Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze: Education is the Issue

Kering has launched the first academic year of its Accademia per le Eccellenze in Milan. With more than 1,500 students, over 40 educational tracks, and seven partner schools, the initiative is more than just a single training program. For the luxury industry, it also serves as a response to the growing demand for skilled workers in craftsmanship and production.

^{Cover photo: Kering}

From Project to Training Platform

Five months after its unveiling at the Gucci Archive in Florence, the Accademia is now fully operational. The 2026–2027 academic year was launched at the MIND Milano Innovation District. Kering CEO Luca de Meo and Sabina Belli, President of Kering Italia and head of the Accademia, presented the program there alongside students, Group brands, and educational partners.

The scale of this initiative is remarkable for a corporate-sponsored training program. More than 1,500 participants are spread across over 40 programs. Seven partner schools in six Italian regions are involved: ACOF, AFOL, Galdus, HModa Academy, ITS Cosmo, Istituto Modartech, and MITA. More than 400 master craftsmen, skilled workers, and industry experts are contributing to the training.

62,000 hours of training and 22,400 hours of practical experience

In total, the program comprises approximately 62,000 class hours and more than 22,400 internship hours. This combination of theory and hands-on experience is crucial for the luxury industry. Many skills cannot be taught solely in the classroom but are developed only through repeated work with materials, tools, and real-world production processes.

Participants include Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Gucci, Pomellato, and Kering Eyewear, among others. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from apparel and men’s tailoring to leatherworking and jewelry making. It also includes modules on technology, artificial intelligence, new materials, and sustainability.

Skilled Trades Become a Strategic Issue

The initiative addresses a problem that is becoming increasingly critical for luxury companies: Demand for high-quality, handcrafted products remains high, while experienced skilled workers are retiring and there is a shortage of young talent in many trades. Without systematic training, capacity, quality, and repair expertise cannot be ensured in the long term.

Kering is therefore consolidating programs that were previously organized primarily within the individual maisons. The shared platform expands reach and facilitates collaboration among brands, schools, and regions. At the same time, each maison retains its unique areas of expertise.

The opening event organized the program into three thematic sections. “Il Sogno” focused on the art of jewelry-making at the Pomellato Virtuosi Jewelry Academy. “L’Eredità” centered on archives and the preservation of textile expertise. “I Materiali” explored leather, yarns, and the traditional craftsmanship involved in working with bamboo for the Gucci Bamboo 1947 collection.

Education Between Tradition and Transformation

It is precisely the combination of traditional techniques with digital tools and materials research that forms the economic core of the Accademia. The goal is not to preserve historical working methods unchanged. Graduates should master existing knowledge and, at the same time, be able to apply it to changing production, sustainability, and design requirements.

For Kering, training thus becomes part of its industrial infrastructure. The Accademia is intended to raise the profile of these professions, attract new talent, and secure the skills on which a significant portion of the value creation of Italian luxury brands is based.