AlpTextyles Narrative labels are out!
Based on the key findings from academic consumer research, AlpTextyles Narrative labels are the result of the collaborative work on Alpine textile heritage — a three-year journey carried out by 12 partner organizations also drawing from research in history, aesthetics, and mapping and on-the-ground pilot actions.
They are freely available for download on Canva in English, French, German, Italian, and Slovene. The narrative label is a complementary tool that sits alongside the legally-required product label.
While mandatory labels provide basic technical data, the narrative label offers a richer story: in the case of textile products, it gives insight into the producers, the fibers and techniques used, the local breeds and plant varieties they are made from, the landscapes involved, and the values that shape the process.
What’s often missing from conventional labels is the human and humane dimension: the care, intention, and cultural heritage that go into making a product. These specifications may not be mandatory, but they are essential. They help people understand what they are truly choosing when they make a purchase — the justify its price and help tell the story of materials, practices, and identities rooted in place. This is why we believe consumers should be offered the tools to distinguish, for example, whether a sweater is made with locally sourced wool or with imported fibers, or whether a product respects circular practices.
AlpTextyles believes that the quality of a textile — much like that of food — is first and foremost a story. That’s why the project has developed this series of narrative labels: to support transparency, amplify local voices, and make visible the cultural and ecological value embedded in every thread.
You can download the Guidelines in your language of preference here.
🌐 AlpTextyles LinkedIn
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AlpTextyles Partners
Polo Poschiavo
ZRC SAZU – Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
emlyon business school
Razvojna agencija Sora
Regione Lombardia
Sistema Moda Italia
BELLISSIMO
Istituto Marangoni
TECHTERA
Stand Montafon
Mediplant
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
