Labour Lens

MCM

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Clothing & footwear

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Munich luxury house selling logo-printed bags and backpacks.

MCM 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.

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 1 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 1 of 6

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its products are made in South Korea, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
  • 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 and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton

Red flags 2

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain, partly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

MCM says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
GermanyStrong protectionsAbout a living wageLow
ItalyStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
South KoreaNo guarantee of rightsClose to a living wageLow

Evidence

What we found

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Traces or certifies most but not all of its leather. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.

Research notes MCM says its products are designed and made in Italy, Germany and South Korea, but it gives no shares by country and publishes no supplier or factory list. It says all the leather it buys comes from tanneries rated by the Leather Working Group, and a digital product passport on select styles shows the origin of materials. It has published no modern slavery statement, social audit results or living wage commitment for the workers who make its products.

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. MCM - Positive Luxury member profile · search the archive · 100% of leather sourced comes from Leather Working Group rated tanneries; certified 2022; no factory, audit or worker disclosures shown.

Published by MCM or its owner

  1. MCM corporate page · search the archive · MCM products are designed and manufactured in Italy, Germany and Korea; founded in Munich in 1976.
  2. MCM: Our Digital Product Passport · search the archive · NFC passport on select styles shows production journey and origin of materials.
  3. Sungjoo Group: CEO message · search the archive · Sungjoo Group acquired MCM in 2005 and lists it among its brands.

Company details

Headquarters
Germany
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is MCM ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mcm, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.

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Something missing or wrong?

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