October 12, 2017

Empower Talent by Kering

"Supporting talent and encouraging creativity are part and parcel of the Kering vision, as expressed in our signature ‘Empowering Imagination" François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering.

Through the ‘Empower Talents’ programme, launched in 2013 in partnership with Vogue Italia , Kering is offering internship opportunities in a wide variety of functions in the luxury industry; Vogue Italia is assisting in the selection of profiles of talented candidates. In September 2017, Kering and Vogue Italia renewed the Empower Talents programme, looking for people with imagination and audacity, who like challenges, to provide them, in addition to a professional apprenticeship, an immersive relationship within Kering’s luxury houses.

As an official partner of the ANDAM (National Association for the Development of the fashion Arts)  Fashion Award since 2014, Kering is proud to support the new talents who will shape tomorrow’s fashion industry. As well as giving the winners worldwide visibility and the means to ensure their development, the prize gives them a foothold in the official Paris Fashion Week calendar.

Once a year in the US Kering and Parsons ‘Empowering Imagination’ competition engage talented graduates of the Parsons BFA Fashion Design program who are selected for their excellence in vision, acute awareness in design identity, and mastery of technical competencies. A panel of fashion insiders selects two winners based on the conceptual vision and creativity of their thesis collections, as well as their technical skills and ability to communicate the unique point of view behind the collection. In June 2016, both winners of the fifth ‘Empowering Imagination’ enjoyed a fantastic 2-week learning expedition to several Kering facilities in Italy.

Since 2014, Kering has established a partnership with the Tsinghua University Education Foundation to support Chinese talent via two core programmes:

  • Artistic Innovation Studio: enhances students’ understanding of the art business and helps them to develop their own creative studios
  • Female support programme: provides ten outstanding female students with financial support through scholarships and grants.

Last but not least, Kering has partnered with HEC Paris since 2010 to offer a certificate course in luxury management. Each year, 40 students from 17 countries and a wide variety of professional backgrounds including finance, engineering, beauty and media, benefit from the six week intensive immersion course. Class seminars, case studies, store visits and presentations by top Kering Leaders give participants the opportunity to learn how to handle luxury brand management challenges, explore key sectors in luxury markets and develop an in-depth understanding of the realities of working in the luxury industry.