LVMH Ramps Up Métiers d’Excellence Apprenticeship in the U.S.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is expanding its Métiers d’Excellence Institute initiative through programs in North American launched by Tiffany & Co. in collaboration with Rhode Island School of Design and Benefit Cosmetics.
LVMH has also committed to increasing the hiring of apprentices in the U.S. with new maisons joining the program in 2024.
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LVMH’s Métiers d’Excellence Institute in Europe was established in 2014 to ensure the transmission of savoir faire to the next generation via apprenticeship programs, mentoring, school visits and tours. In an ongoing effort to diversify the luxury industry, LVMH said its maisons continue to recruit talented apprentices from a range of backgrounds, to fill roles that drive forward the artisanal, design and retail excellence.
LVMH officially launched the M.E. program in North America last year with Tiffany in New York to train the next generation of craftspeople. LVMH completed its acquisition of Tiffany in January 2021.
“The Métiers d’ Excellence program contributes to the transmission of savoir faire to the next generation, which ensures the sustained success of the group and our maisons,” said Gena Smith, chief human resources officer of LVMH North America. “The United States and its pool of talented craftspeople represent an important frontier for the group. Both our U.S. and U.S.-based maisons continue to recruit new apprentices who will learn the métiers synonymous with our maisons and carry forward the talents needed to build upon the group’s longevity in the luxury industry.”
Tiffany recently began a new, two-year program in partnership with Rhode Island School of Design and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Building Futures Rhode Island. While Tiffany has eight M.E. apprentices training in its New York workshop, another seven apprentices just began training in its Rhode Island workshop in the past weeks. This program markets Tiffany’s significant efforts to hire in key craftsmanship roles, with additional cohorts to launch in both M.E. programs in New York and Rhode Island in 2024.
“Tiffany & Co. is committed to identifying talented craftspeople from various backgrounds to mentor and train them in the skills of high jewelry,” said Mary Bellai, global chief human resources officer at Tiffany. “Growing our diverse group of talent is foundational to our continued success; we are excited to be able to expand our reach into new markets to find and nurture talent while delivering on the goals outlined under our social impact platform, Tiffany Atrium.”
In July 2022, Tiffany launched a social impact platform that hosts its varied diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as reported. The platform aims to bring more women and marginalized communities into creative professions, with a bent toward jewelry-industry training programs.
“We’re thrilled to embark on this unique partnership with Tiffany & Co. to prepare the next generation of practitioners through apprenticeship training,” said Touba Ghadessi, RISD provost. “Thanks to Tiffany & Co.’s generous investment, RISD Continuing Education in partnership with RISD Jewelry + Metalsmithing devised a customized workforce development program, which leverages rigorous instruction and education centered on foundational skills and industry standards devised by our world-class Jewelry + Metalsmithing program. Both of our institutions have such a rich history in Rhode Island, with many meaningful collaborations over the past century, and we look forward to this newest collective endeavor.”
As part of their commitment to the collaboration with LVMH and Tiffany, the workshops in New York and Rhode Island ensure all participants are recognized as registered apprentices under the Department of Labor. This recognition offers the participants a transferable credential that equips workers with marketable skills sought in high-demand industries like luxury.
“We are proud of our work with LVMH to tailor a Registered Apprenticeship program unique to their industry needs through the Apprenticeship RI joint initiative of Building Futures and DLT RI, [Department of Labor and Training Rhode Island],” said Andrew Cortés, executive director of Building Futures Rhode Island. “We celebrate LVMH’s leadership in developing this outstanding workforce development opportunity for Rhode Islanders.”
Benefit Cosmetics is the newest LVMH brand participating in the M.E. program by hosting a Benefit Beauty Immersive program at their San Francisco headquarters this past summer. The initiative was aimed at welcoming high school students to the prestige beauty industry, and nurtured the talents of eight dedicated apprentices from the Ruth Asawa High School of Arts in San Francisco. Apprentices completed the Benefit Brow Certification and received a Métiers d’Excellence Participation Certificate that will support their pursuit of a beauty and cosmetics focus within higher education or post-graduate studies.
LVMH has also launched M.E. Excellent!, a series of high school mentoring activities in New York City aimed at growing awareness of the Métiers amongst the younger generation. The program is anchored in LVMH’s time-honored savoir-faire of craftsmanship and client experiences and has worked with more than 40 students since May. LVMH aims to expand through new partnerships with New York City public schools in 2024.
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