Gucci class action alleges exotic skin goods made from abused animals

Gucci class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Tracy Cohen filed a class action lawsuit against Gucci America Inc. and its parent company Kering Americas Inc.
• Why: Cohen claims that Gucci misrepresented its exotic skin goods as ethically sourced even though crocodiles and pythons at a tannery in Thailand were killed and skinned in an inhumane manner.
• Where: The Gucci class action lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.

A recent Gucci class action alleges the luxury brand and its parent company misrepresented its exotic skin goods as ethically sourced.

However, an investigation into their practices reportedly discovered the companies engaged in abusive crocodile and python killing practices at its Thailand tanneries.

Plaintiff Tracy Cohen filed the Gucci class action lawsuit after learning about the allegedly abusive practices. She says she worked as a Gucci sales associate from August 2006 through October 2023, and became Gucci Chicago’s top performer for the last six years of her career, selling nearly $50 million in Gucci products.

Gucci class action says company touted its commitment to ethics, sustainability

Cohen says the defendants trained her to inform customers the skins used to make exotic skin bags were sourced ethically and obtained through a natural shedding process.

Customers trusted Cohen and relied on her representations about the ethical sourcing of the exotic-skinned products, according to the Gucci class action lawsuit.

She points to Gucci’s publicly-posted code of ethics, which reportedly claims “ethics is at the heart of our business conduct” and touts its “culture of integrity.” The defendants also allegedly posted their sustainability principles, purporting to respect animal welfare and stating their commitment to ethical practices related to the sourcing of leather, fur and exotic skins.

In 2017, the defendants reportedly said they would buy their own python farms in Thailand to ensure their skins were obtained “sustainably and humanely.” Cohen says she believed the defendants’ representations when she sold Gucci-branded items.

Investigation allegedly found inhumane practices at Gucci Thailand tannery

In March, she learned of Gucci’s allegedly abusive python and crocodile killing practices at its Thailand tanneries. A PETA ASIA investigation reportedly found instances of workers pinning pythons down, smashing their heads with a hammer and driving hooks through their heads.

The workers also allegedly inflated the animals’ bodies with water to make it easier to skin them. Crocodiles were allegedly stabbed and skinned while still alive, according to the Gucci class action lawsuit.

Cohen says she would not have sold Gucci exotic skin products or purchased them with her hard-earned money had she known the skins were obtained through abusive practices.

She says she is “traumatized, knowing [Gucci] duped her into selling countless exotic skinned products to her trusting clients.”

The Gucci class action lawsuit asserts claims for unjust enrichment and violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Last year, Gucci filed a lawsuit against Lord & Taylor for allegedly selling counterfeit bags.

What do you think about the Gucci class action lawsuit allegations? Join the discussion in the comments.

Cohen is represented by Tamara N. Holder of The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder LLC and Johanna J. Raimond of Law Offices of Johanna J. Raimond Ltd.

The Gucci class action lawsuit is Tracy Cohen v. Kering Americas Inc, et al., Case No. 2024CH05844, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.

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