Louis Vuitton, French luxury group LVMH’s biggest earnings driver, is expanding its leather goods and handbag production with at least two new workshops planned for this year and next. The label plans to hire around 500 people for two new sites in western France, raising its number of leather goods specialists to around 4,000, as it looks to meet growing demand.
Having opened a new site in July of last year, a further site is close to completion, with a third to follow later this year. The third is considered a boon for the city of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, with 250 jobs being created.
Bernard Coulon, the city’s mayor, said "The arrival of Louis Vuitton is a chance for us to redevelop Saint-Pourçain."
He also noted that LVMH knew there was a core of people already trained in leatherworks in the city. "We had the Bally workshop which has recently been closed, so Louis Vuitton is allowing these workers to get back into employment."
Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
