Burberry has acquired a factory in Piedmont

Yesterday, Burberry announced the acquisition of a new factory in Italy, part of the factories of the Pattern Group, one of its long-standing suppliers for some two decades. The deal was worth 21 million euros and will verticalize the brand's clothing and outerwear production (in this case down jackets and padded garments, since trench coats are produced in the factory Burberry owns in Yorkshire) in view of the brand's repositioning planned by CEO Jonathan Ackeroyd. Ackeroyd himself called the acquisition «an important next step in bringing our outerwear category to full potential. It will enhance our capabilities, building on our strong foundations in the U.K., and provide greater control over the quality, delivery and sustainability of our products. It’s an exciting development and I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues on board». The new colleagues are, in this case, the factory's current employees, about 70, who along with facilities, machinery and inventory will now pass into Burberry's hands.

The arrival of Burberry's capital in Turin is the culmination of a month that has seen the Piedmont region and its factories receive attention from fashion financiers: in mid-February it was Cartier that inaugurated its new factory in Basse di Stura, while last week the Quadrivio group launched a bid for Cover 50, the parent company of PT Torino, a brand we have seen participate in past editions of Milan Fashion Week.