With a portfolio that includes Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Stella McCartney and more, Kering is certainly nothing short of a luxury giant. Managing a plethora of high-end fashion labels, though, requires a central location from which to do so. Since 2016, Kering’s answer to that is 40 rue de Sèvres of the fashion capital Paris.
Housed within the former Laennec Hospital, Kering’s headquarters is rich with history that can soon be discovered when the French luxury conglomerate opens its doors to the public on September 16 and 17. The company will be celebrating the 34th edition of the European Heritage Days with a line-up of events taking place exclusively within its walls.
Developed in collaboration with historians and French start-up Timescope, a virtual reality tour will take visitors through the 17th-century hospice, transporting them back to 120 years ago.
That’s not all. Highlighting the links between heritage and contemporary creation, Kering will host the “Faire Avec” exhibition, which brings together a wealth of contemporary artwork from the private Pinault Collection. Pieces from the likes of Seung-Taek Lee, Chen Zhen and David Hammons will be on display at Laennec’s chapel.
The highlight of the weekend, however, will be on view at the ‘Croix Est’ part of the building: a selection of 23 haute couture creations by legendary designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, signed by the designer himself. The retrospective will offer visitors an insight into the couturier’s quest for the simplicity and sobriety of the silhouette, as well as a chance to immerse themselves in the history of the Maison.
Head over to Kering’s website to find out more and plan your visit to the company’s headquarters.
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