At the iconic Teatro alla Scala, G. Schneider was awarded the Climate Action Award during the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025. The event was organized by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in partnership with the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and supported by the Municipality of Milan.
The award was presented by Paola Deda, Chairperson of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and Director at UNECE, and received by Giovanni Schneider and Laura Ros, Chairman and CEO of G. Schneider. It honors the company’s forward-looking climate strategies and long-term dedication to environmental stewardship. Central to this recognition is the SANIN Project—a model of collaboration, responsibility, and regenerative impact.
An 18-Year Mission with Purpose
Founded in 2007 in the Argentinian Andes, the SANIN Project has been dedicated to biodiversity conservation, empowering local communities, and responsibly sourcing natural fibres. Its primary focus is the protection of the wild vicuña, one of the rarest and most valuable fibres in the world.
When SANIN began, fewer than 800 vicuñas remained in the Reserva de la Biosfera de Laguna Grande. Thanks to joint efforts by G. Schneider, local communities, and public institutions, the population has now expanded to more than 5,000 animals. Additionally, over 100,000 hectares of fragile high-altitude ecosystems are now protected.
Beyond species protection, SANIN drives progress through:
- Ethical shearing practices, carried out by trained local shearers with veterinary supervision
- Fibre-sharing programmes, supporting local artisan communities
- A transparent and traceable supply chain for vicuña fibre, renowned as one of the most luxurious natural materials
In 2025, the project achieved a groundbreaking milestone: producing the first-ever bale of Superfine Argentinian Vicuña with an exceptional fineness of 11.7 microns, setting a global benchmark in both quality and traceability.
Global Recognition: From the Andes to Milan
The Climate Action Award underscores SANIN as a collective achievement, belonging to the communities living above 4,000 meters, along with partners, clients, institutions, and the G. Schneider global team that sustains the project’s vision daily.
This recognition reinforces that climate action is not a fleeting trend but a shared responsibility requiring long-term dedication. It calls on the textile and fashion industries to acknowledge that the most resilient fibres are those built on respect, collaboration, and regeneration.
G. Schneider expressed its profound gratitude to Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and the CNMI jury for this honor and their enduring commitment to advancing sustainability and traceability in the future of fashion.
