Damiano Excel

Shine with fine natural fibers

Weaving is an ancient tradition in Peru, where Peru’s finest natural fibers, Alpaca and Vicuña, have been used in the production of textile goods for centuries.

Our Story

The love of nature and adventure took me all over the Peruvian Andean Range, where I first saw and touched alpacas and vicuñas: docile, soft, and charming. Alpacas are sheared once a year, their fiber is used to make clothing and other products. It is an incredible gift. My sweaters and scarves made of pure alpaca fiber kept me warm in the cold nights of the Andean highlands and comfortable during its sunny days. Since then, alpaca fiber has become my favorite for warm clothing. It’s fascinating to seek out natural textiles, always in the search for the top quality that reminds me of the first time I felt alpaca fiber; docile, soft, and charming. This fascination has led me to start Damiano Excel in Vancouver, a city with snow-covered peaks that brings me back memories from the Andean Range and its lovely alpacas.

But, where does this fascination truly come from? It could just be the lovely alpacas, the Andean Range, the experience. Yes, but there must be something more that adds to it. I gave it a thought. Damiano Excel is born from my history. My grandfather, Nonno, was a textile technician that moved from Italy to Peru after WW1 and worked in huge textile factories in his new home country. His adventure and courage is embedded in my work. I have memories where I stood by and looked up at one of the many loud machines, “crash! thump!” I watched how this iron monster moved the fiber strings so fast that my eyes couldn’t focus on them. It was an orchestra of colors, textiles, and mastery. With time and hard work, my Nonno’s passion took him on his new adventure, this is where I recall him having his first textile machine in his garage. Deeply rooting into his passion for textiles, and implicitly, passing it to me. And now letting me share this passion with you through Damiano Excel fine natural fibers. What an incredible gift.