PARIS — LVMH Métiers d’Art is expanding the scope of its arts and crafts techniques with the creation of LVMH Métiers d’Art Japan, the luxury group revealed on Monday.
The Japan-based structure will commit itself “to preserving and promoting [the country’s] knowledge while exposing them to leading luxury brands, often European,” said Jean Baptiste Voisin, LVMH Group Chief Strategy Officer and President of LVMH Métiers d’Art.
Norbert Leuret, president of LVMH Japan, said the decision would reinforce the strong connections between the group’s brands and Japan’s arts and crafts scene.
Heading LVMH Métiers d’Art Japan will be Emina Morioka, 40, who studied in France before joining the group’s watch and jewelry division in Japan to work in marketing and communication at luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer. , and then joined the group’s strategy department. She recently participated in the development of a rising Japanese boutique hotel brand.
The bicultural Morioka is described as “decisive in strengthening the connections between [French and Japanese] cultures, highlighting Japanese talents and forging the necessary links between them and [the group’s] houses and, in general, our industry” by the executive director of LVMH Métiers d’Art, Matteo De Rosa.
Established in 2015 to help conglomerate houses build and maintain a strong supply of rare materials, as well as education and training for the industry, LVMH Métiers d’Art acquired a stake in Spanish tannery Riba-Guixà the same year, in the Italian tannery Masoni. in 2019 and more recently, a majority stake in Heng Long Italia and a minority stake in artisan leather and suede manufacturer Robans.