Fashion Nova is a fast-fashion brand that brings Instagram trends and celeb fashion straight to your door at affordable prices. Returns are easy, plus a large selection of sizes, including plus, maternity, and petite styles available.
This company quickly rose to fame thanks to celebrity endorsement from Cardi B. However, it recently reached a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations it suppressed negative reviews on its clothing line.
The Kristen Latex Dress
Fashion Nova, the fast fashion juggernaut made famous by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s endorsement, has come under scrutiny over allegations it attempted to suppress negative customer reviews on its website. Fashion Nova settled a $4.2 million class-action lawsuit alleging they used a third-party review management platform that automatically posted four and five-star ratings while holding lower-starred ones back for approval before publishing, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Fashion Nova reached an agreement to reimburse all consumers who purchased its products between late 2015 and November 2019, as well as to cease using third-party review systems such as Yelp or similar platforms for reviews between late 2015 and November 2019 using third-party review systems such as Yelp or similar ones. They have also pledged to publish all online reviews that don’t contain profanity, threatening language, or illegal content and publish all online reviews unless these include profane, threatening, or other unreasonable terms and refrain from misrepresenting the authenticity of product ratings from now on.
The Federal Trade Commission alleges in its complaint against this company that their use of the review-management system to suppress hundreds of thousands of negative comments from various customers, including those with differing skin tones and age groups, violated federal laws prohibiting false advertising and unfair competition.
Fashion Nova’s celebrity fanfare seems to have diminished over the years. Although Fashion Nova released two collections with Cardi B in 2018 and 2019, no new line has been unveiled since the four styles released are still prominently featured on its site, though heavily discounted. Megan Thee Stallion continues her endorsement of swimwear and apparel lines offered by the company; her design can still be found at an extreme discount on its site.
Fashion Nova and government agencies have clashed over consumer- and labor-related issues. In 2020, Fashion Nova reached a $9.3 million settlement in a class action accusing it of preventing customers from canceling orders and offering gift cards instead of refunds; within that same year, both DOL and The New York Times conducted investigations at its factories that revealed it employed workers earning less than minimum wage conditions in dangerous and unhygienic factories.
The Stella Jeans
If you’ve ever browsed Instagram, chances are you have come across someone wearing Fashion Nova. This company has made waves by releasing new outfits every week and using influencers to promote them; their marketing strategy has proven highly successful, and become one of the fastest-growing fashion brands today.
Fashion Nova began as a brick-and-mortar store in 2006, but 2013 launched their online store to bring them closer to their consumers. Their digital presence allowed them to move more inventory quickly while selling more items at an accelerated rate – plus turning viral celebrity photos into clothing pieces ready for shipping in just hours!
The Stella jeans are denim shorts designed to showcase your feminine legs while staying warm this winter. They’re the ideal combination of style and practicality, available in various wash options.
Fashion Nova’s use of an illegal third-party review management interface allowed only four and five-star reviews to appear on their website, depriving consumers of valuable information while artificially increasing average star ratings. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) complaint against Fashion Nova, this practice deprives them of valuable insight into product offerings, artificially inflating average ratings and increasing average star ratings unnecessarily.
Saghian is working on ways to retain his team as his company expands. Poaching has been identified as an issue, and no plans exist for outside hiring; additionally, he wants to ensure his employees receive fair wages.
Fashion Nova may be best known for its fast-fashion offerings, yet its production processes may pose challenges. According to the Fashion Transparency Index, they received a low transparency score due to failing to disclose whether their suppliers meet labor standards that guarantee worker safety, gender equality, or living wages – something many consumers find concerning. Furthermore, no list of factories was published, which often serves as a red flag.
The Lily Jeans
E-commerce company Wiggle has earned global attention for their celebrity-approved jeans but has recently come under scrutiny over allegations they blocked negative reviews. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Wiggle used an automated system that published four and five-star ratings while suppressing lower-starred ratings that provide valid consumer data about products.
The company will pay $4.2 million to settle allegations made against it by the FTC; however, it neither admitted wrongdoing nor denied the FTC’s complaint. They have agreed to publish all customer reviews about products they sell, with one exception being reviews that contain sexually explicit material, racism-based commentary, or are unrelated to development or customer service delivery. The settlement comes amid a crackdown by the FTC on review management services used by retailers to avoid publishing negative customer feedback reviews.
Fashion Nova was also subjected to an FTC complaint last year after The New York Times revealed its contracting of LA factories where workers make as little as $2.77 an hour and face various workplace hazards. Fashion Nova pledged to revamp its supply chain and work closely with unions to provide fair wages and benefits for workers.
But despite encounters with regulators over consumer and labor issues, the retailer has retained a devoted following, boasting that 80% of its shoppers are repeat purchasers who provide valuable feedback.
Fashion Nova’s return policy is one of the strictest in the industry; customers are only permitted to exchange items every six months at most and must pay a $5.99 restocking fee per item they return; further, Fashion Nova’s flash sales often induce impulse buys that cannot be returned even when things don’t fit or are damaged – leading some customers to file complaints against Fashion Nova to protect their interests with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The Ava Jeans
Fashion Nova’s celebrity-endorsed skintight denim collection now includes Ava jeans! These mid-rise-waisted, skinny-fit denim pants boast a mid-rise waistline with skinny-fit legs for an ultra-flattering silhouette. Each stretchy pair comes with front and back pockets to store essentials while featuring fly buttons, zipper closures, and belt loops for convenient on-the-go storage solutions. Wear them from day to night!
Fashion Nova jeans may have a higher price tag, though flash sales might offer better deals than expected. Otherwise, each pair costs $149 and come in sizes small, medium, large, extra-large, and XX-large; 84% of buyers said they would recommend them to friends!
Fashion Nova has been scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission over allegations it suppressed negative product reviews. According to FTC officials, California-based fast fashion retailer Fashion Nova used an automated review management platform that automatically posted four and five-star reviews while withholding hundreds of thousands of lower-starred reviews for approval later. According to them, this practice deprives shoppers of valuable information while artificially inflating product average star ratings, leaving shoppers lacking vital knowledge of products’ merits and artificially inflating average star ratings artificially inflated.
As part of its settlement agreement, in addition to paying $4.2 million, the company agreed not to misrepresent customer endorsements in future. It must post current reviews (except those with sexually explicit, racist, or illegal content, as well as reviews unrelated to product or customer service) on its website.
The agency noted that the FTC’s decision is intended to serve as a warning to companies using review management services to conceal negative customer feedback from being collected and published, cheating consumers while undermining honest businesses and polluting online commerce. A full description of the settlement will soon be published in the Federal Register; all comments can be made up until June 2022, when final decisions will be made on its terms; this marks the first time that an agency has challenged an attempt by an individual company or brand to suppress negative product reviews.