Gucci to increase in-house production to reduce turnaround time

Florence

FASHION powerhouse Gucci is bringing more manufacturing in-house, as luxury firms step up efforts to meet rampant demand from Chinese shoppers with slicker operations.

Gucci, which said last week it could one day overtake LVMH's Louis Vuitton as the world's top luxury brand by sales, also outlined plans at its strategy update to almost halve its reliance on independent leather goods suppliers.

The step comes as labels including Britain's Burberry and France's Vuitton begin to levy greater control over thei…