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With their beautiful window displays and products, brands like Gucci, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton and Prada are considered some of the best luxury brands. We imagine their pieces are the work of master craftsmen who carefully craft them. But as this investigation reveals, behind their glamorous appearance, there is a dark side. In the world of luxury clothing, leather generates a lot of profit. For brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, more than 70% of their profits come from leather goods. But where does it come from? Most of it is tanned in a small region of Tuscany, where the heaviest and most dangerous work is outsourced to immigrants. Temperatures in factories can reach 45°C and workers, many on temporary contracts, are often exploited and abused. We hear of workers who were seriously injured on the job and then beaten up for daring to complain. Then there is fur, another iconic material of luxury brands. Today, most fur comes from China, where 70 million animals are killed for their fur every year. Here, animals have no rights or protection, and conditions on farms are atrocious. We managed to gain access to one of these farms and what we found is a far cry from the luxurious image promoted by brands. Animal suffering and deplorable hygiene conditions... We uncover the shame of haute couture and investigate the hidden side of luxury. This documentary was produced by Premiere Lignes and was directed by Zoe de Bussierre. It was first released in 2018. --- Living Stories is home to the most incredible documentaries from around the world. Discover remote destinations and fascinating cultures that almost no one has had access to. Explore new worlds. Our investigative reporters give you exclusive access to the most inaccessible corners of the world, some of the most dangerous cities and extraordinary human stories. Learn about the customs and traditions of each continent and understand the socio-political situations that shape people's lives. All this and much more! Make sure to click SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date with our latest clips and releases.