Italian prosecutors have asked for judicial administration to be imposed on shoemaker Tod’s amid allegations of labour exploitation within its supply chain, as reported by Reuters.
The request, which would make Tod’s the sixth luxury label in Italy to face such oversight since the start of 2024, emerged in a decision by Italy’s Supreme Court.
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The court has set a hearing for 19 November 2025 to resolve a jurisdictional dispute between Milan prosecutors and an appeals court in the Marche region, where Tod’s is based.
Tod’s told Reuters that it had been notified of the upcoming hearing but had no further details.
“We can only reiterate that Tod’s complies with current legislation, including labour law, and that constant checks are carried out on the workshops we select and use,” the company stated.
It added that workshops sign agreements before starting work, guaranteeing the quality of employees’ work environments and compliance with labour contracts.
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By GlobalDataBut prosecutors allege that Tod’s “culpably failed” to adequately oversee its suppliers in pursuit of higher profits.
The company itself is not the subject of a criminal probe, with the focus on addressing issues in the supply chain.
The Milan appeals court had found the prosecutors’ request for administration to be well founded but ruled that territorial jurisdiction lay with the Marche region.
The Supreme Court will now determine which authority should proceed.
Recent investigations by Italian magistrates have uncovered widespread exploitation in fashion and luxury supply chains.
Responding to the Tod’s case, industry minister Adolfo Urso stated that the government had proposed a bill to introduce legal certification for fashion companies, allowing brands to obtain pre‑emptive third‑party certification of their supply chains’ legal compliance.
“With this measure, it will be possible to secure Italy’s fashion supply chain, a source of pride for ‘Made in Italy’, and protect its reputation worldwide,” Urso said.
Previous judicial administrations have been imposed on high‑end firms including Loro Piana, and units linked to Valentino, Dior, Armani and Alviero Martini.
Previous measures relating to Armani, Dior and Alviero Martini were later lifted after the companies aligned their practices with legal requirements.
In 2024, private equity company L Catterton, backed by LVMH, took Tod’s private in agreement with the Della Valle family, the group’s main shareholder.
