In a decisive step affirming Italy’s central role in its manufacturing landscape, luxury giant LVMH unveils plans to enlist 2,500 skilled craftsmen and top-tier experts in exceptional craftsmanship by the end of 2025. This announcement solidifies LVMH’s ongoing commitment to Italy, a key hub for the renowned French luxury brand.
Disclosed during the ‘Show Me’ event in Florence on November 30, dedicated to spotlighting the brand’s unparalleled craftsmanship, LVMH annually channels around 100 million euros into the Italian peninsula. With six esteemed labels and 35 manufacturing facilities, the brand sustains a robust workforce of 12,000 individuals, including 7,000 artisans and creatives deployed across 35 sites and nearly 250 boutiques.
Alexandre Boquel, the director of excellent craftsmanship, acknowledges Italy’s indispensable role, engaging 200,000 individuals through a network encompassing 5,000 suppliers and subcontractors. Boquel expressed admiration for Italy’s exquisite craftsmanship during the ‘Show Me’ event.
The initiative showcased the remarkable skills of renowned LVMH brands such as Bulgari, Loro Piana, Pucci, Acqua di Parma, Thelios, and Belmond. Students from the Institute of Excellent Craftsmanship (IME) shared insights at the event, hosted at the Manifattura Tabacchi, now serving as the headquarters for Excellent Craftsmanship in Italy.
Established in 2014, IME aims to impart expertise and attract emerging talents to craftsmanship. The Italian division, inaugurated in 2017, has successfully trained 730 students to date, boasting a record enrollment of 422 apprentices for the current academic year. With a high graduation rate and employment success, IME expanded from offering 2 to 26 distinctive training programs over six years, collaborating with 16 LVMH houses and 23 local institutions.
Despite LVMH’s sustained growth and heightened product demand, the luxury industry grapples with a significant labor shortage. In France, the artisanal sector faces an annual shortfall of 20,000 jobs, while in Italy, Altagamma projects a demand for 346,000 professionals in excellent craftsmanship within five years, with over 40,000 needed specifically in fashion and leather goods. LVMH’s ambitious plan aims to bridge this gap, solidifying Italy’s position as a pivotal hub for luxury craftsmanship.
