Among centuries-old looms, contemporary visions, and a think tank centered on sustainability, Cittadellarte hosted a group of Peruvian alpaca entrepreneurs from July 2nd to 5th. They were the protagonists of the 2025 edition of AlpacaLab, a project promoted by PromPerú Italia to strengthen the internationalization of Andean textile companies. The meeting took place in one of the centers symbolizing ethical innovation in Italian fashion: Fashion B.E.S.T., Cittadellarte's platform dedicated to sustainability in fashion, organized an educational residency featuring creative exchanges, inspiring visits, and insightful discussions on the role of responsible design in the contemporary world.

"Through experiences like this", Melissa Cabrera Santos, textiles manager for PromPerú Italy, told us, "we try to provide participants not just with technical information, but with a real breath of fresh air. A connection with creativity and with organizations that communicate profound values. It doesn't take much for a spark to ignite, and from there new ideas emerge, more informed visions, connected to their own territory but projected towards the world".

In the heart of Biella, a historic capital of quality textiles, companies from Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cusco, and Puno were able to engage with models of excellence such as Piacenza 1733, Lanificio Cerruti, and the Zegna Foundation, as well as Cittadellarte. All these immersive experiences left a lasting impression. In the spaces of the Pistoletto Foundation, Tiziano Guardini, a designer known for his ethical commitment, led co-creation and reflection workshops, while the Peruvian designers explored new narratives of sustainability, starting from their roots: craftsmanship, the connection with Andean communities, and the alpaca as a symbol of beauty and resilience.

“I had no idea a place like this existed”, Yuli Torres, one of the participants, revealed emotionally, referring to Cittadellarte, “where sustainable fashion isn't just theory, but something you live. Here, we truly felt the value of natural fibers and the urgency of creating a concrete alternative to globalized fashion, which often ignores environmental and social consequences”. Far from the frenetic pace of the industry, Cittadellarte represented a fertile respite, a space for creative regeneration where sustainability intertwines with ethics and innovation with memory. The project demonstrated how the culture of making—when connected to shared visions—can build solid bridges between geographically distant yet ideally close territories.

The group extends special thanks to the Fashion B.E.S.T. team—led by Olga Pirazzi and Rebecca Mazzù—and to partners like Lenzing Group—led by Carlo Covini—for their strategic support of the initiative.