Honouring their deeply held values of ‘Made in Italy’, Maison Bvlgari has dramatically expanded its unique enclave of innovation, savoir-faire transmission and sustainability within the iconic Italian goldsmithing district of Valenza. A bold, future-facing initiative sees the dramatic expansion of the Manifattura Bvlgari production facility and the opening of the brand new Scuola Bvlgari training institute.
First opened in 2017, Manifattura Bvlgari has grown from a workforce of just 370 to an impressive 1100 today. With the creation of two additional new buildings, one dedicated to production while the other houses the Scuola Bvlgari, the Maison has set itself the ambitious goal of further expanding to more than 1600 employees by 2029, with a commensurate doubling of its production capacity.
“Bvlgari Manifattura in Valenza embodies the brand’s holistic vision for manufacturing sites, combining environmental responsibility, knowledge transmission, and employee well-being,” Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin tells Canvas. “With artisans from more than 30 different nationalities, Manifattura Bvlgari is a vibrant crossroads of cultures, fuelled by a shared passion for excellence. This synergy of brilliant people and virtuous practices reflects an overarching approach to luxury, where everything and everyone is interconnected through mutual growth and giving back.”
This transformation sees Manifattura Bvlgari ascend to not only becoming the largest single-brand jewellery manufacturing site in the world, but also serving as an incredible model of sustainability. The new factory expansion utilises multiple green solutions that cover up to 50 per cent of the facility’s energy requirements – including a geothermal field for heating, some 4100 photovoltaic panels and cooling through 100 ground probes – while the remainder is supplied by 100 per cent renewable sources. From optimised air treatment units and precisely controlled work environment temperatures to plastic-free policies and water management processes, every aspect of the operations has been leveraged to minimise environmental impact and maximise efficiency.
Manifattura Bvlgari’s commitment to environmentally sustainable business practices also extends beyond its own walls. In an effort to make a positive impact on local biodiversity, the expansion plans also include additional green interventions, delivering a reforestation of 8000 square meters of the surrounding land with native tree species, working with the Po and Orba River Park Authority, as well as a collaboration with a local beekeeper to install 10 hives housing around one million bees, helping to strengthen the local ecosystem.
The initiative also includes the creation of leisure and recreation spaces for both Bvlgari employees and the wider community, reflecting Manifattura Bvlgari’s holistic framework towards employee wellbeing initiatives addressing both health and work-life balance and which allows the Maison to deliver both environmental benefits and practical advantages for its workforce.
In addition to the expansion of Manifattura Bvlgari itself, this exciting project also enfolds the inauguration of Scuola Bvlgari, the Maison’s first publicly accessible education centre wholly dedicated to jewellery-making and the first school situated within a jewellery-manufacturing facility. Positioned in the space between the new building and the existing one – thereby acting as a symbolic bridge between past and future, connecting technical know-how and the next generation of artisans – this new school joins the mission of the existing Bvlgari Jewellery Academy in training the next generation of Bvlgari crafters.
Developed and managed in close partnership with TADS (Tarì Design School), the world-renowned goldsmith training centre of Centro Orafo Il Tarì in Marcianise, this new school will teach all the skills necessary to undertake the design and production of exceptional jewellery items from scratch. Students will inherit a wealth of knowledge – including traditional craft techniques from goldsmithing to gem-setting – alongside the highly innovative methodologies that they will require to implement their pieces.
“Safeguarding and advancing traditional arts and crafts is an integral part of Bvlgari’s identity,” explains Managing Director Corinne Le Foll. “At Scuola Bvlgari, students will be trained by master goldsmiths, academic experts and established professionals in the jewellery industry. This practical and theoretical training, recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education and aligned with European standards, will offer the most talented students the opportunity to further their professional growth within the Bvlgari world.”
Among Maison Bvlgari’s incredible edifice of creative excellence, both the expanded Manifattura Bvlgari and Scuola Bvlgari serve as unrivalled enhancements to the brand’s outstanding commitment to preserving and passing on a rich goldsmithing legacy, built upon a heartfelt passion and a wealth of expertise. At the same time these initiatives provide a striking blueprint for the Maison’s future, embracing an environmentally responsible, sustainable approach that marries that same legacy of transmission with a desire to find new pathways towards what comes next.
