Gucci Unveils A Centre Of Creativity, Craftsmanship & Sustainability

Situated near the historical HQ of the Italian fashion house in Casellina just outside of Florence, and quietly active since the beginning of 2018, today Gucci has officially unveiled ArtLab, a 37,000-square-metre hub of creativity, craftsmanship and sustainable innovation. Staffed by a workforce of 800 people, the ArtLab will be the centre of product development and lab testing with in-house prototyping and sampling activity for leather goods, new materials, metal hardware and packaging. The new centre will further bring to life the bold vision of Creative Director Alessandro Michele by developing the sought-after Gucci products of the future and help meet the high demand for Gucci’s items, which has nearly doubled in the last three years since Michele's appointment. Decidedly un-clinical and lab-like, the building’s outside walls are hand painted, featuring artworks by young talents who have recently worked with the house, including Unskilled Worker, Ignasi Monreal, Angelica Hicks and Coco Capitan.

"The unveiling of Gucci ArtLab definitely represents one of the most remarkable achievements of Gucci’s unprecedented journey of the last three years, and one of the most significant industrial investments today in our country," Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci asserted in a press statement.

"It is a testament to our belief in creativity, artisanal craftsmanship, innovation and technology, and sustainability, and our bond with our territory. I couldn’t be more grateful to all those who have made this dream come true, from the local and national authorities, to Kering, to all of our colleagues who have been so visionary in absorbing new ideas from best-practice all around the world, to further strengthen our leadership."

"Gucci ArtLab," concludes Bizzarri, "is the perfect expression of the corporate culture that we have been building and nurturing within the company. It is the tangible expression of a place to learn skills and techniques, a workshop to generate ideas, and ideas are the lifeblood of culture."

Despite being just four months in, 2018 has already been a key year for Gucci and its legacy to Florence with the opening of the Gucci Garden in January, in Piazza Signoria, and its historical headquarters in Casellina embarking on a progressive transformation to reinforce its industry-leading role. The unveiling of the ArtLab is further proof of Gucci's commitment to sustainability after announcing that the house was going fur-free in October 2017.