Textile artisans win LVMH’s ‘Maestro d’Eccellenza’ awards
Of the nine finalists for the award, now in its fourth year, five are from the world of textiles – a clear sign of the sector’s vitality and its forward-looking nature
The word that came up most often was ‘emotion’: there was plenty of it in the grateful speeches given by the master craftsmen who gathered yesterday at the Bulgari Hotel in Rome for the presentation of the Maestri d’Eccellenza Award, organised by LVMH’s Mestieri d’Eccellenza division, in collaboration with Confartigianato Imprese, the National Chamber of Italian Fashion and the Bulgari Foundation, now in its fourth year.
Over the past few years, more than a thousand Italian craftspeople have submitted their projects and stories to the award jury, which aims not only to support the work of the winners (with 10,000 euros and a comprehensive mentoring programme offered by Bulgari), but also to raise public awareness of the cultural and economic importance of the craft trades and their unique ability to combine history and tradition with research and experimentation.
This aspect was highlighted in this edition by the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, with Minister Adolfo Urso taking part in the event: “From a customs code, ‘Made in Italy’ has come to signify the culture of the product,” he said. “Exports, based on our artisanal excellence, are the driving force behind our economy,” he continued, highlighting the government’s measures to support outstanding SMEs, such as the recent implementing decree allocating 100 million euros to support and revitalise the fashion, textile and accessories sectors, in accordance with Article 3 of the Annual Law on SMEs.
“Passing on knowledge does not mean set in stone,” emphasised Laura Burdese, CEO of Bulgari. “Our responsibility is to create space for young people – and, more broadly, for anyone who can learn from the masters – whilst at the same time allowing them to contribute their own vision and sense of the future.” “In Italia, the brand and its supply chain are one and the same,” added Carlo Capasa, president of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion. “Today, more than ever, contemporary fashion has its roots in craftsmanship of the highest calibre.”
The winner of the 2026 Master Craftsman of Excellence award was Carlo Colombo, of Tessitura la Colombina in Badoere di Morgano, in the province of Treviso. The company, which has been passed down through four generations, was founded in 1895 as a silk mill and introduced hand looms in 1948, before branching out into the production of accessories and knitwear. Colombo, who runs the company with his brother Mario, emphasised how his training as an architect has helped him shape the creative direction of the weaving business, reiterating the importance of remaining open to the present and forward-looking, not least through the involvement of students from schools and higher education institutions who visit his workshop.
