Congressman Robert Garcia, a first-term California Democrat and the first Peruvian-born person to serve in the House, is making waves in the fashion world by taking on luxury design house Loro Piana over their treatment of Indigenous workers in Peru who source the rare vicuña wool for their high-end clothing.
The vicuña, a South American animal known for its ultrarare fur, is revered in Indigenous folklore as a sacred fabric worn by Incan royalty. Today, the fine, lustrous fur is one of the most expensive fabrics available, with Loro Piana’s products fetching prices ranging from $500 to $30,000.
Garcia, who is not known for his fashion sense and prefers suits from Men’s Wearhouse, was moved to action after a Bloomberg report revealed that the Peruvian Indigenous community harvesting the vicuña wool was being underpaid by Loro Piana, despite the company’s steep price increases.
In a letter to Loro Piana executives, Garcia demanded answers on how the company could justify raising prices while reducing payments to the workers. He highlighted the drastic decrease in revenue for the Indigenous communities involved in the vicuña wool trade, calling out the exploitation of workers for the sake of luxury fashion.
Loro Piana’s chief executive, Matthieu Garnier, defended the company’s practices, stating that they pay workers in accordance with local practices and have played a crucial role in conserving the vicuña population in Peru. However, Garcia remains unsatisfied with the response and vows to continue pressing for changes.
The clash between the Italian luxury brand and the freshman lawmaker underscores a growing trend of lawmakers using their platforms to address issues that matter to them, regardless of their background or personal interests. In this case, Garcia’s advocacy for fair treatment of Indigenous workers in the fashion industry has sparked a conversation about ethics and responsibility in the world of high-end fashion.
