Two consumers sued a jeans maker Friday, alleging that despite the pants’ “Made in USA” label, most pairs have been manufactured in Mexico or Asia since 2013.
Elaine Lisvshin of Encino and Tracy Ganow of Sacramento filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Joe’s Jeans Inc. and Nordstrom Inc.
The proposed class-action suit alleges violations of the state Civil and Business and Professions codes. Nordstrom is liable because the company “failed to investigate or actively concealed from consumers” the truth about where the jeans were actually made, according to the complaint.
Representatives for Joe’s Jeans and Nordstrom could not be immediately reached for comment.
Livshin paid $70 for a pair of Joe’s Jeans in August or September at a Nordstrom Rack store in Woodland Hills, the suit states. Gano bought two pairs in June at a total price of about $160 at a Nordstrom Rack outlet in Roseville, the suit states.
Joe’s Jeans takes advantages of their customers’ inability to verify through independent sources where the jeans are made, according to the complaint.
Consumers are willing to spend more for jeans they believe are made domestically because they consider the clothing to be of a higher quality than those stitched in foreign countries, the suit states.
“Had plaintiffs known the truth about the country of origin claims on the Joe’s Jeans brand denim products they purchased, they would not have bought the jeans or would have paid much less for them,” the suit states.
