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A Loro Piana sweater is a hallmark of quality and luxury. But what happens when they’re the latest brand caught up in a sweatshop controversy?
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At the height of the quiet luxury aesthetic, Loro Piana soared to new heights as the brand reimaging luxurious cashmeres essentials so soft they feel like a dream. The brand epitomized craftsmanship, old world affluence, and elevated high-end styles. Yet, recently, the brand is raising questions about whether its perfected image is hiding a painful truth. What if the very hands that create such quality high-end items are paid almost nothing and forced to work long hours in bad conditions? What happens when brands like Loro Piana, known worldwide for their fine goods, face tough questions about their labor practices? And how can shoppers vet and trust luxurious brands whose ethics match their own?
Craftsmanship Meets Controversy
The Loro Piana story began with a wool merchant in Italy in the 1920s. Over time, it grew into a brand known for the best cashmere and vicuña, with amazing craftsmanship. Today, Loro Piana represents heritage and luxury. As a purveyor of luxury, a Loro Piana sweater has a “Made in Italy” tag. It holds special meaning, suggesting high quality, good working conditions, and fair pay. Shoppers generally trust this label when buying luxury fashion. However, this label can be misleading.
Italy’s fashion industry relies heavily on smaller workshops that oftentimes work as subcontractors for big brands. Economic pressure can push these smaller factories to cut costs and pay workers very little or making them work long hours. The “Made in Italy” tag, then, doesn’t always guarantee ethical labor. It becomes a shield hiding what really happens.
Recent reports have shone a harsh light on Italy’s luxury fashion production. In May 2025, arrests were made at Milanese factories where workers were forced to clock in 90-hour weeks for as little as $4.50 per hour. Other reports show allegations of work-related injuries, illegal immigration, and other workplace violations. These claims show that Italy’s luxury supply chain has serious issues with how workers are treated. And for fans of a Loro Piana sweater or jacket, reports showed that thousands of the brand’s cashmere pieces were made under exploitative labor conditions and illegal workshops.
Loro Piana, like many brands, use a network of outside factories and workshops. This system of subcontracting requires diligence to ensure that each seam, zipper, and pattern is sewn in factories that meet high environmental and ethical standards. When work is given to many different smaller companies, direct control is lost and ensuring these standards are met by every small workshop is not always enforced. This lack of direct control creates blind spots where exploitation can happen out of sight.
The human cost of these unethical labor is immense. Many garment workers come from vulnerable groups. They might be new immigrants who do not know their rights. Or, women fleeing domestic abuse who may feel trapped and unable to speak up. These workers often have little choice but to accept poor pay and long hours. The long workdays and low pay can hurt their physical health. It also affects their mental well-being. These conditions strip away dignity and exploit those who need protection the most.
Solutions and Accountability
In luxury fashion, many items are handcrafted by skilled workers as artists. Yet, even highly skilled labor can be exploited. If artisans are not paid fairly or lack proper protections, their “noble” craft becomes a form of “slavery.” Their special skills are used to create expensive goods, but they do not get a fair share of the value. This paradox highlights how even respected craft can hide deep unfairness.
Changing the luxury fashion industry requires clear steps that brands, governments, and industry regulators can take to acknowledge and enforce more ethical ways of doing business. Brands must vet their suppliers much more closely. This means strong, independent audits happening regularly. Third-party groups, not linked to the brand or supplier, should also do these checks. They can look at working hours, pay, and safety. This dual method of vetting factories will make it a lot more difficult for owners to hide illegal labor practices.
Brands like Loro Piana must take full charge of their whole supply chain and actively invest in workers’ livelihood. They should make sure all workers get fair wages and safe places to work. Brands should set clear ethical rules for every supplier, even the smallest ones. Some industry groups offer certifications for good practices. Joining these can show a brand’s commitment. Taking these steps makes sure luxury items are truly built with care.
As consumers, our shopping choices can drive change. Before you buy, ask questions. Does the brand say where its items are made? Do they talk about worker treatment? Look for labels that promise ethical production. Support brands that are open about their supply chains. If we demand more ethical goods, brands will listen. We help send a clear message that worker welfare matters.
The claims against Loro Piana offer a sharp reminder. The beautiful facade of luxury fashion can hide deep issues of labor exploitation. From hidden workshops to vulnerable workers, the journey of an expensive item is not always glamorous. This situation forces us to look again at what “luxury” truly means. It reminds us that every garment has a human story.
We must demand full transparency and strong accountability in luxury production. Brands must step up and own their supply chain from start to finish. Consumers, too, have a part to play by choosing wisely. Only when we prioritize ethical labor can we truly ensure that luxury does not come at the painful cost of human dignity.