A New York court recently ruled in a case involving a dispute over custom-made bras. The Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, decided that Akhira S. Raju is entitled to a partial refund from Rue Du Paradis, LLC. This ruling could impact how custom clothing businesses handle returns and warranties in the future.
The case, Raju v. Rue Du Paradis, LLC, was filed under docket number SC-002398-25/KI and was decided by Judge Chidi A. Eze on March 27, 2026. Raju, who represented herself in court, claimed that the bras she ordered did not fit properly and sought a refund. The decision highlights the complexities involved in custom product agreements and the expectations surrounding returns.
In this case, Raju first discovered Rue Du Paradis, a company specializing in custom-made ladies' brassieres, through Instagram in 2022. After visiting the shop for measurements, she ordered five bras for a total of $736. However, after receiving the bras in June 2023, Raju claimed they did not fit correctly and requested adjustments. The defendant, Rue Du Paradis, agreed to make adjustments, but Raju later faced issues regarding the return policy and the number of bras she received back after the adjustments were made.
During the trial, Raju argued that the return policy was not disclosed when she made her purchase. Rue Du Paradis countered that Raju was aware of the 30-day return policy, which was stated on their website. The court found Raju's claim about the policy's timing to be unconvincing, noting that she did not provide evidence to support her assertion. The judge determined that Rue Du Paradis waived the return policy by agreeing to make adjustments to the bras.
The court ruled that Raju's claim involved two potential legal theories: rescission and breach of warranty. Rescission would require Raju to return all defective items to the seller, which she did not do. The court stated, "A buyer's 'mere complaint about the goods does not constitute a clear and unequivocal act of rejection.'" Since Raju kept one of the bras and did not return the others, she could not rescind the contract fully.
If Raju were to pursue a breach of warranty claim, she would need to demonstrate the difference in value between the bras as received and their warranted value. However, the court noted that Raju did not articulate this claim clearly in her complaint. The judge concluded that Raju's case primarily focused on rescission, which she failed to execute properly.
Despite the ruling against Raju for the majority of her claims, the court did find in her favor regarding one of the bras. Rue Du Paradis failed to return one of the bras after making adjustments, which entitled Raju to a partial refund. The court ordered Rue Du Paradis to pay Raju $147.20, which is the prorated cost of the missing bra, plus interest from January 10, 2024.
This ruling may have implications for custom clothing businesses, particularly regarding how they communicate their return policies and handle customer complaints. Businesses may need to ensure that customers fully understand their rights and obligations when purchasing custom items.
Moving forward, Rue Du Paradis may need to review its return policy and how it is communicated to customers to prevent similar disputes. Raju's case serves as a reminder for consumers to be aware of return policies, especially when dealing with custom products.
As for the possibility of an appeal, the court's ruling does not indicate whether Raju plans to challenge the decision. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases or potential appeals.