Luxury or Labour? LVMH's Loro Piana faces heat over shocking worker abuse charges
So, here's the tea: A court in Milan just ruled that Loro Piana , a high-end cashmere brand now owned by LVMH was basically letting serious labour exploitation happen in its supply chain. Migrant workers stitching those luxurious cashmere pieces were reportedly living on factory floors, clocking up to a crazy 90-hour work week, and earning a meagre 4 euros per hour (that’s only ₹400).
Italian prosecutors say Loro Piana handed their work off to subcontractors who, sadly, didn’t pay decent wages and in some cases, abused the workers physically. Back in May 2025, Milan’s local police even shut down one such factory due to health hazards, safety breaches, and wage issues.
According to Reuters, this latest decision, issued on July 14, actually makes Loro Piana the fifth luxe label under judicial administration in Italy for similar abuses. Brands like Dior, Valentino, and Armani have already found themselves in the same boat.
The court’s 26-page verdict says Loro Piana will now be on drip-feed oversight for a full year. This comes out of a broader probe that first started in 2023 into subcontracting practices in Italy's luxury goods sector.
One of the more shocking revelations: a worker reported being assaulted by a workshop boss after requesting €10,000 in back pay. He allegedly suffered injuries serious enough to need 45 days of medical care.
Loro Piana, for its part, insists it wasn’t aware of these subcontracting issues and claims it cut ties with the supplier as soon as the problems came to light. They also released a statement saying, “Loro Piana strongly condemns any illegal practices and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to protecting human rights and complying with all applicable regulations throughout its entire supply chain.”
But let’s face it: with brand after brand going under scrutiny, Italy’s luxe-labour rep is taking a hit. Clearly, something needs to change in these supply chains, and fast, before “Made in Italy” becomes synonymous with worker exploitation .
Italian prosecutors say Loro Piana handed their work off to subcontractors who, sadly, didn’t pay decent wages and in some cases, abused the workers physically. Back in May 2025, Milan’s local police even shut down one such factory due to health hazards, safety breaches, and wage issues.
According to Reuters, this latest decision, issued on July 14, actually makes Loro Piana the fifth luxe label under judicial administration in Italy for similar abuses. Brands like Dior, Valentino, and Armani have already found themselves in the same boat.
The court’s 26-page verdict says Loro Piana will now be on drip-feed oversight for a full year. This comes out of a broader probe that first started in 2023 into subcontracting practices in Italy's luxury goods sector.
One of the more shocking revelations: a worker reported being assaulted by a workshop boss after requesting €10,000 in back pay. He allegedly suffered injuries serious enough to need 45 days of medical care.
Loro Piana, for its part, insists it wasn’t aware of these subcontracting issues and claims it cut ties with the supplier as soon as the problems came to light. They also released a statement saying, “Loro Piana strongly condemns any illegal practices and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to protecting human rights and complying with all applicable regulations throughout its entire supply chain.”
But let’s face it: with brand after brand going under scrutiny, Italy’s luxe-labour rep is taking a hit. Clearly, something needs to change in these supply chains, and fast, before “Made in Italy” becomes synonymous with worker exploitation .
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