The Italian competition authority, known as the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, has sanctioned Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and G.A. Operations S.p.A. with a fine of €3.5 million for engaging in misleading commercial practices. This penalty is based on violations of the Consumer Code, which were found to have occurred from April 22, 2022, to February 18, 2025.

The investigation revealed that the companies made false and unclear ethical and social responsibility claims regarding their production processes. These statements were prominently featured in their Ethical Code and on their websites, including Armani Values and Armani.com. The authority noted that the companies used sustainability as a marketing tool to meet rising consumer expectations, despite the reality of their production conditions.

Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that a significant portion of their leather goods production was outsourced to suppliers who, in turn, employed subcontractors. These subcontractors were found to have removed safety devices from machinery to increase productivity, thereby endangering worker safety and health. Additionally, the sanitary conditions were inadequate, and many workers were employed illegally.

The authority emphasized that the actual treatment of workers did not align with the ethical claims made by the companies. Evidence from inspections indicated that the working environment was often below acceptable standards, raising serious concerns about the adequacy and safety of the conditions under which the products were made.