Valeria Gallese's AquiLANA Revives Abruzzo's Wool Tradition

Valeria Gallese, founder of AquiLANA in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, has transformed Abruzzo's raw wool from waste into sustainable, handcrafted yarns. Starting in 2012 with 50 kg, she now processes 30,000 kg annually from 12 farms, paying fair prices and promoting ethical shearing. Her workshop, opened in 2016, has become a national and international reference, blending tradition with contemporary culture. Gallese was named Ambassador of the Park in the World for the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. She collaborates with fashion schools like NAMI Pescara and NABA Milan, and brands like Brioni. Her natural dyes include Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine and saffron waste. The 2019 UNESCO recognition of transhumance and the FAO's 2026 International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists highlight the cultural revival. Gallese criticizes the lack of state support and calls for a shared model to revive Italy's wool supply chain.