LVMH brands sign artisanship pact
Paris-based luxury group LVMH recently announced the signing of what it called the “WE for ME” (or Worldwide engagements for métiers d’excellence) pact by its 75 luxury goods houses.
The conglomerate said that the intention was to celebrate and preserve the vocational savoir-faire (meaning know-how) of those it employs in the creative, craft and sales experience fields. According to a press release, LVMH can presently boast the “greatest variety of any company in the world” of these métiers or trades.
It also stated that more than 1,000 individuals (whether young persons or those looking to reskill) have successfully completed training in France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Japan since the launch of its métiers d’excellence institute in 2014.
As a result of the signing, which took place in June, future initiatives will involve progressing the “Excellent!” programme (intended to improve the perception of vocational trades among young people) within France as well as in other countries, in addition to establishing an initiative for recognising exceptional know-how and the passing on of skills among existing employees. This will be called "Les virtuoses LVMH" (LVMH virtuosos).
Further, the group will expand its commitment to developing its artisans and encouraging innovation within the different métiers, plus forge new partnerships to support and highlight displays of exceptional artisanship from outside its own direct remit, such as among its suppliers or partners.
LVMH group executive vice president of human resources and synergies, Chantal Gaemperle, commented: “LVMH counts over 200 métiers d’excellence around the world, represented by a community of people driven by a true passion and deep commitment to passing them on to new generations. We have a responsibility to support them.”
“The luxury industry could not continue to thrive without savoir-faire rooted in excellence,” added chairman and chief executive of the company, Bernard Arnault.
The release concluded by spotlighting two future celebrations of LVMH’s entire métiers d’excellence community (which it described as a “thriving reality”), to be held in Paris on October 19 and in Florence on November 8, respectively.
Image: Berluti
