Gucci inaugurates Gucci ArtLab, the new center for innovation and excellence just outside of Florence (Scandicci), not far from the luxury brand’s headquarters in Casellina. Sprawling over 37 square meters, the new warehouse is dedicated to products in leather and footwear and is covered in colorful murals from illustrators and artists like Ignasi Monreal, Angelica Hicks, and Unskilled Worker.

The inauguration took place on April 19th, where president of the Kering Group, Francois Henri Pinault, and head of production for bags and shoes, Massimo Rigucci, made an appearance. The latter joins in as a true promoter of the “creative academy”.

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Courtesy photo: Gucci

The center for innovation will give form “to the revolutionary aesthetic of Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele, contributing to the exceptional progress made by the brand”.

Among the activities set to take place at the Gucci ArtLab are prototyping for products in leather (bags, suitcases, small leather goods, and belts) and footwear (men/women, elegant/sportive); research and development for new materials, metallic accessories, and confections; workshops for various kinds of tests.

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Courtesy photo: Gucci

The exterior of Gucci’s ArtLab is an explosion of color, and the interiors certainly follow suit. Here, at the base of a large red staircase realized by a Florentine artisan ending atop a circular rug, Rigucci cut the ribbon at the creative center’s opening.

Meanwhile, decorating the interiors are a collection of furnishings and accessories from the Gucci Decor line.

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Courtesy photo: Gucci

In operation since early 2018 with over 800 employees, Gucci ArtLab has already established itself as a bona fide hub for the avant-garde in two sectors that together represent 70% of Gucci’s sales (4 billion in 2017). The company has also managed to double the demand in the last 3 years.

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Courtesy photo: Gucci

Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, commented: “the inauguration of Gucci ArtLab marks one of the most important goals in Gucci’s incredible journey over the last three years, as well as an important industrial investment in our country”.

The romance between Gucci and its Florentine home doesn’t end here — in January, the Gucci Garden was inaugurated in Piazza Signoria, while the historic headquarters in Casellina continues to receive plenty of investments.

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Courtesy photo: Gucci

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