The Italian fashion industry has responded to a scathing New York Times report published last week highlighting the plight of Italy’s underpaid and undeclared home garment workers. NYT, in its report titled ‘Inside Italy’s Shadow Economy,’ had described the fashion industry in Italy as a distressed labor market” where thousands of low-paid home workers create luxury garments without contracts or insurance with some earning less than 2 euros per hour and working up to 18-hour days sewing luxury garments that retail 1,000-times that amount.

The Italian fashion industry however disagrees with the publication’s characterisation, saying the issue of underpaid and undeclared home garment workers is limited and already being addressed. Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), the Italian chamber of fashion in its official statement, reiterated CNMI’s commitment towards making the Italian supply chain resilient, fair and humane on every front. The chamber continues to implement solutions using its evidence-base and by working collaboratively.