To: info@helmets.org
Subject: Vogue Corporation Article
May 30, 1997
Mr. Randy Swart
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
4611 Seventh Street South
Arlington, Va 22204
Dear Mr. Swart:
The Vogue Corporation is currently operating out of Hong Kong and offering
bicycle helmets manufactured in Canton, China. Vogue is offering 24 different
bicycle helmet models bearing fraudulent SEI certification labels. These
helmets, although labeled SEI certified, have not been tested or certified.
Vogue is not a participant in the SEI Certification Program nor has their
current product been tested by the SEI laboratory. When significant SEI
efforts, over several months to correct the misrepresentations went unheated,
Vogue's actions were reported to the U.S. Customs Service, CPSC, Department of
Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission.
SEI requests that the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute retract the portion of
the article in The Helmet Update, May 1997 issue, which endorses Vogue
products. SEI would appreciate the opportunity to review any statement BHSI
issues on this subject.
Regards,
Thomas G. Augherton
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and our response:
==========================================
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997
To: "Patricia Gleason"
From: Randy Swart
Subject: Re: Vogue Corporation Article
Thanks for your message about Vogue helmets. I have posted it on our
Web site as a warning to all.
I would like to clarify that we did not "endorse" Vogue's helmets in
our newsletter, and do not endorse any manufacturer's product. What
we said was:
"Our award for Smart Helmet Idea of the Year goes to the new and
little-known Taiwanese helmet manufacturers who have introduced
helmets made of PU (expanded polyurethane) foam at retail prices
generally below $20, mostly certified to the tougher Snell B-95
standard. PU foam has fine and very uniform cells in well-foamed
helmets, with a "skin" formed in the mold. The manufacturers include
such names as Aerogo, Hoyama (Hoya), Jago, THH/Sunbeam Trading, VOC
Vogue, United Royal Sports, Happy Way Enterprises and Great Group."
We have now added a sentence to the newsletter posted on our Web site
saying:
"(NOTE: Vogue has been accused by SEI of claiming SEI certification
on uncertified helmets!!)"
with a link from the words "accused by SEI" to a copy of your message.
I appreciated your letting us know about the problem.
Cheers.
Randy Swart
Director
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
info@helmets.org
For the original article mentioning this company's helmets, see our
Helmet Update of May, 1997.
This page was last revised on: November 13, 2003.
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