Como Silk: the thread of elegance told through its museum

Silk is a fabric that evokes millennia‑old beauty, quality and elegance — an artisanal tradition that represents one of the great excellences of Made in Italy in the textile world.
For centuries, silk has been a protagonist in haute couture, luxury accessories and interior design. Its roots in Italy date back to the medieval era: silk began to be processed around the year 1000, especially in the southern regions.

And yet today, one of the world’s main silk production hubs is in Como — Italy’s “city of silk” par excellence. But why?

Como silk: from economic engine to artisanal excellence

The progressive spread of silk began around the 15th century, when Ludovico Sforza, having understood its economic and strategic potential, encouraged farmers to cultivate mulberry trees — essential for feeding silkworms. His goal was to make the Duchy of Milan autonomous in the production of fine fabrics. Como, thanks to its waterways and favorable climate, proved to be the ideal place for this new industry.

Over the centuries, Como developed remarkable expertise in weaving. By the 19th century, it had become a globally recognized silk hub. Industrialization further accelerated this rise, allowing Como to conquer European leadership in silk production and export.

Como silk stands out not only for its history, but also for its quality: soft, lustrous and durable, perfect for creating original designs and prints.

Documenting silk in all its facets is the Museo della Seta di Como, located just outside the city center. It tells the story of the sector’s evolution and its economic and social impact, showcasing the entire production process — from silkworm breeding to finished products — through machinery, workshops, ancient looms, drawings and garments.

The Museum’s Vice President Lorenzo Frigerio tells us more.

Vice President, the Silk Museum preserves the legacy of generations of Como workers, dyers and weavers. What is the greatest challenge today in telling such a complex and fascinating industrial story to visitors, especially those unfamiliar with the territory?

The greatest challenge is conveying to visitors the richness of an industrial, artisanal and creative history that does not belong only to the past, but continues to live in the present and project itself into the future.
The Silk Museum must make a complex heritage understandable and engaging.

In this sense, the Museum is not just a place of memory, but a living, dynamic cultural center: a space where machinery, images, archives, talks, conferences and exhibitions interact, showing how silk remains a privileged key to understanding the history, culture and productive vocation of our territory, recognized internationally.

Walking among historic machinery, archives and ancient sample books, visitors are often left speechless. Is there a machine or artifact you are personally attached to, or that best embodies the essence of “Como silk”?

Choosing just one machine or artifact is not easy, because one of the Museum’s greatest strengths is precisely the ability to present the entire technological chain of the textile industry. This, in my opinion, is what most distinguishes us from other museums in the sector: here, visitors don’t just see individual objects — they understand a complete process, from raw material to finished product.

That said, having spent much of my professional life in the world of printing, I am naturally very attached to this technology, because it represents one of Como’s greatest excellences: the ability to transform technical expertise into aesthetic language.

At the same time, the weaving rooms — with their manual and mechanical looms — always fascinate visitors. These are spaces where the complexity of the work, the mastery of the hands and the evolution of technology are immediately perceptible.

Even today, Como is the textile engine behind the scenes of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses. How does the Museum interact with contemporary fashion brands? Is it seen only as a historical archive or also as a source of inspiration for new collections?

Our archives preserve a heritage of great value: documents, drawings, sample books, garments and materials that testify to the richness of Como’s textile tradition and its relationship with fashion.
This collection is already accessible to designers, researchers, companies and industry professionals, who find not only historical memory but also a living repertoire of forms and colors.

The archive is also fundamental for the Museum’s scientific and curatorial activities: it is used for research and for the creation of temporary exhibitions, often in collaboration with well‑known or emerging brands. Part of it has already been digitized, and we hope this process will continue, making the heritage increasingly accessible and capable of inspiring new research and new collections.

The global textile sector is undergoing a profound transition toward sustainability. How does the millennia‑old silk tradition — with its dyeing and processing techniques — reconcile with this new “green” paradigm? Is this a theme addressed in the museum’s exhibition path?

Sustainability is now a central challenge for the textile sector, and it also concerns the silk tradition, from dyeing processes to the various stages of production.

The Museum addresses this theme through in‑depth explanations during guided tours and along the exhibition path (for example, the sustainable silk project supported by Regione Lombardia).
This is complemented by educational and training activities for students, visitors and industry professionals: from the new series of technical books created with contributions from teachers and company technicians, to events organized in collaboration with the University of Insubria and the Sustainable Silk Textile Center of Como.

Even the museum shop is gradually moving toward a selection of products aligned with environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Silk processing requires extremely high artisanal and technical expertise, which risks being lost if not passed down. What role does the Museum play in bringing young people and students closer to this world, ensuring that Como remains the City of Silk in the future?

The Museum, together with the Fondazione della Seta ETS, contributes to transmitting the technical and artisanal knowledge linked to Como’s textile tradition, also through collaboration with the Paolo Carcano Technical Institute and participation in educational activities for students.

It also organizes thematic guided tours, educational workshops and hands‑on sessions led by specialized operators for schools of all levels, from primary to university.
The goal is to bring new generations closer to the culture of silk and textiles, stimulating curiosity and awareness toward a productive heritage that remains an essential part of Como’s identity.

This interview highlights a textile tradition that is still alive, evolving and representing a source of Italian pride worldwide. Some traditions never die — they reinvent themselves in a contemporary key, passing on the flame of the passion that created them. Silk is one of the finest examples.

Photo credits: courtesy ©Museo della Seta/Fondazione della Seta ETS