AlpTextyles Stand at Milano Unica 2025
Case study | Trans:humance
Walking with wool, reviving the Merino d’Arles
As part of their activities, the emlyon business school team looked for brands exemplifying the valorization of Alpine textile heritage and local fibers through cross-border collaboration. Among the most inspiring is Trans:humance and the Larouto collection — an outdoor brand and cultural initiative committed to revitalizing pastoral traditions, fair wool economies, and living textile heritage.
Created through a collaboration between the Maison de la Transhumance, the Naturfasern Michael Dal Grande company, and a network of transhumant shepherds, Trans:humance brings renewed value to the Merino d’Arles breed — native to southeastern France and prized for its fine Alpine fleece. Once sheared, the raw wool is sent to Biella (IT), where it is washed, carded, and spun using ecological methods. Depending on the final product, it is blended with fine merino from the Falkland Islands and crafted into garments across Biella, Troyes (FR), and Baden-Württemberg (DE), creating a resilient, cross-border supply chain rooted in quality and traceability.
Trans:humance also valorizes the seasonal driving of livestock, recently recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Inspired by the GR®69 hiking trail connecting Southern France to Piedmont (IT), Larouto celebrates pastoral life as a living system connecting agriculture, ecology, craftsmanship, and design.
On display here are pieces from the Larouto collection: a reversible wool jacket, a sports shirt, merino leggings, and socks. All are made with Merino d’Arles wool and designed for comfort, durability, and natural performance. Together, they show how heritage can be worn — and how walking remains an act of cultural transmission.
©Photo: Courtesy of Trans:humance
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