A story
connected by a thread. Tessitura La Colombina
A story connected by a thread
with
Tessitura La Colombina
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“"In the specific role linked to weaving, ability is directly connected to
the experience matured and is something which, apart from
a person’s greater or lesser predisposition, is acquired in the field."
Carlo Colombo Ceo Tessitura La colombina
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The contemporary design of the handloom
Tessitura La Colombina has its roots going back through four generations, combining two fundamental principles: innovation and dedication. Today, the two brothers Carlo and Mario have taken on this inheritance. What unites them is the deep conviction that they are continuing a history and a company that revives “the craftsman’s knowledge” every day, while looking to the future. The choice is that of adding continual research to the weaving tradition, the real strength of Made in Italy..
Weaving by hand, creative realisations
Carlo realises textiles with the antique, historical family looms, which he has restored, adding some innovations. The idea of weaving came from the desire to give value to something which was already there: history. To see a loom, adjust it and update it to “hand-loom 2.0”. Research and ideas for continual innovation together with the study of stitches, the matching of colours and yarns which are always being renewed. Unique textiles, which feel different to the touch: wefts which are enriched with creativity from one generation to the next, changes made precious with inserts of yarn, ribbons and different materials. All this to enrich our leading-edge “library of timeless textiles” which expands with each new collection.
"Priming a warp, a loom and seeing them develop one centimetre after another,
we love creating the textile, seeing it “explode” from the loom."
How does a textile come about?
Everything begins with inspiration and research: study. The creation of a new textile is always an alchemy of many different inspirations. Starting with the effect wanted, the stitches are chosen and the yarns selected, paying particular attention to the colours and thickness of the fibre. After putting the project onto paper the important and often very long preparation of the warp follows. The warp starts its life in the warping mill with antique, specialised machinery. The cones and threads, delicately wound with the right tension and care, create the basic textile.
The warp is then taken and “assembled” onto the loom: this is the most delicate phase. Two operators are needed to pass each thread into the eye and successively through the teeth of the selected comb, following the scheme of the design carefully. A mistake would mean repeating part of the operation. The final step before the weaving is to set up the sequence of the “lifts”, the heart of the creation of the design of the weft.The magic is about to be repeated: the spools are prepared to be inserted into the shuttle, which goes back and forth to create the weft. The design, the colours, the size and type of yarn can vary with a cadence which is unique for each textile.
Lifts, beats, cadences and centimetre after centimetre the new textile and is created.
The looms
& weaving 2.0
The wooden looms from the mid-1800s are the heart of our firm; come into to the courtyard and listen to the sound: it is like hearing a heartbeat. There are 14 “orthogonal” hand-looms, which came into the company thanks to the foresight of our grandmother Erina, who wanted to introduce them shortly after the war. We work with our looms to make sure something is not lost and working at the slower pace which we have chosen to produce our textiles today.. The know-how and manual dexterity have always been a distinct part of our history for the care and finishing of textiles and garments. We have chosen to continue the commitment of passing on all this world to the new generations, so that they can fall in love with it too.
Weaving 2.0
The looms with which our textiles are produced are a precious inheritance. Orthogonal looms with frames from the mid-1800s, put back into working order in 2012 from an idea of Carlo’s, to give life to the concept of “weaving 2.0” . Overhauled and renewed with the introduction of details to bring them up-to-date such as led lights to make working by hand easier. Studied and “rediscovered” in all their potential, with a system, for example which allows a reverse gear in the creation of the weft. An antique instrument always in fashion, seen through new eyes.
Philosophyy
Our past is our future
The spirit of Tessitura La Colombina is to keep our historical know-how alive and continue making it present. Our working looms are a patrimony of the territory, and of the authentic Made in Italy. The production of “hand-made products” which we promote is “slower” and allows us to realise a unique article. We believe that this typical way of producing cloth will always be in fashion and has a growing market. For us, everything is a result of a culture which combines the tradition of a wooden loom with new ways of thinking about how to use it. Innovation itself evolves as a sort of “school” in which we see ourselves as leaders for those who want to get to know this world.
The value of expert craftsmanship. Made in Italy and innovation textile design
Carlo and Mario have chosen to continue following the path of talented craftsmanship, first taken four generations ago, and to maintain it in their production. The research into quality through the study of the best fibres, innovation in design and the attention to finishing: all this concurs in the care taken in the projects for the collections. A fundamental value is the choice of producing locally, which expresses and supports the true Made in Italy and which is enriched by a network of historical suppliers and producers in and around Treviso. Made in Italy, is synthesis and geniality: it is fantasy and intuition, skills and know-how which are passed on from generation to generation. The synthesis and expression of the DNA of a territory, of a culture, where continuous research begun locally can take off and speak an international language. It is the heart of our know-how, the truly made in Italy, in all its stages. For us it means being part of a network of small and large centres of excellence united by a subtle thread. Innovation is style, a mix of taste and creativity, a reinterpretation of the craftsman’s know-how and the sensitivity to understand and read the changes and sometimes even anticipate them.
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Tessitura La Colombina
A story connected with a thread
with Tessitura La Colombina
Carlo Colombo
A fabrics library
"A dynamic and incremental collection of our handwoven fabrics.
Every season is enriched with new creations.
Living archive of “timeless” fabrics"
Carlo Colombo
A continuous collection, an incremental archive that is enriched with new fabrics over time.
Design, inspirations and fabrics that arise from research and draw from the legacy of the family company's historical sketches
The creativity of handmade fabrics for independent projects, international brands born at Tessitura La Colombina.
The uniqueness of creations designed to measure each time, interpreting the individual project and its worlds.
