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HQ 964034





July 25, 2002

CLA2 RR: CR: TE 964034 SG

CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

TARIFF NO: 6203.42.4015, 6203.42.4050

Ms. Evelyn P. Milling, Customs Compliance Coordinator Kmart Corporation
Resource Center
3100 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084-3163

RE: Reconsideration of NY F83281, dated February 22, 2000; Classification of men’s pants and shorts; sleepwear vs. loungewear

Dear Ms. Milling: This is in reply to your letter of April 4, 2000, requesting reconsideration of New York Ruling Letter (NY) F83281, dated February 22, 2000, issued in response to your correspondence dated February 4, 2000, requesting a binding tariff classification ruling for a pair of men's shorts and pants. In support of your request for reconsideration you submit a number of samples, some additional information and what appears to be a hang tag specification sheet.

FACTS:

NY F83281 classified two samples, style 4292 and style 4165. Style 4292 is described as a pair of men’s woven 100% cotton flannel pants. The pants featured an elasticized waist, a fly with a substantial one-button closure, side seam slit pockets, and hemmed leg bottoms. Style 4165 is described a pair of men's woven 100% cotton flannel shorts. They featured an elasticized waistband, a fly with substantial one-button closure, and hemmed leg bottoms.

In NY F83281, the pants, style 4292 were classified in subheading 6203.42.4015, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA), which provides for, among other things, men's or boy's cotton trousers. The pants were found to be dutiable at the 2000 general rate of 17 percent ad valorem. The shorts, style 4165, were classified in subheading 6203.42.4050, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA), which provides for, among other things, men's or boy's cotton shorts. The shorts were also found to be dutiable at the 2000 general rate of 17 percent ad valorem.

Provided with your request for reconsideration is a sample of a pair of pants identified as style 4292. You indicate that the construction of the garment has changed for this particular style. The side pockets have been removed. The garment is made up of 100% cotton woven yard dyed fabric. The garment has an elastic waistband, "J" fly one button front opening and hemmed finish bottom. A sample of a men's woven flannel boxer, identified as style 4165, was also submitted. It has an elastic waistband, a "J" fly one button front opening and a hemmed finish bottom. You indicate that the boxers are part of a coordinate sleepwear group where each piece is sold separately and marketed as sleepwear. You attached a copy of a "Route 66" hang tag specification sheet.

You indicate that both garments are designed, manufactured and sold as a sleepwear garments, and therefore should be classified under subheading 6207.91. HTSUS.

ISSUE:

Whether the subject merchandise was properly classified as outerwear garments under heading 6203, HTSUS, or are sleepwear garments under heading 6207, HTSUS?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

Classification of goods under the HTSUS is governed by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI's). GRI 1 provides that classification shall be determined according to the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes. Merchandise that cannot be classified in accordance with GRI 1 is to be classified in accordance with subsequent GRI's taken in order.

Heading 6207, HTSUS, provides for, inter alia, men’s nightshirts, pajamas and similar articles. Customs has consistently ruled that pajamas are generally twopiece garments worn for sleeping. Onepiece garments such as sleep shorts and sleep pants used for sleeping are not classifiable as pajamas, instead they fall into a residual provision within heading 6207, HTSUS, for similar articles.

If it is determined that the subject bottoms are classifiable as outerwear or loungewear, the applicable heading for the bottoms is heading 6203, HTSUS, which provides for, inter alia, men’s trousers and shorts.

In determining the classification of garments submitted to be sleepwear, Customs usually considers the factors discussed in two court cases that addressed sleepwear. In Mast Industries, Inc. v. United States, 9 CIT 549, 552 (1985), aff’d 786 F.2d 144 (CAFC, 1986), the Court of International Trade considered the classification of a garment claimed to be sleepwear. The court cited several lexicographic sources, among them Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, which defined “nightclothes” as “garments to be worn to bed.” In Mast, the court determined that the garment at issue therein was designed, manufactured, and used as nightwear and therefore was classifiable as nightwear. Similarly, in St. Eve International, Inc. v. United States, 11 CIT 224 (1987), the court ruled the garments at issue therein were manufactured, marketed and advertised as nightwear and were chiefly used as nightwear. Finally, in Inner Secrets/Secretly Yours, Inc. v. United States, 885 F. Supp. 248 (1995), the court was faced with the issue of whether women’s boxerstyle shorts were classifiable as “outerwear” under heading 6204, HTSUS, or as “underwear” under heading 6208, HTSUS. The court stated the following, in pertinent part:

[P]laintiff’s preferred classification is supported by evidence that the boxers in issue were designed to be worn as underwear and that such use is practical. In addition, plaintiff showed that the intimate apparel industry perceives and merchandises the boxers as underwear. While not dispositive, the manner in which plaintiff’s garments are merchandised sheds light on what the industry perceives the merchandise to be.*** Further evidence was provided that plaintiff’s merchandise is marketed as underwear. While advertisements also are not dispositive as to correct classification under the HTSUS, they are probative of the way that the importer viewed the merchandise and of the market the importer was trying to reach.

Additionally, as this office has noted in prior rulings, “the merchandise itself may be strong evidence of use.” See Headquarters Ruling Letter (HQ) 957809, dated June 21, 1995, citing Mast Industries at 552, citing United States v. Bruce Duncan Co., 50 CCPA 43, 46 C.A.D. 817 (1963).

Furthermore, we bring your attention to International Home Textile, Inc., Slip Op. 97-31, March 18, 1997, which classified garments similar to those at issue here as loungewear in heading 6103, HTSUS. The court therein stated:

Based upon a careful examination of the loungewear as well as the testimony of the various witnesses, the court finds that the loungewear items at issue do not share that essential character of privateness or private activity. As the parties have already stipulated, the loungewear is used primarily for lounging and not for sleeping. The court finds no basis in the exhibits, the witness testimony, or the loungewear’s construction and design to find that it is inappropriate, at a minimum, for the loungewear to be worn at informal social occasions in and around the home, and for other individual, nonprivate activities in and around the house, e.g., watching movies at home with guests, barbequing at a backyard gathering, doing outside home and yard maintenance work, washing the car, walking the dog, and the like....

In the instant case, a physical examination of the garments at issue reveals several features that make them suitable for modesty purposes. The garments have fly opening with substantial one-button closure, and hemmed leg bottoms. As we have stated previously, a substantial one-button fly closure is not a useful feature on sleepwear, but on loungewear or a multi-purpose garment it serves to ensure modesty. This, as well as the other features listed above, are not indicative of sleepwear, but of a multipurpose garment that may (and probably will) be principally worn for the type of non-private activities named in International Home Textiles, Inc. Finally, although the samples before us may be worn to bed for sleeping, it is our opinion that their principal use is for “home comfort” and lounging. These garments can easily make the transition from inside the home (in a private setting) to outside the home (and a more social environment). See for example HQ 958594, dated January 26, 1996, in which we held that a placketed fly opening with a substantial one-button closure on similar bottoms was indicative of multi-purpose garments which will be worn for purposes other than sleeping. In addition, the samples submitted are made of fabric heavy enough for outdoor use.

In past rulings, Customs has stated that the crucial factor in the classification of a garment is the garment itself. As the court pointed out in Mast, "the merchandise itself may be strong evidence of use." Mast at 552, citing United States v. Bruce Duncan Co., 50 CCPA 43, 46, C.A.D. 817 (1963). However, when presented with a garment which is somewhat ambiguous and not clearly recognizable as sleepwear or underwear or outerwear, Customs will consider other factors such as environment of sale, advertising and marketing, recognition in the trade of virtually identical merchandise, and documentation incidental to the purchase and sale of the merchandise, such as purchase orders, invoices, and other internal documentation. It should be noted that Customs considers these factors in totality and no single factor is determinative of classification as each of these factors viewed alone may be flawed. For instance, Customs recognizes that internal documentation and descriptions on invoices may be selfserving as was noted by the court in Regaliti, Inc. v. United States, SlipOp. 9280 (May 21, 1992).

The National Import Specialist (NIS) for men's woven trousers visited a K-Mart store and viewed similar merchandise. In the store visited there were no separate "departments" for men's wearing apparel. All of the men's apparel was in one area, under a large overhead sign that read "MEN". The pants in the store that closely resembled the instant merchandise were labeled as part of a line of "casual clothing". They were on a rack marked "pants", and mixed with chinos and pants that were clearly outerwear merchandise. Adjacent to the pants rack was a rack that contained men's belts. On the back wall there were jeans and next to them, underwear. The next "aisle" contained men's colored pocket tee shirts. On the further most edge of the entire area containing men's clothing was a rack containing no more than a dozen packaged sets of pajamas. The garments similar to those at issue here were not located near the pajamas.

Based on our examination of the garments supplied, we find that they are loungewear, i.e., loose, casual clothes that are worn in the home for comfort. The garments' fabric, construction and design are suitable for the type of non-private activities named in International Home Textile, Inc. We note that the information you submitted gives no indication as to exactly how these garments will be marketed. In addition, we note that the specification sheets submitted for the hang tags (which you state will be on the subject garments) indicate a waist size and a length for the garments. Traditionally only men's outerwear pants are sized by waist size and length to ensure a proper fit. Thus it is Customs belief that the sizing provided for the subject pants is indicative of an outerwear garment. Additionally, we note that the tag appears to be a mock-up with no information as to style number, department category, or price to indicate it is anything other than an artist's rendition of the wishes of the Kmart marketing department. In light of all the foregoing, it is our opinion that although the garments may be worn to bed for sleeping, their principal use is for lounging. Accordingly, the classification of the garments in NY F83281 as loungewear is affirmed.

HOLDING:

The pants with a fly opening with a one-button closure, elasticized waist, and hemmed leg bottoms (style 4292) are properly classified in subheading 6203.42.4015, HTSUSA, which provides for “Men’s or boys’ suits, ensembles, suit-type jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (other than swimwear): Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: Of cotton: Other: Other: Trousers and breeches: Men’s: Other.” The general column one rate of duty is 16.8 percent ad valorem and the textile quota category is 347.

The shorts with a fly opening with a one-button closure, elasticized waist, and hemmed leg bottoms (style 4165) are properly classified in subheading 6203.42.4050, HTSUSA, which provides for “Men’s or boys’ suits, ensembles, suit-type jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (other than swimwear): Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: Of cotton: Other: Other: Shorts: Men's.” The general column one rate of duty is 16.8 percent ad valorem and the textile quota category is 347.

NY F83281 is affirmed.

The designated textile and apparel category may be subdivided into parts. If so, the visa and quota requirements applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected. Since part categories are the result of international bilateral agreements which are subject to frequent renegotiations and changes, to obtain the most current information available, we suggest you check, close to the time of shipment, the Status Report On Current Import Quotas (Restraint Levels), an internal issuance of the U.S. Customs Service which is updated weekly and is available for inspection at your local Customs office. The Status Report on Current Import Quota (Restraint Levels) is also available on the Customs Electronic Bulletin Board (CEBB) which can be found on the U.S. Customs Service Website at www.customs.treas.gov.

Due to the changeable nature of the statistical annotation (the ninth and tenth digits of the classification) and the restraint (quota/visa) categories, you should contact your local Customs office prior to importation of this merchandise to determine the current status of any import restraints or requirements.

Sincerely,

Myles B. Harmon, Acting Director
Commercial Rulings Division


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