“Look at the Condition”: Man Accuses Local Retailer of Selling Him Fake Leather Jacket
- Rather frustrated, a Mzansi man shared that he thought a well-known local retailer had sold him a fake leather jacket
- He stated that he bought two leather jackets for roughly R6 000 and was unimpressed with their condition
- Many social media users questioned the quality of the jacket, while others flooded the comment section with similar experiences
- A representative from the company spoke to Briefly News to share what kind of material was used for the jacket and explained its return policy
Source: TikTok
A South African man hopped onto social media to air his grievances about a leather jacket he had purchased from a local retailer that seemed to be falling apart. Some internet users questioned whether it was genuine leather.
Using the handle @rmybee51, the frustrated man shared on his TikTok account last week how two of his jackets he bought from Truworths started to peel. Expecting good quality, he noted that he hadn't worn the garments in six months, as they had been hanging in his cupboard.
The upset customer also mentioned that he had paid for the items in cash, costing him roughly R6 000.
As he showed off the frayed jacket, the man alleged:
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"This is supposed to be leather. Look at the condition. This is fake leather that Truworths is selling. They refuse to replace it because it's more than a year old."
Truworths responds to man's claims
Briefly News contacted Truworths and its representative, Kathleen Olson, stated that the jackets appeared to be pleather and not leather.
"This is a material that is commonly used around the world to give the fashion appearance of leather but at a significantly more affordable price. We do also, occasionally, sell real leather but it is much more expensive and will always be marked as 'Genuine Leather.' "
Kathleen further explains that the man-made fabric consists of a knit or woven base cloth coated with polyurethane. While pleather is available in varying qualities and levels of authenticity, Truworths only uses premium quality pleather.
She then explains:
"All Truworths pleather is tested in our quality lab and must meet our high standards. Although these tests are extensive and cover wash care, rubbing and durability testing, the material will inevitably degrade over time when compared to the much more expensive high quality genuine leather."
She notes that if the garment is cared for according to the wash care instructions, it should provide many years of good wearability and appearance. However, there are several factors that contribute to the bond deteriorating over time.
Kathleen tells Briefly News:
"Some of these include the extent of any high abrasion points or if the jacket has been exposed to high heat or chemicals. The deterioration of the top layer of polyurethane is a characteristic of pleather and it will not keep its original appearance indefinitely.
"At Truworths, we understand the critical importance of offering high-quality garments that will satisfy our customers’ expectations for many years. To this end, we work hard to ensure we source the highest quality pleather possible and this shows in the fact that our customer returns for damage or quality failure are very low by industry standards."
Kathleen states that a further indication of this is that their customers elect to purchase the pleather because it is significantly better value than real leather (often less than half the price), and they appreciate the appearance of high-quality pleather.
Regarding the return policy, like other retailers, Truworths' standard time is 30 from date of purchase, provided the item has not been worn, the swing tickets are attached, and proof of payment is supplied.
However, if there is a manufacturing fault, the issue is treated differently after the brand's quality team examined the garment.
Mzansi wonders about the leather jacket
@rmybee51 had nearly thousands of local social media users entering his comment section with curiosity over the supposed leather jacket. Other people on the internet shared their stories of having a similar experience.
Source: Getty Images
@user579821038134 told the online community:
"The same thing happened to me with my so-called leather boots. How disappointing. You pay so much."
@caswell_julies added their opinion about the garment:
"We all know that's not genuine leather, boss. Real leather will have the leather symbol. The price range of the jacket is also an indication."
@surgiogerner put in the comment section:
"If it doesn't have a genuine leather label, then it's probably not leather."
@rjl2.0 wondered about the price:
"What did you pay for the jacket? Leather jackets are extremely expensive."
@arla194 revealed to the public:
"The same happened to my leather jacket. I bought it for over a R1 000 at Truworths. I had to throw it in the bin last week."
@gail.a.dekockgmail.com had a positive experience, writing with a smile:
"I bought a genuine leather jacket at Vanguard Mall many years ago, and it's in perfect condition."
Take a look at the jackets in the TikTok video below:
3 Other stories about fashion fakes
- In another article, Briefly News reported on a man who wore a fake designer jacket with a spelling error. People online were thoroughly amused by the man's oversight of a major detail.
- One passenger in a taxi entertained the online community with his attire when he rocked a fake name brand. Onlookers called him out.
- A viral video showed a wedding guest seemingly wearing a Gucci-branded outfit. Social media users quickly joked about the obviously fake designer clothing.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
