Italian police raided the offices of nine luxury brands, including Bulgari, Chanel, Brunello Cucinelli, Etro, Goyard Italie, Jacob Cohen Company, Moncler, and Stefano Ricci on July 16, 2026, over suspicions they subcontracted production to factories exploiting Chinese workers [1, 2, 3, 4]. Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari confirmed the investigation, saying police targeted suspected subcontracting that employed Chinese labor under poor conditions [1, 2, 3, 4].
This raid follows a similar operation in December 2025, when Milan's Carabinieri labor unit investigated 13 luxury brands for comparable exploitation in their supply chains [1]. Storari noted the widespread presence of poor working conditions and labor exploitation in supply chains of major Italian fashion brands [2, 3, 4].
The current operation involves nine companies, none of which are currently under formal investigation nor have court-appointed management imposed, unlike some firms investigated prior and placed under judicial supervision after promising better oversight [1, 2, 3, 4].
Brunello Cucinelli expressed surprise and sadness after materials intended for packaging were found at unsuitable workplaces, pledging full cooperation to protect workers and defend the "Made in Italy" brand [1]. Meanwhile, the Italian government and businesses have defended the reputation of Italian luxury brands. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said last year that the "Italian brands' reputation is under attack" [2, 3, 4].
Other luxury brands such as Prada, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, and Loro Piana have also been implicated in related probes into labor exploitation [2, 3, 4]. The probes reveal that major Italian brands often subcontract to suppliers who further subcontract to factories with exploitative labor conditions employing Chinese workers [2, 3, 4].
The Milan prosecutor's office continues its work to uncover and address exploitation in luxury supply chains. Further developments are expected as investigations proceed.
