Fendi begins work on a new production site in Tuscany
Fendi is expanding its production capacity in Tuscany. The LVMH-owned luxury brand recently inaugurated the construction site for the project, measuring a vast 13,000 square metres at Bagno a Ripoli, located at the gates of Florence. The brand plans to use the factory for bags and leather goods production and it is scheduled to open its doors in 2022.
The establishment, named ‘Fendi Factory,’ has been designed by Milan-based architectural firm Piuarch and will include a factory, offices, and warehouses. The site will be constructed on an area of eight hectares in the countryside, which previously housed the Fornace Brunelleschi kiln in the Capannuccia locality and was bought at auction in 2017. Work to demolish the old buildings and improve the land began in August 2018. The work lasted longer than expected but now construction work is ready to begin.
Investment in the project totals close to €57 million, a part of which has been co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the region of Tuscany. The site is expected to result in the hiring of 133 new employees in addition to the 243 people already employed at the Fendi plant in Ponte a Ema, who will be transferred to the new site.
Tuscany, in particular this part of the region famous for leather goods and luxury bags, is thus confirming its power to attract big-name luxury brands. The inauguration comes just a few days after Balenciaga’s announcement of its intention to to set up a bag manufacturing factory in Cerreto Guidi, not far from Florence. The Saint Laurent factory in Scandicci and Furla factory in Sambuca Val di Pesa (Barberino Tavarnelle) are also under construction in the area while Prada is in the process of completing work on a logistics centre in Levanallo. Kering, meanwhile, plans to install its analysis and innovation laboratory ‘Til’ (Test & Innovation Laboratory) in Prato.
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