Today the Gucci ArtLab reopens

On Saturday, Gucci reached an agreement with the unions, consulting with the virologist Roberto Burioni, for the early reopening, starting today, April 20, of its Scandicci laboratory, the Gucci ArtLab. Starting today, a hundred people involved in the research and development of the brand's leather goods will return to work in accordance with the national safety measures. In his statement about the re-opening, the brand's CEO, Marco Bizzarri, expressed cautious optimism about the reopening:

“After very careful consideration, we are now taking the decision to reopen our ArtLab prototype facility, in agreement with trade union representatives, by guaranteeing the highest level of safety and precautions defined with the help of leading scientists. This will allow us to lay the foundations for a wider reopening of our production capabilities and of the Made in Italy supply chain, when possible.”

Among the precautionary measures taken, there will be temperature controls at the entrance of the plant, distributions of anti-contagion kits consisting of masks, gloves and protective goggles as well as the provision by Kering of a company car of own for all employees who do not own the means, to avoid the use of public transport or carpooling.

The reopening of the Gucci ArtLab is one of the first effects of the government's plans for the early reopening of Italian textile plants - for which the same companies in the sector had insisted in recent days. The risk to be avoided is the compromise of orders for the FW20 collections and the coming Spring-Summer. Prototype activity in Tuscan leather goods laboratories was one of the first to reopen, while large plants will still have to wait.