Anthro: USA April 2014

Anthropologie’s April catalog came out last week, and it again includes many pieces listed as made in the United States. I picked a few to share with you, and I have an interesting story that goes along with this post.

(The Shadowscape Tunic by Rachel Rose and the Water Lily Bib Necklace by Nicole Romano, via Anthropologie.)

The Shadowscape Tunic by Rachel Rose caught my eye immediately, and I love its relaxed peplum style and the gorgeous mint color, which are really on trend for spring and summer.

Nicole Romano has quite a few pieces of jewelry featured on Anthropologie’s site, and the Water Lily Bib Necklace is absolutely stunning. It would be a great statement necklace for years to come, and I really love its natural style paired with the sparkling crystals.

(The Calla Tunic by Left of Center and the Layered Willow Cami by Stark X, via Anthropologie.)

The Calla Tunic is perfect for hot summer days, and I’m a big fan of Left of Center’s flowing tops.

The Layered Willow Cami by Stark X is one of my favorite tanks in this catalog, and I love its whimsical layers and the pretty colorways. In the catalog, the shirt is listed as made in the USA, but on the website, it’s described as Imported. I’m noticing this discrepancy more and more often, and it’s becoming really frustrating. Without doing the detective work myself, I’m unsure of this brand’s origins, and I can’t seem to find much information about it online.

(The Avec V-Neck Tee by Dolan and the Carreau Maxi Dress by Lilka, via Anthropologie.)

Dolan is a brand I know, and their Avec V-Neck Tee is really lovely for warmer months. It drapes beautifully and is classically elegant, too.

And, last but not least, the Carreau Maxi Dress by Lilka is a gorgeous and versatile piece that caught my eye in the catalog right away.  Unfortunately, it’s another example of an Anthropologie item that is quite possibly made in the USA, as listed in the catalog, but described as Imported on the store’s site.

I decided that enough was enough, so I emailed Anthropologie’s customer service asking specifically about the Carreau Dress and the Lilka brand.  A few days later, I received an email that the matter was being investigated and I should receive a response shortly. A day later, another person emailed and asked me to tell him specifically which items in the catalog are labeled “USA.” Well, it’s fairly self-evident, so I asked again about the Lilka brand and listed a few of the pages with American-made items.  I also sent the link to my Anthro:USA series and explained my interest in American-made clothes, as well as the confusion that comes from mislabeling.  Monday, I received an email from a third person who apologized for the inconvenience and is passing my information to the “appropriate department.” I’m not sure if that means I’ll receive another email or not, so I inquired again about the Lilka dress.  I’m not holding my breath that I’ll hear anything back, but at least it’s all out in the open.

I find the mislabeling of these items incredibly frustrating, and as someone who shops online often, this makes me hesitant to buy more clothing from Anthropologie unless I’m absolutely certain where it’s coming from. I really like their style and overall aesthetic, they do carry quite a few actual American brands, and they are currently featuring a collaboration with East African artists.

I’m hoping they’ll get the hint, and I promise to update you if I do hear back from them.