LVMH to employ 2,500 craftsmen in Italy within two years

Italy stands as a pivotal hub for LVMH’s manufacturing. This commitment is substantiated by the continuous investments by the French luxury giant in the country, where it plans to onboard 2,500 artisans and other proficient experts in excellent craftsmanship by the end of 2025. The announcement was made on Thursday, November 30, in Florence, during the ‘Show Me’ event dedicated to the company’s distinguished craftsmanship.

As the world’s leading luxury enterprise, LVMH annually allocates approximately 100 million euros to the peninsula. With a presence comprising six brands and 35 manufacturing facilities, it sustains a workforce of 12,000 individuals, among whom 7,000 are artisans and creatives employed across 35 sites and nearly 250 boutiques. Overall, the group engages 200,000 people in the country, through a network encompassing 5,000 suppliers and subcontractors, according to Alexandre Boquel, the director of excellent craftsmanship, who commended Italy’s exquisite craftsmanship during the third Italian edition of ‘Show Me’ in Florence.

The initiative spotlighted the exceptional expertise of some of LVMH’s prestigious brands, notably Bulgari, Loro Piana, Pucci, Acqua di Parma, Thelios, and Belmond, through exhibitions and testimonials of students from the Institute of Excellent Craftsmanship (IME). Before an audience of almost 500, these students shared their experiences within the expansive spaces of the Manifattura Tabacchi, which now serves as the headquarters for Excellent Craftsmanship in Italy, resembling the dedicated space that the group intends to unveil in Paris.

Established in 2014, the IME aims to transmit expertise and entice young talents toward craftsmanship. Its Italian division, inaugurated in 2017, has successfully trained 730 students to date. The current academic year has seen a record enrollment of 422 apprentices for the 2023/24 intake. The initial enrollment in Italy was 27 students, growing to 80 in 2021. Last year, 98% of IME students graduated, and 71% secured employment in their respective fields, primarily within the group’s houses or with its partners.

Over six years, the Italian IME expanded from offering 2 to 26 distinctive training programs, encompassing 17 personalized programs. Collaborating with 16 LVMH houses and 23 local institutions, the institute now introduces 12 new programs for the ongoing academic session, notably focusing on hospitality and jewelry craftsmanship.

Despite LVMH’s continued growth and heightened demand for its products, the company faces a significant labor shortage, reflective of the entire luxury industry’s plight. In France, the artisanal sector suffers an annual shortfall of 20,000 jobs, according to a report conducted by the Comité Colbert. In Italy, the gap is more pronounced. Altagamma, representing high-end Italian companies, projects a demand for 346,000 professionals in excellent craftsmanship within five years, with over 40,000 required specifically in fashion and leather goods.