FASHION FRAUDS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1932, Page 8

FASHION FRAUDS

ily.tr a ordin ary reyejjationr DUPE 1 CITIES IN PARIS. LONDON, February 23. The revelations in October that ■ a, world-wide organisation for selling inferior copies of models, with forged name tabs, had been discovered in Paris, was made as the result of continued investigations by the fashion protection organisation. Its head, M. Davin, had discovered that dresses of an inferior cut and material were being sold at extortionate prices in "all parts of the world, with name tabs of famous firms seWn in them. Recently At. Davin called in the police, who arranged that a detective should go to a firm under suspicion and give an order for u quantity of material. On signing the contract this detective asked to see a collection of name tabs to choose from. He bought a quantity inscribed with well-known names., and returned with his conclusive proofs to his chief, Inspector Legrnude. The raid was then made.

Fifty thousand of the tabs were found hidden in an old cupboard on the premises of a firm of long standing. Some of them were absolute copies while others were changed slightly— not sufficient, however, to arouse any suspicion in the minds of customers in foreign countries. The false tabs were sold at prices ranging from uO to 100 francs (about 8 S to Ids) each, and the traffic in them, as well as the copies of the models by well-known dressmakers, has apparently been going on for a number of years. It is assumed that the great fashion houses have thus sustained a loss running into many millions of francs. Tt was also revealed that a factory in the south of France was making the material, another firm in Paris was printing them, while the house in Paris was being used as the central clearing house for world, distribution. Further dramatic developments were expected, and charges of fraud were to be brought against a number of persons.