- Business
- Kering SA (KER.PA) is a global luxury group that designs, manufactures, markets and distributes high-end products including ready-to-wear apparel, leather goods, footwear, watches, jewelry, eyewear and fragrances; its portfolio features world-renowned Houses such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin and Ginori 1735. The company operates through three main business segments: Leather Goods & Skincare, Fashion & Ready-to-Wear, and Watches & Jewelry, serving affluent consumers worldwide via a network of directly operated stores, wholesale channels, e-commerce platforms and franchise partners across more than 120 countries. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Paris, France, Kering focuses on sustainable luxury innovation, creative excellence and long-term value creation for its brands.
Kering's core offerings encompass iconic product lines like Gucci's leather handbags, double-G motifs and ready-to-wear collections; Saint Laurent's leather goods, tuxedo-inspired apparel and beauty products; Bottega Veneta's intrecciato woven leather items and minimalist luxury fashion; and Balenciaga's streetwear-infused ready-to-wear, sneakers and accessories. The group also provides high-end jewelry through Boucheron's nature-inspired pieces and Pomellato's colored gemstone designs; fine watches via Ulysse Nardin; and eyewear under Kering Eyewear, which licenses and distributes branded sunglasses and optical frames for multiple Houses. Operations span Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and other regions, with key manufacturing in Italy and distribution hubs globally.
In recent developments, Kering has pursued strategic sustainability initiatives, including expanded investments in regenerative agriculture and circular economy practices across its supply chain as part of its 2025 environmental profit and loss reporting. The company completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Italian eyewear manufacturer Marchon Eyewear in 2021, strengthening Kering Eyewear's production capabilities, and launched new creative leadership at Gucci with Sabato De Sarno as Artistic Director in 2023 to revitalize the brand's positioning. Additionally, Kering announced partnerships for digital innovation, such as collaborations with tech firms for metaverse-ready NFT collections and AI-driven personalization services in 2024-2025, alongside ongoing share buyback programs and dividend distributions reflecting robust financial health.