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AAFA Flags Toxic Counterfeits

• By  Textile Excellence
• February 15, 2026

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), supported by Intertek, released a new study assessing the safety of counterfeit textiles, accessories, footwear, and more: “Unboxing Fake Fashion Unleashing Real Dangers." 
The results reveal alarming evidence that counterfeit apparel, footwear, and accessory products present serious chemical and product safety hazards to consumers. 
Said Steve Lamar, president and CEO of AAFA: “These results, building on our 2022 study, show that counterfeit products, often purchased through unregulated third-party marketplaces, continue to pose real risks to American consumers. It’s time to act decisively to safeguard consumers from dangerous counterfeits. We call on policymakers to immediately address the very real dangers being trafficked online.” 

“Unboxing Fake Fashion Unleashing Real Dangers” includes four case studies drawn from the failed products, a list of all products tested, policy recommendations, and methodology. 

Findings on the failed products include: 

Of the 39 counterfeit products tested, including clothing, footwear, and other accessories, 16 products (41 percent) failed to comply with US and international product safety standards.

• Of the failing products, eight - representing more than 20% of the total counterfeit samples failed due to excessive phthalate levels.
• One product contained nearly 327,000 parts per million of diethyl phthalate (DEP), exceeding the regulatory limit by more than 650 times, as outlined within AAFA’s Restricted Substances List (RSL).
• Five products failed for PFAS, six for alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates (AP/APEOs), three for bisphenol-A (BPA), two for formaldehyde, and three for heavy metals.
• One product notably contained 191 parts per million of lead, while another contained almost ten times the regulatory limit for formaldehyde.
• All of the hazardous chemicals found in the tested counterfeit products are listed as restricted or banned chemicals in AAFA's RSL.

At least 25% of the failed counterfeit products were purchased on or marketed through the Meta platform. This finding suggests a high propensity of consumers are purchasing counterfeit goods through social media platforms, such as Facebook. This is one of the many reasons why AAFA has nominated Meta, and Meta-related platforms to be added to the US government’s years.

In AAFA’s 2025 comments to USTR on the Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, AAFA nominated several online marketplaces, including Meta, Shopee, and Alibaba for inclusion in the US government's Notorious Markets List. These online marketplaces continue to play host to not only counterfeit listings but also a web of fake advertisements, hidden links, fraudulent websites, and more, representing not only intellectual property theft, but also a real threat to consumer safety. 

At least 25% of the failed counterfeit products were purchased on or marketed through the Meta platform. This finding suggests a high propensity of consumers are purchasing counterfeit goods through social media platforms, such as Facebook. This is one of the many reasons why AAFA has nominated Meta, and Meta-related platforms to be added to the US government’s Notorious Markets List (NML) for many years.