Piquadro, LVMH, Kering rally to assist flooded Emilia-Romagna

By

Laura Galbiati

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
May 23, 2023

Leading fashion industry names such as Bologna-based Piquadro group and French luxury giants Kering and LVMH have recently pledged support and donations in aid of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, hit by floods that have caused tragic loss of life and wrecked the local economy.

 
The Piquadro group, based in Silla di Gaggio Montano near Bologna, quite close to the flood-hit areas, has announced it will donate €200,000 to help the regional authorities manage the hydro-geological damage and restore the environment. “These are tough times for our region, and we could not simply stand and watch. Everyone’s contribution is important, and we wanted to send a strong message and offer our sympathy and support to the families and businesses affected by this disaster,” said Marco Palmieri, president and CEO of the Piquadro group.

LVMH, whose portfolio includes Italian labels Bulgari, Fendi, Loro Piana, Pucci, Acqua di Parma, Thélios and Cova, has announced in a press release that it will make a donation to provide substantial help to the regional authority and the people of Emilia-Romagna. “Italy is LVMH’s second home after France. We are proud of the thousands of people who work with us in Italy and grateful to the country. We want to offer a tangible sign of solidarity,” said LVMH. The group has over 12,000 employees in Italy, where it operates 35 factories, including one in Gaibanella, on the outskirts of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna. Stefano Bonaccini, head of the Emilia-Romagna regional authority, thanked the French group for its help, stating that LVMH donated €1 million to the ‘Un aiuto per l’Emilia-Romagna’ charity appeal.

Another French luxury heavyweight, Kering, whose portfolio includes Italian labels Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Pomellato and Richard Ginori, has announced it will make a substantial donation to Emilia-Romagna, to help relieve the plight of its stricken population. The group led by François-Henri Pinault, which has been active in Italy for more than 20 years with over 13,000 employees, said it is “close to all those whose daily lives are currently affected by the tragic floods.”