached with companies in this industry, please see the cases below.

firm casework - enforcement

March 7, 2012
BBP, DBP, DEHP
Consent Judgment
The Honorable Roy O. Chernus of the Marin County Superior Court granted the parties’ motion to approve the Consent Judgment in the case Held et al. v. Alticor, Inc., et al., on March 7, 2012.  This enforcement action resolved citizen enforcers John Moore and Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E.’s allegations that eighteen defendants sold products containing...
March 7, 2012
BBP, DBP, DEHP
Consent Judgment
The Honorable Roy O. Chernus of the Marin County Superior Court granted the parties’ motion to approve the Consent Judgment in the case Held et al. v. Alticor, Inc., et al., on March 7, 2012.  This enforcement action resolved citizen enforcers John Moore and Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E.’s allegations that eighteen defendants sold products containing...
February 28, 2012
DEHP
Consent Judgment
On February 28, 2012, the Alameda County Superior Court entered a Consent Judgment in Held v. Shin's Trading Company, Inc., which resolved citizen enforcer Anthony Held, Ph.D., P.E.'s allegations that the defendant, Shin's Trading Company, Inc. ("Shin's"), sold in the State of California cosmetic cases/bags containing the phthalate chemical di(2-...
February 14, 2012
Lead
Out-of-Court Settlement
On February 14, 2012, citizen enforcer Russell Brimer and settling defendant Milano Series International Products Ltd. ("Milano"), entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Brimer's allegations that Milano sold cosmetic cases/bags containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard...
February 13, 2012
DEHP
Out-of-Court Settlement
On or about February 13, 2012, citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E. and settling defendant Notations, Inc. ("Notations") entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Held's allegations that Notations sold dresses with components containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate ("DEHP") in the State of California without providing...
February 6, 2012
DEHP
Out-of-Court Settlement
On  February 6, 2012, citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E. and settling defendant Global Design Concepts, Inc. ("Global"), entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Held's allegations that Global sold women's handbags containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate ("DEHP") in the State of...
February 1, 2012
DEHP
Consent Judgment
On February 1, 2012, the Marin County Superior Court entered a Consent Judgment in Held v. Panasonic Corporation of North America, et al., which resolved citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E.'s allegations that the defendant Panasonic Corporation of North America ("Panasonic"), sold toiletry cases and bags containing the phthalate chemical di(2-...
January 20, 2012
Lead
Consent Judgment
On January 20, 2012, the Marin County Superior Court entered a Consent Judgment in Brimer v. Consolidated Shoe Company Incorporated, which resolved citizen enforcer Russell Brimer's allegations that the defendant, Consolidated Shoe Company Incorporated ("Consolidated"), sold certain footwear containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the...