Finance
Italian Court Lifts Controls Placed on Valentino Unit Over Labour Practices
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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An Italian court has ended the special judicial administration on Valentino Bags Lab over labour violations ahead of schedule. Valentino credits enhanced governance, stronger supplier vetting, and improved supply‑chain oversight for the decision.
Italian Court Ends Judicial Controls on Valentino Bags Lab Over Labour Issues
Valentino Bags Lab Judicial Administration and Labour Practices
MILAN, April 7 (Reuters) - Fashion house Valentino said on Tuesday that an Italian court has ended early the special administration imposed on a unit of the luxury group over labour practices of its Chinese-owned subcontractors.
Background: Judicial Administration Imposed
In May 2025, the court placed Valentino Bags Lab under one year's judicial administration for subcontracting its production to Chinese-owned firms that exploited workers.
Valentino's Response and Governance Improvements
Company Statement on Court Decision
"Valentino... welcomes the decision by the Court to bring to an early conclusion the judicial administration measure concerning Valentino Bags Lab S.r.l., the entity responsible for producing the brands accessories line," the company said in an emailed statement.
Strengthening Supply Chain Oversight
Valentino said it had strengthened governance safeguards and introduced a more targeted supplier qualification process, further improving systems to monitor and control its supply chain.
Industry Context: Labour Violations in Italian Fashion
Judicial Actions Against Fashion Brands
Italian prosecutors have placed several units of high‑end fashion brands under various forms of judicial administration over the past two years over suspected labour violations, while another 13 have been subject to inspections - cases that have tainted the sector's image.
Ownership Structure of Valentino
Major Stakeholders
Valentino is controlled by Qatar-backed investment firm Mayhoola, while French luxury group Kering owns a 30% stake in the company.
(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Key Takeaways
- •The court originally imposed one year of judicial administration in May 2025 due to labour abuses by Chinese‑owned subcontractors of Valentino Bags Lab (businessoffashion.com).
- •Valentino strengthened governance protocols and supplier qualification processes to secure early termination of the administration (businessoffashion.com).
- •Valentino is majority‑owned (70%) by Qatar’s Mayhoola with Kering holding 30%; Kering’s option to acquire full control has been postponed to 2029 under a revised agreement (en.wikipedia.org).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Italian court lifts controls placed on Valentino unit over labour practices
1Why was Valentino Bags Lab placed under judicial administration?
Valentino Bags Lab was placed under judicial administration for subcontracting its production to Chinese-owned firms that exploited workers.
2What changes did Valentino implement after the administration?
Valentino strengthened governance safeguards, introduced a targeted supplier qualification process, and improved systems to monitor and control its supply chain.
3Who controls Valentino?
Valentino is controlled by Qatar-backed investment firm Mayhoola, with French luxury group Kering owning a 30% stake.
4How widespread are judicial administrations in the Italian fashion industry?
Several units of high-end fashion brands in Italy have been placed under judicial administration or inspection for suspected labour violations in the last two years.
5What triggered the early conclusion of Valentino Bags Lab's administration?
The Italian court ended the administration early after Valentino improved its supply chain controls and governance measures.
