In Scandicci, right outside of Florence, Gucci has inaugurated its new ArtLab: a facility of 37 thousand square metres that for the first time reunites the activities of footwear and leather goods, products that represent 70% of the brand’s sales. With this investment, the international luxury group that owns the brand, Kering, wanted to acknowledge the importance of a sector that has seen its turnover doubled over the last three years: «This – declared François Pinault, President and CEO of Kering – is a tangible confirmation of how much we believe in creativity, Made in Italy craft workmanship, and innovation and sustainability, while also representing a clear confirmation of our ties with the territory. It is also the perfect expression of the company culture that we are working to build up: a place where it is possible to learn and develop abilities, a laboratory of ideas».  

The facility, which is also a pleasure to see with its external walls and richly decorated inside areas, will hire in the long-term more than 800 employees for different areas of activity: prototypes, research and material development, climatic chambers and testing laboratory, accessories laboratory, shoe-last and heel department for footwear, bamboo laboratories for leather goods, and a pre-industrialization area.