Dior supplier in Italy under fire for labour exploitation

[allanrvj]

The claim that "[we] didn't hear anything from major fashion publications" is not entirely true:

Dior Unit Put Under Court Administration in Italy Over Labour Exploitation

An inquiry alleged it had sub-contracted work to Chinese companies that exploited workers. The company will be placed under judicial administration for one year.

www.businessoffashion.com

Italian Sweatshop Probe Is a Wake Up Call for Luxury Brands

An investigation into labour exploitation in fashion’s Italian supply chains has already entangled Armani and LVMH, accusing the companies of failing to adequately oversee their suppliers. Incoming EU regulation means such lapses in oversight could soon come with penalties of up to five percent...

www.businessoffashion.com

At the end of the second article, this disclaimer is provided:


I have not seen any articles from WWD regarding this issue, though.

I guess what's lacking from BoF is the visibility of the Dior article. When you go to their main page, this is the only Dior article you will find:



It is well hidden under Sustainability when it should've been a bigger news article since it pertains to crime, specifically labor exploitation. And there is no mention of it on their instagram page (that has 2.9 M followers) except for an opinion piece entitled The Myth of Ethical Luxury, when it should've been a bigger news since, again, a link between a popular luxury brand and crime should somewhat be a big deal.

 

[keodi]

I guess what's lacking from BoF is the visibility of the Dior article. When you go to their main page, this is the only Dior article you will find:

View attachment 6029772

It is well hidden under Sustainability when it should've been a bigger news article since it pertains to crime, specifically labor exploitation. And there is no mention of it on their instagram page (that has 2.9 M followers) except for an opinion piece entitled The Myth of Ethical Luxury, when it should've been a bigger news since, again, a link between a popular luxury brand and crime should somewhat be a big deal.

Very good point, and I agree.

 

[lani15]

I will never buy any bag from Dior. I'm sure many other brands are doing this but none of the bags that I've seen people carry were bags that I even wanted.

This is pure, unadulterated greed.

 

[lani15]

Dior bags itself holds if not the Worst resale value of all time and to know some of these bags cost $60 to make truly devalues the item.
Poor conditions and exploitations make it a lot worst!

The revelation of the markup, I won't be shopping at Dior further and buying jewellery is better.
At least you know your piece didn't cost below $100 to make l!

I agree. I am unsure if I will buy anything from this brand. It would be one thing if they charge so much to pay their workers equitable and fair wages, but it's not. They are greedy and charge a lot for such a cheap purse.

 

[chanellover333]

Diamonds in Dubai posted a story asking for opinions if Dior is responsible for this or if they are not because it was a subcontractor. I was pleasantly surprised to see over 90% of poll respondents said they are responsible.

 

[SDC2003]

She is spot on regarding this. I am curious if vogue vanity fair etc would dare to publish an article. Would Anna be invited back to a runway show?

 

[SDC2003]

I’m an LV girl through and through, but have noticed the quality issues over the years. Have considered selling all of my LV and buying Goyard or Chanel instead, but even that sounds dumb now.

Nothing will change until the CEO’s and board members of the companies doing this are hauled off for violation of labor laws, endangerment, fraud, etc.

I’m very disillusioned with the “luxury” market at this point.

I could be mistaken but I think
Goyard only manufactures in France?

 

[papertiger]

I could be mistaken but I think
Goyard only manufactures in France?

What's your point? There are plenty of shady labour practices in France.

The fact that the Italian police swooped on this factory in Prato shows the illegality. If it were in France it would also be illegal.

Illegal is illegal.

 

[papertiger]

Diamonds in Dubai posted a story asking for opinions if Dior is responsible for this or if they are not because it was a subcontractor. I was pleasantly surprised to see over 90% of poll respondents said they are responsible.

They are 100% responsible because they have signed-up to be responsible. All LVMH's (including Dior) Aura Blockchain Consortium members (founded by LVMH and Prada Group) are responsible for overseeing their partners (including subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, subcontractors, suppliers and collaborators).

Just goes to show, these regulators, their regulations and operations, either mean nothing or don't work. Data, is only as good as input and no lying/false info by affiliates.

Technology means nothing unless it's scrutinised, analysed, evaluated and properly. Dior completely failed, as did LVMH and Aura. Overseas or at home in France, they literally promised to be responsible and guaranteed through blockchain method nothing would get passed them.

 

[SDC2003]

What's your point? There are plenty of shady labour practices in France.

The fact that the Italian police swooped on this factory in Prato shows the illegality. If it were in France it would also be illegal.

Illegal is illegal.

My point being is we’ve been talking about labor practices in ltaly. What evidence has there been for France? Based on a conversation with a French friend who has a business in France there are far more labor protections in France compared to Italy. Has there been evidence of workers working for 24 hours straight in France? Sleeping where they work? How about safety issues like lack of proper exits? Machines that have eliminated safety devices?

Edit: there are varying ranges of illegal. Some not having properly lit exit signs or no soap in bathrooms or paying 3 euro less versus 30 euro less an hour. These issues in Italy have been going on for decades. What illegalities to this level have been committed in France? Yes there are shady practices everywhere but in Italy it seems much more common given the number of articles out there and it continues on. That’s what extremely concerning.

 

[papertiger]

My point being is we’ve been talking about labor practices in ltaly. What evidence has there been for France? Based on a conversation with a French friend who has a business in France there are far more labor protections in France compared to Italy. Has there been evidence of workers working for 24 hours straight in France? Sleeping where they work? How about safety issues like lack of proper exits? Machines that have eliminated safety devices?

Edit: there are varying ranges of illegal. Some not having properly lit exit signs or no soap in bathrooms or paying 3 euro less versus 30 euro less an hour. These issues in Italy have been going on for decades. What illegalities to this level have been committed in France? Yes there are shady practices everywhere but in Italy it seems much more common given the number of articles out there and it continues on. That’s what extremely concerning.

Your friend obviously ran a legitimate business legitimately. My mother lived in France for 10 years, living there you meet a lot of different types of people. Travail au noir is very common, especially for undocumented workers (similar to the workforce in the factory in Prato). The same sub-economy goes on in the UK and all over Europe.

Deliveroo France sentenced for undeclared work: a step towards reconsideration of the delivery platform business model ? - Alerion Avocats Paris

After the social law chamber of the French supreme court (Cass. soc., 4 March 2020, n°19-13.316) recharacterized the service provision contracts of “UBER drivers” as employment contracts, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Deliveroo France to pay a 375,000 euro fine for the offence of undeclared...

www.alerionavocats.com

The Forgotten misery of migrant workers in France

The Forgotten misery of migrant workers in France

impactpolicies.org

Undeclared cash earnings are costing France €7 billion a year - Monaco Life

With two out of three of its self-employed workers pocketing “black money”, undeclared earnings could be costing France €7 billion per year.

monacolife.net

 

[SDC2003]

Your friend obviously ran a legitimate business legitimately. My mother lived in France for 10 years, living there you meet a lot of different types of people. Travail au noir is very common, especially for undocumented workers (similar to the workforce in the factory in Prato). The same sub-economy goes on in the UK and all over Europe.

Deliveroo France sentenced for undeclared work: a step towards reconsideration of the delivery platform business model ? - Alerion Avocats Paris

After the social law chamber of the French supreme court (Cass. soc., 4 March 2020, n°19-13.316) recharacterized the service provision contracts of “UBER drivers” as employment contracts, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Deliveroo France to pay a 375,000 euro fine for the offence of undeclared...

www.alerionavocats.com

The Forgotten misery of migrant workers in France

The Forgotten misery of migrant workers in France

impactpolicies.org

Undeclared cash earnings are costing France €7 billion a year - Monaco Life

With two out of three of its self-employed workers pocketing “black money”, undeclared earnings could be costing France €7 billion per year.

monacolife.net

I thought we were talking about the luxury industry? My friend works in the luxury industry. has there been evidence of Prato like practices with luxury companies in France? With Chanel Hermes goyard in France?

 

[Kfka_btsea]

I just noticed a vast number of h Rtw items are made in Italy. This includes coats over 10k. I have some sweaters that were made in France nearly a decade ago but now made in Italy. If labor is as cheap as it is now in Italy talk about huge profit margins.

Yes, smth i didn’t understand when buying bags (not H) was when an SA told me that production was being moved from France to Italy, and hence the new bag would be cheaper because costs were.

Maybe because France has better laws about these things? (Idk but just guessing)

 

[papertiger]

Yes, smth i didn’t understand when buying bags (not H) was when an SA told me that production was being moved from France to Italy, and hence the new bag would be cheaper because costs were.

Maybe because France has better laws about these things? (Idk but just guessing)

Since the laws were broken in Italy, making the story newsworthy, obviously Italy also has strict labour laws.

LVMH is also famous from a non-unionized workforce, the company was also targeted when the government raised the retirement age of French workers last year because it signifies inequality between workers and management.

What France has, is a tight-lipped media about violations that concern luxury (forecasted approx. $6.86B 2024 revenue to France). France's 2 largest companies are LVMH and Kering

The centre for leather-goods excellence has always been in Italy, which is why Louis XIV of France shoes were made by Italians.


This is LVMH's Code of Conduct. It's available in Chinese. Obviously, whether the illegal Chinese-owned factory was in Italy, or had they set it up in France it would still be illegal. Either way the Chinese owners 'forget' to read the Code of Conduct and LVMH/Dior 'forgot' to run checks. It would not have made any difference if the factory was in France.

Perhaps it's that the US people's crazy French fantasy cliché (more specifically Paris) that refuses to believe anything bad happens in France, luxury or otherwise.

 

[SDC2003]

This was originally from the ny times but it seems the labor issues are significant in Italy. How do they not even have minimum wage? And this shadow economy of home workers subcontracting is just shocking.

Inside Italy's shadow economy | Pulse Nigeria

The woman, who asked not to be named for fear that she could lose her livelihood, receives just 1 euro from the factory that employs her for each meter of fabric she completes.

www.pulse.ng