New life

Focused on cultivating the next generation of eco-conscious craftsmen and designers, Gucci's ArtLab is the melting pot where creativity meets technology, says BRYAN HO

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A vibrant array of colours decorates the exterior walls of an industrial-looking building. Pink and purple street art plaster one side, with turquoise and lime green artworks displaying flora and fauna occupying the other. Housed in Florence, Italy, and spanning an area of over 37,000 square metres, Gucci ArtLab is where a certain sort of magic happens. Located near the headquarters of the company in Casellina, ArtLab has been active since 2018 and currently boasts a staff of over 950. A hub for in-house prototyping and sampling new products, it’s a centre for experimentation and innovation.

THE COMING TOGETHER OF KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITION

Art Lab features an artisan school with various programmes, each providing unique training experiences. This includes the craftsmanship school, factory school and technical academy. These courses are taught by a pool of staff which consists of world-class artisans, managers who run day-to-day operations, as well as retired former colleagues, all dedicated to educating the next generation on the unique savoir faire and house codes of the brand.