The Italian justice system continues to put pressure on luxury goods manufacturers, this time with collective proceedings brought by the Milan public prosecutor’s office. After an investigation into unethical practices among their subcontractors (and sub-subcontractors), the prosecutor issued “orders to produce documents” to such illustrious fashion houses as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent (Kering), Givenchy (LVMH), Prada and Versace (Prada Group), and others.
Shein is not the only one accused of exploiting Chinese labor…
And we need look no further than our neighbor, Italy, to discover practices that are every bit as bad as those of the low-cost platform.
New cases of possible negligence, or even complicity, by fashion and luxury brands in the exploitation of workers, particularly Chinese workers, have recently been uncovered by the Italian courts.
Twelve fashion houses in the crosshairs of Italian justice
After Armani, Dior, Gucci, Loro Piana, Tod’s, and Valentino, twelve new brands are now under simultaneous investigation for possible exploitation in their production chains: The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by prosecutor Paolo Storari, has issued 13 “orders to produce documents” in order to verify existing contracts and better understand the chain of contracts and subcontracts with suppliers, as well as the working conditions under which clothing and accessories sold for thousands of euros were manufactured.
Read also > Exploitation of Italian workers: Tod’s now under scrutiny
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