A fabric worthy of a royal chamber.A material that just contemplating it is already a source of admiration, and touching it is a true delight. This article is an ode to real handmade velvet and Italian textile manufactories. Nobility, sophistication, luxury — these are the associations associated with the image of velvet. It was used to decorate thrones, altars and chambers of the upper class. The theater was also its abode. And now it is once again at the peak of popularity. Studying interior trends, we are convinced that this material is always in fashion, and interior items created using it have a unique charm.
Velvet supposedly has magical powerstransform the style of the room and the character of the entire space. This is something to keep in mind when decorating a room, as velvet attracts all attention to itself.
What is the secret of the uniqueness of this fabric?Natural velvet made of silk threads, due to its high density, retains its original appearance and properties for many years. Although this fabric has long gone beyond the aristocratic chambers and today its cotton and synthetic analogues are produced, owning a piece of silk velvet, and even more so using it in interior design, is real wealth.
Inspired by design solutionsapplication of this fabric in modern interiors and wanting to learn more about textiles, we went to the best manufactory in the world for the production of real velvet.
It was originally a silk fabric with a shortdense soft pile on the front side of the fabric. Velvet in Italian is velluto, meaning ‘to be woolly’. The fabric comes in two types: smooth and printed. The patterned one is called moire: it is created using combinations of pile of different colors and lengths.
The history is more than two thousand years oldvelvet, but there is no exact information about its appearance. It is definitely known that it appeared in Europe thanks to Arab traders who delivered this fabric along the Great Silk Road from the East to Italy, where the first guild of velvet fabric producers was created in the 13th century.
Venice, Florence, Lucca and Genoa dominated textile markets around the world. They influenced prices, fashion, technology and the economic structure of Europe for centuries.
Today we are at the origins of history,region that introduced velvet to the world - Liguria, and we have the opportunity to study in detail the production technology, which is quite expensive and incredibly labor-intensive. At the presentation of the Ligurian artisan brands Artigiani In Liguria in the Palazzo della Borsa in Genoa, we were attracted by the stand with magnificent fabrics.
And we visited a weaving workshop in the city of Zoagli(Italian: Zoagli) - one of the main producers of the exclusive material "cordani velluti" (Cordani Velluti srl), where the representative of the family business Magda Cordani cordially shared the secrets of craftsmanship and spoke about the relevance of the fabric. 
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— Our company is one of the last five velvet and corduroy manufactories that have been producing amazing smooth and patterned velour from 100% silk by hand on old wooden looms since 1849. Our manufactory has five 19th century looms and one 16th century loom, which, in particular, is the last such loom in the world for the production of single-color velvet. As you understand, all the looms are scaled to the human body. 60 centimeters is the length of an arm, and the production of handmade velvet, but with a width of, for example, 80 centimeters, is impossible. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— Despite the crisis of the 90s, Mr. Giuseppe Cordani kept these machines in operation precisely so that this ancient tradition would not be forgotten in the Ligurian territory. And for four generations we have not modernized our machines, which indicates that our velvet is original and is produced using technologies from the century before last. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— We produce exclusively velvet, and we can say that we are able to produce textiles of any complexity according to individual projects. Unique, of course, is the genuine Genoese smooth velour, of which we are the only producers; this is velour from the 16th century, a fabric woven on a special loom that allows us to obtain such a shine and density that have no equal. On looms from the 13th century, they weave embossed velour and carré, on a warp of silk and gros de Tours; the yarn is pure silk, but sometimes weft threads of pure gold and silver are also included, and, of course, dyeing in special colours can be done. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— We have a private collection of over 80 patterns, but we can also make other patterns on request. With the ability to change the density and pattern of velvet, we produce fabrics for various purposes, from interior design to clothing and accessories. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— All this is provided by a wide range of clients, including the most important fashion houses, both Italian and foreign, the Contrade Palio di Siena, museums, churches, and the luxury shipbuilding industry. Recently, there has been a close collaboration with the United States, so “velour cordani” can also be found in major American cities such as New York, Boston and Los Angeles. For Russia, a large order was recently made for a private customer who is restoring a family estate. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— The price is made up of the complexity of the pattern, the length of the fabric and the quality of the velvet. I will show you an exclusive velvet, which is more expensive. The sizes depend on the type of velvet, the order and the delivery point. www.tessiturecordani.it
Magda Cordani, owner of the manufactory:— The maximum length of the canvas is 8 meters, we have our own collection of white velvet, the color also depends on the customer's wishes. For example, if you want a certain shade of red, we prepare several shades that match your description and leave the decision to you, but it is very difficult to guess the color the first time, because it darkens when cut. www.tessiturecordani.it
We also visited the manufactory's retail boutique.with a stunning variety of fabrics, designer pieces and a stunning view of the landscape from the terrace overlooking the Riviera where the boutique is located.
In 2009, the company received recognition from the Ligurian artisans’ trademark, Velluto di Zoagli, which allows the uniqueness of its products to be protected.
Thanks to the Trade Exchange Development DepartmentThe Italian Embassy ICE and Liguria International for providing a unique opportunity to experience the mystery of making this luxurious textile.
His majesty velvet: Italian handmade fabrics
