Mi Piaci
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Auckland-designed women's footwear and accessories brand.
There's no proof Mi Piaci pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
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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
- Not met: Respects worker rights70% of its products are made in China, 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
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: leather
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Mi Piaci's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 70% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Spain | Not given | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Italy | Not given | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Portugal | Not given | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Owns or runs its own production
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- Doesn't show where its leather comes from. Leather is linked to hazardous tannery work and forced labour on some cattle ranches, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Mi Piaci says about 90% of its range is made at its own wholly owned factory in China, which it set up to control quality and working conditions; the rest comes from suppliers in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Its parent said in 2022 it was working towards a social accreditation for the China factory, but no audit results, supplier list, wage figures or labour certifications are published. Its parent scored 13/100 in Tearfund NZ's 2022 footwear report. It is increasing its use of Leather Working Group leather; no modern slavery statement was found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Overland Footwear (Mi Piaci, Merchant 1948) scored 13 out of 100 in Tearfund NZ's 2022 footwear report; it traced only 1-25% of final-stage factories and published no supplier list. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Footwear: An Industry Laced with Exploitation - appendix (Tearfund NZ, 2022) · search the archive · Overland Footwear (Mi Piaci) scored 13/100; 1-25% of final-stage factories traced; no supplier list; 0 for worker empowerment
- Kiwi brands rated among lowest in ethical footwear survey (1News, 2022) · search the archive · Mi Piaci, Merchant 1948 and Deuce scored 13%; director Louise Anselmi said results would inform its sustainability strategy
- Sole Responsibility (Merchant 1948 / Overland) · search the archive · Group is increasing its use of Leather Working Group leather; no factory location, audit or wage details
- Tearfund 2022 response (Merchant 1948 / Overland) · search the archive · Group owns its China factory as a wholly owned foreign enterprise; working towards a social accreditation for it; no supplier list or wage data
Published by Mi Piaci or its owner
- This is Mi Piaci (Mi Piaci blog) · search the archive · About 90% of the range is designed in Auckland and made at its own factory in China; the rest is made by small European artisans
- About Mi Piaci · search the archive · Own factory in China set up to ensure good working conditions; some footwear sourced from suppliers in Portugal, Spain and Italy
Company details
- Headquarters
- New Zealand
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Mi Piaci ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mi-piaci, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded footwear
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Mi Piaci.