Brunello Cucinelli
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Italian luxury fashion company best known for cashmere knitwear.
Brunello Cucinelli publishes no supplier list or independent audits, which Italian fashion needs before we presume a living wage, because Milan prosecutors have found luxury brands' subcontractors exploiting migrant workers.
Better-graded luxury and designer
Graded higher than Brunello Cucinelli, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
No luxury and designer brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Brunello Cucinelli? Send a right of reply.
Compare Brunello Cucinelli with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton, leather and cashmere) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Brunello Cucinelli's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
Knitwear, Shirts, Pants & trousers, Jackets & coats, Suits, Dresses & skirts, T-shirts, Shoes, Sneakers, Bags & backpacks: Lacks transparency, the same as Brunello Cucinelli overall, because nothing we know differs between them.
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where it's made
Brunello Cucinelli says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- Being made in Italy doesn't count towards a living wage or audit here: Italian fashion and leather goods, where Milan prosecutors have found luxury brands' subcontractors exploiting migrant workers. It would need to publish its suppliers or have them independently audited. Source
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
- Uses leather in only a few products and doesn't show where it comes from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its cashmere. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Brunello Cucinelli outsources production to 426 artisan workshops (about 8,000 artisans), all in Italy and about 70% in Umbria; more than half work only for the company. Its own staff carried out 396 audits of these makers in 2025, but it publishes no supplier list, audit results or independent audits. It says workers get a 'proper wage' but makes no living wage commitment. Its cashmere comes from China and Mongolia, spun mainly by an Italian mill. In July 2026 its offices were searched in a Milan subcontractor probe; no findings have been made against it.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | Scored 34.8 of 250 points (about 14%) in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, below the 26% average. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Its 2025 modern slavery statement (UK, Australian, Californian and Canadian laws) says all 426 artisan workshops are in Italy and reports 396 internal audits, with no results published. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Problem found | Its offices were searched in July 2026 in a Milan prosecutors' probe into exploitation of Chinese workers at luxury subcontractors; no charges reported. View |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- In July 2026 Italian police, acting for Milan prosecutors, searched the offices of Brunello Cucinelli and ten other luxury brands in a probe into subcontractors suspected of exploiting Chinese workers; Cucinelli said some of its packaging material was found in an unsuitable workplace. No charges or court findings have been reported (Luxury Tribune, 2026). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Brunello Cucinelli - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · FTI 2023 34.8/250; no public evidence suppliers pay a living wage
- Brunello Cucinelli - Good On You · search the archive · Leather: listed among animal materials used; no evidence of living wages; most final production in Italy
- Chanel and Brunello Cucinelli confirm their cooperation with Italian authorities (Luxury Tribune, 2026) · search the archive · July 2026 search by Milan prosecutors; Cucinelli says packaging material found in an unsuitable workplace
- Italy investigates Chanel, Bulgari and other luxury brands (FashionUnited, 2026) · search the archive · Eleven brands including Cucinelli searched; suspicions only, no charges reported
Published by Brunello Cucinelli or its owner
- Brunello Cucinelli Modern Slavery Statement FY2025 · search the archive · 426 workshops all in Italy; 396 internal audits in 2025; 3,539 staff; leather mainly from Italian tanneries; 'proper wage', no living wage pledge
- Italian craftsmanship and manual skills (Brunello Cucinelli investors) · search the archive · Production outsourced to about 400 workshops, about 70% in Umbria, products made in Italy
- Cashmere (Brunello Cucinelli) · search the archive · Cashmere: says its cashmere comes from China and Mongolia
Company details
- Headquarters
- Italy
- Employees
- About 3,539
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Brunello Cucinelli ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/brunello-cucinelli, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Brunello Cucinelli.