Kering’s latest sustainability drive has turned the French luxury group’s attention to its embroidery sourcing from India. In an effort to maintain transparency, and improve working conditions in its supply chain, the group has announced its plans to set up its own local embroidery units.
With this move, Kering aims to internalise a sizeable part of its outsourced hand-embroidery work in India by some of its sub-contractors.
“The majority of the world’s luxury labels rely on Indian expertise for handmade embroidery,” Kering stated.
Kering, whose portfolio includes Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta, among others, said that India still relies partly on small local subcontractors, which are faced by issues such as inadequate working conditions, low wages and insufficient health and safety measures, despite ongoing efforts by several luxury players in the past, including Kering.
According to Kering, there has been progress but it has been too slow, which has led the group to take pivotal action.
The group hopes to iron out the issues by establishing its own facility in India, although a definite timeframe as to when this would be initiated has not been disclosed.
“The goal is not to cover 100 per cent of Kering brands’ hand-embroidery works, but rather to get a direct and concrete knowledge of hand embroidery,” Kering said, adding It will thus also be able to better collaborate with external suppliers regarding working conditions, wages, prices and contractual commitments.”
Lately, the group reported a slump of 14 per cent drop in its environmental impact between 2015 and 2018. The group added it is confident of attaining its aim of bringing 40 per cent reduction in environmental impacts by the year 2025.
