DB Schenker Supports Peru's Booming, Sustainable Fashion Industry

(Miami, Fla.) June 17, 2019 - Leading global logistics provider DB Schenker is delivering culture in Peru by providing both airfreight and logistics services to one of the country's most revered clothing makers. Working with Incalpaca, the logistics provider is helping to honor a time-honored tradition that dates back to 5000 B.C.

A national symbol in Peru, the alpaca is mostly found in the Andes of Peru, where over four million of them live. According to luxury clothing maker Incalpaca, each one of these animals represents the work and progress of thousands of Peruvians who live far away from modern life. "For them, breeding alpacas means preserving a remnant of ancient history," says Javier Cuadros, Incalpaca's Foreign Trade Coordinator. "For us, it is keeping history alive and making it every day our reason for being."

For over 20 years, the 4,000-square-meter Pacomarca has been the home to more than 2,000 alpacas, each of which was selected and valued as part of an advanced genetic improvement program. "We collect data and improve the fiber, so it can reach its utmost quality," Cuadros states. "Today, Pacomarca has the largest and most comprehensive database of alpacas in the world."

By honoring the Inca tradition of preserving and extending the life of the alpaca (and not killing the animals for their coats), Incalpaca has created a sustainable enterprise while also building a thriving business. With about 1,300 employees, the company is a leading, local maker of the mystic alpaca fiber—offering wool with a beautiful luster and depth of color that invests in the present-day lives of the Peruvian people.

Since early-2019, DB Schenker has been supporting Peruvian culture by providing airfreight and logistics services for Incalpaca. Handling exports to Santiago, Chile, DB Schenker has already shipped about 60 tons of luxury goods for Incalpaca in 2019 alone. The logistics provider handles the cargo, provides competitive rates from carriers, and then offers 24/7 supply chain visibility as the shipments move from origin to destination.

"By leveraging our luxury expertise, we have successfully been able to localize our supply chain and take local brands like Incalpaca to the global runway." Bill Heaney, VP, Head of Vertical Markets Consumer Retail & Healthcare DB Schenker Americas Region states.

"We pick up their goods and within an hour or less, the Incalpaca team has a tracking number and knows exactly what route and time frame its shipments are on," says Sandra Garrido, Implementation Solution Coordinator at DB Schenker Peru. "We work 24/7/365 for them, keeping them updated on the progress of their cargo."

With production increases of 24.7% in 2018, alpaca textile fibers represent the fastest-growing segment in the textile industry, which DB Schenker supports with efficient logistics solutions, and by connecting the people and products of Peru with the rest of the world.

Presently, Incalpaca exports around 200 tons of textile products annually to the U.S. (45%), Italy (15%), Chile (10%), and Spain (7%). DB Schenker provides support on the route from Lima to Santiago, Chile, and expects to increase its operations and destinations in the coming months.

Cuadros, concludes, "We're very positive about the future and about the prospects of working more deeply with DB Schenker to build out our worldwide supply chain."

More Info: https://www.dbschenker.com/