Balenciaga is investing in Italy. The brand which belongs to the Kering group is planning to open its first leathergoods factory and training center in Tuscany. Located in Cerreto Guidi, about 25 miles from Florence, the new plant will open next year with the aim to support the development plans of the brand guided by the creative direction of Demna Gvasalia.
The center will take place within a renewed already existing building, expression of an architectural project of particular importance. The manufacturing plant will create up to 300 new jobs for the local and territorial community. “The hired craftsmen will be trained internally in the new structure, in the training center that will be active at the end of the first renovation of the building. The French high fashion house will continue to use a significant network of local suppliers for its leather goods supply chain. The new atelier will allow to increase the agility and flexibility of the supply chain, further improving the absolute quality of Balenciaga products. Thanks to the new plant, the brand will reach additional production capacity, in order to monitor and plan production in Italy ”, as it can be read in a press release from the maison.
In this way, the brand follows the example of another firm belonging to the Kering group, Saint Laurent, which less than a year ago opened a production center in Scandicci. Therefore, the investment aims to improve the production chain, both in terms of quality and flexibility as required by creative director Demna Gvasalia.
Once again, “Made in Italy” proves to be the most popular solution to enhance high fashion houses, regardless of where they come from.
