The two workshops are separated by a few kilometers.
In Azé, the new workshop called "Oratoire", brand new, is built according to new ecological standards, with large bay windows and since September has welcomed just over a hundred leather workers.
The other workshop is of a completely different style.
Located in Vendôme, it is a listed and restored abbey, which opened its doors at the end of 2020. The "Abbaye" workshop aims to be Vuitton's flagship site for the manufacture of precious leather bags such as alligator.
Ultimately, the two buildings, which bring the number of Louis Vuitton workshops in France to 18, should accommodate 500 employees.
“2021 has been an exceptional year for our group, exceptional also for Louis Vuitton, it is the best year in the history of the house”, declared its CEO Michael Burke, during the inaugural speeches.
LVMH, which in 2021 achieved 64.2 billion euros in turnover, does not communicate on the sales of its brands but according to a note from HSBC, Louis Vuitton reached 17 billion euros in sales.
“Our craftswomen often make products that are on the waiting list,” Bernard Arnault told the press.
"These old leather trades which contributed to the prosperity of Vendôme before disappearing, we have, with Louis Vuitton, the ambition to bring them back to life", he said during his speech.
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault (c) and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire (d) at the inauguration of the new Louis Vuitton workshop in Azé, Loir-et-Cher, on February 22, 2022 GUILLAUME SOUVANT AFP
"LVMH must be a model for French industry", in terms of "value creation, job creation", and exports, for his part estimated Bruno Le Maire, praising the group's trade surpluses, its 35,000 jobs in France or even "the exceptional success story" of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton currently employs 4,800 people in its 18 workshops in France and projects 1,000 additional hires by the end of 2024.
© 2022 AFP