Armani fined 3.5 million euros by CMA for unfair practices
According to a CMA statement, the companies' ethical claims were present in their Code of Ethics and on their websites, including "Armani Values." The authority found that these claims were used as a marketing tool to boost the brand's image and appeal to consumers who prioritise sustainability. However, the investigation revealed that a significant portion of Armani's leather bags and accessories production was outsourced to subcontractors with unsafe and unsanitary conditions. CMA accuses Armani of unfair practices
The CMA detailed several concerning findings at these subcontractors, including the removal of safety devices from machinery to increase production, which put workers' health and safety at risk. The investigation also found evidence of inadequate hygiene and sanitary conditions, as well as the employment of undeclared workers.
The CMA stated that these findings directly contradict the ethical and social responsibility claims made by the company. An internal Armani document from 2024 even described the working environments at some suppliers as "borderline acceptable." Armani responds to CMA allegations
In response to the penalty, Giorgio Armani Spa released a statement expressing "bitterness and astonishment" at the CMA's decision. The company announced its intention to appeal the ruling to the Administrative Court.
Armani emphasised that it is confident it has always operated with "the utmost propriety and transparency" and cited a recent decision by the Court of Milan that had previously revoked a judicial administration of G.A Operations Spa.
According to Armani, this decision acknowledged that the company already had "structured and tested supply chain control systems" in place. The company also claimed that it had not been given the opportunity to establish a constructive dialogue with the CMA during the investigation. This article was translated to English using an AI tool.
FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@fashionunited.com
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