kate spade new york has been made aware that our store shoppers (the reusable bags we provide to customers when they make a purchase) were made with a material different than what had been ordered.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, our shoppers were supposed to be made with 100% recycled polyester. Unfortunately, testing revealed that the shoppers are not 100% polyester. These shoppers are made of polypropylene.
Our shoppers currently have text (a materials claim) written on the inside lip and on the bottom that states the material is 100% recycled polyester.
We want the text to match the materials used so that we can be sure that our customers have the right information about the shoppers.
The materials used on the shoppers we received do not match what we ordered.
Testing done after the shoppers had already been delivered to stores and put into use revealed that the shoppers were made with materials that did not match what we ordered.
We have high standards and trust in our processes and products, and we expect our partners and vendors to perform to those standards.
kate spade new york has started working with a new vendor that will make the shoppers for us. We'll be in communication with the vendor and testing to make sure the shoppers live up to our expectations every step of the way.
We will continue to use the shoppers in-store until we have exhausted the supply. We will not destroy or discard the shoppers even though the material is not what we want it to be—two wrongs don't make a right.
We continuously strive to create a more responsible business model. But sometimes we find opportunities to improve our processes and implement better controls with respect to our vendors.
We are taking steps to ensure that the wording on the shoppers is accurate going forward. We will continue to be as vigilant as ever in monitoring our vendors to ensure we uphold our commitments as a responsible brand to our stakeholders.