Made in Italy? The Dark Side of Fashion

«Made in Italy?» — this is an investigative essay on the strategies of luxury Italian brands that earn billions of euros by relocating production to less developed countries and using almost slave labor. One female worker has been manually stuffing Moncler down jackets since she was 14, determining the required amount of down with precision down to the gram. And a seamstress, a holder of an economist diploma, is forced to control the cleaning schedule as a punishment for taking sick leave. Almost all workers in such factories have higher education but are deemed unnecessary by their own country. However, they are needed by the Italian fashion industry. The book not only exposes the ruthless practices of major fashion houses but also raises important questions about the morality and responsibility of luxury producers. Giuseppe Iorio shows how the dismal fate of those who have faced humiliation and injustice is reflected in the shiny windows of Italian boutiques, so that others can boast of a coveted label.