The award, presented by Paola Deda, Chairperson UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and Director UNECE and accepted on stage by Giovanni Schneider and Laura Ros, Chairman and CEO of G. Schneider, recognises the company’s visionary climate strategies and long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. At the heart of this achievement lies the SANIN Project – a model of collaboration, responsibility and regenerative impact.

A Purpose-Driven Journey

Launched in 2007 in the Argentinian Andes, the SANIN Project represents an 18-year journey dedicated to biodiversity conservation, community empowerment and the responsible sourcing of natural fibres.

Its core mission is the protection of the wild vicuña, which gifts us with one of the rarest and most precious fibres on Earth. When the project began, fewer than 800 vicuñas remained in the Reserva de la Biosfera de Laguna Grande. Today, through coordinated action between G. Schneider, local communities, and public institutions, the population has grown to more than 5,000 animals, with over 100,000 hectares of high-altitude ecosystems now safeguarded.

Beyond species protection, SANIN also advances:

+++ Ethical shearing practices, conducted by trained local shearers under veterinary supervision

+++ Fibre contribution programmes, supporting regional artisan communities

+++ A transparent and traceable supply chain for vicuña fibre, one of the world’s most luxurious natural materials

In 2025, SANIN reached another historic milestone: the creation of the first-ever bale of Superfine Argentinian Vicuna, achieving an unprecedented fineness of 11.7 microns — setting a new global benchmark for both excellence and traceability.

From the Andes to Milan: A shared recognition

The Climate Action Award highlights SANIN as the result of a collective eZort. This recognition belongs to the entire network that has made the project possible — from the communities living at over 4,000 metres above sea level to partners, clients, institutions and the broader G. Schneider global team that continues to nurture this vision every day.

This award is a powerful reminder that climate action is not a passing trend, but a shared responsibility and a long-term commitment that must be cultivated and sustained daily. It calls on the textile industry to recognise that the strongest fibres are those rooted in respect, collaboration and regeneration.

G. Schneider extends its deepest gratitude to Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and the CNMI jury for this honour and for their continuous commitment to promoting sustainability and traceability in the future of fashion.