Italian fashion group Ermenegildo Zegna said on Thursday it would open a new luxury footwear and leather goods factory in northern Italy to meet the growing needs of its brands.

The 12,500 square metre facility will be located near Parma and is expected to be completed by December 2026. It should employ more than 300 people once at full capacity in 2027, the company said.

The move by the Zegna group, based in the northern Italian region of Piedmont but listed in New York, aims to promote Italian craftsmanship at a time when the luxury industry is short of artisans.

“The centre will be more than just a production facility. It will play an important role as a training ground for a new generation of artisans, ensuring the ongoing viability of these important skills and working to preserve the uniqueness of ‘Made in Italy‘,” chairman and chief executive Gildo Zegna said.

The Italian group owns the Zegna and Thom Browne brands and operates Tom Ford Fashion through a long-term licence agreement with the Estée Lauder Companies.