Ralph Lauren Class Action Claims Sweater Not Made Entirely From Pima Cotton As Advertised

Ralph Lauren Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Gloria Miramontes has filed a class action lawsuit against Ralph Lauren Corporation.
• Why: Miramontes alleges Ralph Lauren falsely advertises some of its sweaters as being made from Pima cotton.
• Where: The Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.

Ralph Lauren Corporation falsely advertises a sweater as being made entirely from Pima cotton, according to a class action lawsuit filed May 22 in New York federal court.

Plaintiff Gloria Miramontes says she purchased a Polo brand women’s burgundly lightweight v-neck sweater marketed as being made entirely from Pima cotton from a Polo Factory Store in November 2019.

Miramontes says she believed the sweater was made exclusively of Pima cotton based on the tags, which indicated the sweater was made with “Washable Pima Cotton.”

A hanging tag on the sweater allegedly states: “Fine luxurious yarns crafted from Pima Cotton fibers distinguish this signature design, knit in a fine gauge stitch for lightweight comfort and an exquisitely soft hand.”

Pima cotton differs from other types of cotton because it has extra long fibers that range from 1.2 to 1.48 inches. Pima cotton products cost more than products made with other types of cotton with shorter fibers.

“Consumers value products made from Pima cotton because they are softer and more durable than products made from non-Pima cotton,” the Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit says.

Ralph Lauren Class Action Says Testing Shows Sweater Not Made of Entirely Pima Cotton

Miramontes says a Single Fiber Test was applied to the sweater she purchased. The American Society for Testing and Materials reportedly developed the test to determine fiber lengths in cotton products. It determined that 100% of the cotton fibers in the sweater were shorter than 1.20 inches, and 88% of the fibers were shorter than 1.08 inches.

The Pima cotton sweater had not been worn or washed prior to the testing so the length of the cotton fibers did not shrink, according to the Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit.

“The failure to disclose the presence of less Pima cotton than advertised is contrary to the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act,” the Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit asserts. 

Miramontes says she would not have paid as much for the sweater if she had known it was not made entirely of Pima cotton.

This Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit is not the first to challenge the clothing company’s Pima cotton claims. Last year, a woman filed a class action lawsuit alleging she paid $40 for a shirt that was misleadingly labeled as being made of Pima cotton.

Did you purchase a Polo brand sweater advertised as being made of Pima cotton? Tell us your thoughts about the Ralph Lauren class action lawsuit in the comments section below!

Miramontes is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC and Michael L. Aaronson of Aaronson Law Firm.

The Ralph Lauren Class Action Lawsuit is Gloria Miramontes v. Ralph Lauren Corporation, Case No. 1:22-cv-04192, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Manhattan.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• 3M Loses Final Bellwether Earplug Trial, Must Pay $77.5M
• Data Privacy Highlighted in Recent BIPA Class Actions, Settlements
• Meta Class Action Alleges Citizenship Bias in Hiring Process
• Apple AirPods Lawsuit Alleges Product Ruptured Teen’s Eardrum