Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze launches its first academic year

Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze: a distributed learning ecosystem created to preserve and renew Italy’s artisanal heritage

Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, and Sabina Belli, President of Kering Italia and Head of Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze, inaugurated the program

More than 40 educational programs, over 1,500 students, and seven partner schools across six Italian regions, with the support of over 400 master artisans and professionals

Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze officially launches its first Academic Year, welcoming more than 1,500 students enrolled in programs promoted by the Group’s Houses and its seven partner schools. Five months after its unveiling at the Gucci Archive in Florence, the Academy now enters its operational phase, giving tangible expression to Kering’s commitment to education and to the future of Italian craftsmanship.

The opening of the 2026/2027 Academic Year was celebrated today at MIND Milano Innovation District in the presence of Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, and Sabina Belli, President of Kering Italia and Head of Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze, together with students, Kering’s Houses and educational institutions from across the network. 

Throughout the opening day, the story of luxury craftsmanship was explored through three thematic sessions: 

- “The Dream”, highlighting jewelry expertise from the Pomellato Virtuosi Jewelry Academy. 

- “The Heritage”, focused on the value of the Gucci Archive and the announcement of a new partnership with the Botticino Restoration School to support the preservation of textile heritage..

- “The Materials”, exploring leather, yarns and the bamboo flame-treatment technique used for the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag.

The Accademia consolidates and strengthens the training initiatives already developed by Kering’s Houses - including Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Gucci, Pomellato and Kering Eyewear - with seven partner schools: ACOF, AFOL, Galdus, HModa Academy, ITS Cosmo, Istituto Modartech and MITA. Across six Italian regions, the programme offers approximately 62,000 hours of training and more than 22,400 hours of internships, with the contribution of over 400 master artisans and professionals. 

The educational path builds on the knowledge and traditions of Italian manufacturing excellence while preparing students to address the evolving needs of the sector. Alongside training in apparel, menswear tailoring, leather goods and jewelry, students benefit from dedicated modules covering technology, artificial intelligence, new materials and sustainability. This approach enables them to master traditional techniques and quality standards while exploring new applications through contemporary creative and design practices.

“With the start of its first Academic Year, Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze enters its most authentic dimension: that of its students, their talents and the future they will help build,” said Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering. “Excellence cannot simply be preserved; it must be nurtured, challenged and opened to new ideas. Our ambition is to provide young people with an education that enables them to understand the strength of Italian savoir-faire while supporting its evolution within an industry that is constantly changing.”

“The value of the Academy lies in its ability to connect different educational experiences and foster an ongoing dialogue between Houses, schools and local communities,” added Sabina Belli, President of Kering Italia and Head of Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze. “Placing the unique ‘intelligence of the hands’ at the heart of our ecosystem means creating a dialogue between artisanal mastery, creativity, materials research and technological innovation, while equipping new generations with the tools to navigate the transformations shaping the luxury sector.”

With the launch of its programs, Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze turns its network of collaborations into a shared commitment among Houses, schools and local communities: making these professions more attractive to younger generations and ensuring the continuity of the professional heritage that distinguishes Italian luxury craftsmanship.

More information: Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze

About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2025, Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of €14.7 billion.

Contacts
Press
Emilie Gargatte | +33 (0)1 45 64 61 20 | emilie.gargatte@kering.com 
Marie de Montreynaud | +33 (0)6 13 17 14 75 | marie.demontreynaud@kering.com
Pénélope Linage | +33 (0)6 76 09 42 10 | penelope.linage-ext@kering.com
Claudia Mora | +39 347 79 39 237 | claudia.mora@kering.com