Kering Has Closed All Stores In the United States, UK and Canada
The parent company owns a long list of brands including Gucci, Balenciaga and more.
According to a report by Women’s Wear Daily, luxury conglomerate Kering has closed all of its U.S. and Canada stores — which includes outposts of brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta — until April 1 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Though Kering brands will continue to operate online, the company specified in a statement that its New Jersey distribution center will practice “enhanced safety measures,” including “heightened hygiene protocols” and social distancing. Additionally, impacted employees will continue to receive pay.
Though WWD doesn’t specify whether Kering’s UK-based stores will close, New York Times Fashion Director Vanessa Friedman reports in a recent Tweet that the company will indeed close those locations.
Kering’s move follows fellow parent company LVMH‘s decision to utilize its perfume factories to make hand sanitizer for public officials. Similarly, Miuccia Prada and husband Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada Group, donated six intensive care units to three Milanese hospitals.
Kering has closed all Nortn American and UK stores for two weeks (YSL, Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen etc) retail workers receive full pay; e-commerce still going but with social distancing and disinfectant.
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) March 18, 2020
