Salvatore Ferragamo is made up of highly-skilled people that show their love and dedication to their work every day. Realizing people's potential at all stages of the production chain is a priority for Salvatore Ferragamo, which strives to attract new talents and rewards those who contribute every day to the Brand's success with their passion. The Company believes in equal opportunity and invests in the professional development of its resources, encouraging employee initiative to create the conditions for managerial and technical growth—all in accordance with its historic values.
The video We are Ferragamo, made in collaboration with the Business of Fashion, tells of Salvatore Ferragamo's approach to sustainability, and of the importance attached to teamwork by the brand. The video reviews the main intervention areas in the field of sustainability: innovation and digital, creativity and design, craftsmanship and connection with the territory; and how teamwork is pivotal to promote the Company's sustainable development.
Protection and safeguard of human resources are crucial for the Company, which has consolidated its commitment on this issue by achieving, for the Italian operations, the ISO 45001 certification on health and safety management for the workplaces. Moreover, in 2019 Salvatore Ferragamo has obtained, for all the Italian operations, the SA8000 certification. The SA8000 international standard covers the social accountability aspects of a management system and encourages organizations to develop, maintain, and apply practices that incorporate respect for human rights and workers, protection against child labour, and health and safety. Salvatore Ferragamo has joined the International Labor Organization, International Organization of Employers and the International Trade Union Conference, IndustriALL Global Union, employers’ organisations and other brands to call for action in order to support the rights of garment workers and manufacturers throughout the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Brand is committed to protect garment workers’ income, health, and employment, while calling for jointly working on sustainable systems of social protection for a fairer and more resilient garment industry.
Guaranteeing its people the opportunity to grow in a work environment where diversity is considered a value is a priority for the Group, which has launched many initiatives in this direction.
The Inclusion Policy, which was formally adopted in 2019, aims to support multiculturalism and promote equality and equal opportunities, fighting all types of discrimination and condemning any form of harassment. In addition, the Policy sets the goal of promoting meritocracy and fair treatment at all levels, facilitating the development, expression and enhancement of individual potential.
As further confirmation of the commitment in terms of inclusion and diversity, in 2020 the Company has launched a cultural change process focus on diversity and inclusion, which aims, through learning sessions and activities, to promote and raise awareness on the impact of diversity and inclusion in the business.
On the subject of inclusion and disability, Salvatore Ferragamo joined “The Hiring Chain” global campaign, promoted by CoorDown, launching an important job inclusion project at corporate level that led to the inclusion in the Company of a resource with Down syndrome.
Furthermore, the Company has joined Valore D, the first business association in Italy committed to creating a professional world free of discrimination, where gender equality and the culture of inclusion support the growth of the organization itself. Finally, in order to strengthen its commitment to human rights and equal opportunities, in 2019 the Company adopted the Women’s Empowerment Principles promoted by UN Women and the UN Global Compact.
An important step taken to confirm Salvatore Ferragamo’s commitment to inclusion and respect for equality and dignity was the adoption of the Women’s Empowerment Principles promoted by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, which provide companies with guidance about how to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace and in communities.
“The Salvatore Ferragamo Group attributes great importance to its human capital, and for this reason is committed to guaranteeing equal opportunity, respect and integrity. For the Group, women play a key role, they account for nearly 67% of its employees and hold around 60% of senior management positions. We are committed to the advancement and empowerment of women in the workplace for an ever inclusive future.”
Marco Gobbetti, CEO of Salvatore Ferragamo.
Salvatore Ferragamo considers training a priority, as it is necessary to ensure the professional growth of employees and the development of the key competencies lying at the basis of the Company's heritage.
An example of the attention Salvatore Ferragamo pays to protecting artisanal skills and the Company's know-how is the Manovia division - the historic unit for prototypes and production established in 1967 and recently re-opened in a renovated location - and the Modelleria division - a lab for Men's and Women's Leather Goods opened in 2017, where craftsmanship and research meet.
Salvatore Ferragamo featured as a pioneer in the process that eventually gave rise to the «Made in Italy» concept. The Group has always been upholding the principles of its Founder by keeping production in Italy. It brings together excellent craftsmanship and Italy's robust creative tradition, and the importance it places on the Made in Italy concept is reflected also in its efforts to archive authentic and diverse materials to create a memory of an entire industrial and social culture. For the contribution provided in terms of tradition and innovation, Salvatore Ferragamo obtained the “Art of Craftsmanship” award at the 2018 Green Carpet Fashion Awards. The award was collected by a representative team of Ferragamo expert artisans.
