Minister calls for checks on factory outlet stores

Federal consumer affairs minister Kris Peeters has called on economy ministry inspectors to investigate the quality of goods on sale at fashion factory outlets. The move follows an undercover report by German TV alleging that consumers were being misled.

Outlet shops sell clothes allegedly from prior seasons’ designer collections or that have minor manufacturing faults and have to be sold at a discount – often a sizeable discount. However according to German public broadcaster WDR, some labels are producing “parallel” collections destined only for outlets and of lower quality than their genuine collections.

“Any manufacturer that deliberately produces designer clothing of poorer quality for outlet stores is misleading the consumer and breaking the law,” Peeters said. “There are fines of up to €200,000 for deliberate deception. I have given economic inspectors the task of looking into and testing designer products sold in outlet stores.”

Also, Peeters noted, the term “outlet store” has no legal definition, making it is easy to mislead consumers with such a name.