Century 21 carries fur products by Marc Jacobs that an independent Humane Society probe found contain raccoon dog fur.  It's a faux fur fakeout — Marc Jacobs jackets being sold at Century 21 department stores actually contain dog hair.  Even if the labels say otherwise, the “faux fur” garments sold by the retailer are made with the fur of cuddly Chinese raccoon dogs, a breed that’s often skinned alive for its soft coat.  Tests arranged as part of an undercover probe by the Humane Society and state Assembly member Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) identified various items hawked by Century 21 as containing real canine fur, disgusted shoppers found out Thursday.  “I think that’s horrible, because I don’t believe in wearing real fur,” snapped tourist Kayla East, 23, of Toronto, as she shopped Thursday at Century 21’s popular lower Manhattan outlet. “I would really be upset if I purchased something that said it was fake, and it was real.”  The controversial clothing included purported faux fur-trimmed jackets from dog-loving designer Marc Jacobs, according to the Humane Society and Rosenthal investigation.  Tests indicated the fur on the “Marc by Marc Jacobs” coats instead came from the raccoon dog. Investigators said the real fur, generally of a low quality, is actually cheaper than the fake stuff.  “Anybody who doesn’t want to buy animal fur should be very angry that a product that they’re trying to avoid is being misrepresented as a product they may want to buy,” said Pierre Grzybowski of the Humane Society’s Fur Free Campaign.  Designer Jacobs famously owns a pair of bull terriers, and sports a tattoo of the dogs on his shoulder. He has previously come under fire from PETA from his work with real fur designs.  The Jacobs jackets were sold online, while clothing like the “Trust Fund Baby” sweater and the “Save the Queen” jacket was purchased at two Manhattan locations during the five-month investigation.  Shopper Caroline Viaud, 27, of Paris, said it reminded her of meatballs tainted by horse meat that were sold at some Ikea stores.  “We don’t know what we buy anymore,” she griped. “It’s disgusting.”  Viaud, who was wearing a coat with a fur-trimmed hood, said it featured fake fur — or so she hoped. Jacobs did not respond to a call for comment, but fashion expert Phillip Bloch predicted fans of the designer would fur-get about the flap.  “He’s a good guy; he’s philanthropic, he cares,” said Bloch. “It’s upsetting to anyone to have that story come out. But Marc didn’t go out and kill the raccoon dogs.”  Century 21 issued a statement pointing the finger at the manufacturers, although state law — introduced by Rosenthal — requires labeling of all garments as “real fur” or “faux fur.”  “Century 21 does not create garment labels, the manufacturers do,” the retailer said.
The fur is flying at Century 21 department stores and animal rights groups are furious.  Undercover purchases made by the Humane Society of the United States - with the assistance of Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal - revealed the retailer sold several garments labeled as “faux fur” that actually contained real animal fur.