In Italy, craftsmanship is a birthright. But entering its most revered, tradition-bound trades—like fine jewelry—often means navigating closed doors and centuries of inherited exclusivity. Thanks to a new chapter at one of Italy’s most storied design houses, that's beginning to shift.
At Bulgari’s newly expanded Manifattura in Valenza, a town synonymous with goldsmithing, the doors have opened wider with the launch of Scuola Bvlgari—a training school created in partnership with Tarì Design School (TADS). It’s the first publicly accessible Bulgari academy dedicated to the art of jewelry-making. While the curriculum focuses on passing down the Roman maison’s signature techniques, it’s also an intentional step toward reshaping who gets to write the next chapter of Italian jewelry.
“From the very beginning, our goal has been to create a learning environment that fosters inclusion across all levels of the Maison,” says Corinne Le Foll, Bulgari’s newly appointed General Manager of Jewelry. “Gender is not a determining factor in recruitment, training, or advancement.” Today, over half of the Valenza facility’s employees are women—a notable shift in an industry where, for decades, craftsmanship was largely inherited through male lineages.
Gender is not a determining factor in recruitment, training, or advancement.
The school serves not only as an entry point for fresh talent, but as a mark of intent: that mastering a craft isn’t about who’s historically been allowed in—it’s about who has the vision to take it forward. Le Foll notes that globally, 62 percent of Bulgari’s managers are women, including leaders like Lucia Silvestri, Jewelry Creative Director and a pioneer in gem sourcing, and female designer Mary Katrantzou, the fashion-forward mind behind Bulgari’s accessories.
"The Academy is a highly specialized, six-month training path for new employees,” explains Le Foll. “It combines onboarding with the transmission of the Maison’s most emblematic techniques." It’s how the house ensures its heritage continues to evolve—with precision, integrity, and inclusivity.
Take Feng Jia, who relocated from China to Italy with a precise goal: to sharpen her craft and push her artistry further. After completing the Bulgari Academy in 2022, Jia found herself with a job and a sense of belonging. “Working with my hands is something I’ve always loved. There’s a perfect balance between technique and artistry at Bulgari,” she says. “Having the opportunity to experience a continuous flow of learning is truly extraordinary.”
Bulgari is investing in what comes next in an industry that often reveres the old ways. The hope isn’t just to train artisans for one atelier but to create ripple effects across the world of craft, becoming part of a new vanguard that honors tradition while carving out space forged by women themselves.
