News

Italian Silk Office -- ISU Vice Chairman Unit

Time:2020-12-08 Source:ISU Secretariat

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Italian Silk Office

ISU vice chairman unit

Italian Silk Office

Italian Silk Office (Ufficio Italiano Seta, referred to as U.I.S) was settled in 1951, today it comprises 100 Italian silk producers, representing each ring of the textile chain of silk in Italy. The core of Italian textile industry for silk is embodied in U.I.S: 900 million Euro of silk fabrics, scarves, ties, garments exported every year towards the most important markets all over the world, with a preponderant role in France, U.S.A., Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom, China, especially for luxury products. Italian silk industry represents 75% of industrial silk activities in Europe.

Italian Silk Office deals with the specific problems of silk and represents Italian silk industry in international Associations, such as A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S. (The Association of European users of silk and man-made filament yarns) and International Silk Union.

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The President of Italian Silk Office is Stefano Vitali, who is also the president of Fratelli Vitali di Roberto SpA, and vice chairman of ISU

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Stefano Vitali

President of Italian Silk Office

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 Guido Tettamanti

Secretary-general of Italian Silk Office


The Board comprises the following people:  

- Stefano Vitali (General Manager of Fratelli Vitali di Roberto SpA), President

- Roberto Cozzi (Head of supply chain relationships and certifications of Clerici Tessuto & C. SpA), Vice President

- Alberto Morenghi (General Manager of Società Serica Trudel SpA)

- Francesco Ongetta (Sales Manager of Ongetta Srl)

- Sergio Tamborini (Ceo of Ratti SpA)

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2018 International Silk Union Chairman Enlarged Meeting was held in Como, Italy.

Italian Silk Office is a branch of Sistema Moda Italia, which is one of the world’s largest organizations representing the textile and fashion industry. The Federation represents a sector, with over 510,000 employees and nearly 60,000 companies, that is a mainstay of Italy’s economy and manufacturing industry. The Federation protects and promotes the interests of the sector and its members.

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It represents the entire industry on a national and international level and maintains relations with government agencies, public administration, and with economic, political, labor, and social organizations. SMI, which is committed to making the textile and fashion sector one of the most important economic resources of Italian industry.

Como Silk

From the 14th century, the sericulture industry spread from China to Italy and took root in Como. Although the heavy sericulture industry left Como and returned to China after World War II, the final stage of silk weaving remained and the development sophisticated.

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In the 13th century, Como silk was exported to other European countries, and it is still the largest silk center in Europe. The silk produced in Como is the world's first in terms of texture, material, workmanship, printing and dyeing. These precious and exquisite silks are the most Top luxury brands ordered and sold to Milan, Paris, London and New York.

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Como is strictly connected with silk and silk belongs to its tradition and to the cultural heritage of the city. From these roots many initiatives rise in the city.

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Fondazione Antonio Ratti

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Fondazione Antonio Ratti (FAR)was established in 1985. The aim of Antonio Ratti, the founder and visionary, was to instill his deep passion for art and textiles into an active reality in the world of culture. The mission of the Fondazione Antonio Ratti is to promote research and the study of artistic, cultural, and technological interest in the fields of textiles and contemporary art. In 1993, Antonio Ratti's ancient textile collections were gathered at FAR.

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FAR's collection is one of the most important textile collections in Europe both in terms of its volume and the value of its pieces. It encompasses over 2,500 sample books and 3,000 pieces in total among which are archaeological fragments, shawls, silks, embroideries, velvets, and more.

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Among the main activities of FAR, there is CSAV - Artists' Research Laboratory, a workshop for young artists coming from all over the world. The programme, now at its XXVI edition, has been directed by Annie Ratti since 1995.

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Library, Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Villa Sucota    Photo: Walter Mair    Credit: Fisionomie Lariane

Thanks to a major donation from the Fondazione Antonio Ratti, in 1995 the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York inaugurated the Antonio Ratti Textile Center, one of the largest and most technically advanced facilities in the world for the study and storage of fabrics, which covers an area of 2,300 m².

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Sample books, Fondazione Antonio Ratti's collection. Installation view at Palazzo Te, Mantua. Photo: Agostino Osio

Como Silk Museum

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The Como Silk Museum shows the visitor the entire production process, from silkworm to colourful yarns, from hand printing to fashion collections.

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The Museum collects, treasures, displays machines, objects, documents, samples and instruments witnessing the glorious past of the textile industry that still nowadays rewards Como as the “City of Silk”.

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Most of the material comes from both factories and single donations keeping the history of the area alive.

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Main collection:

- Historical textile devices and machinery

- Archives of drawings, design paper, colour cards, samples and printing devices

- Handmade textile articles, civil and religious silk collections, 20th century clothes, laces and embroideries

- Books and documents

- Weaving exercise books

- Collection of business and private letters

- Printings and lithographs

- Photographs and films



Centro Tessile Serico Sostenibile Srl

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Centro Tessile Serico Sostenibile Srl (CTSS ) provides services to support the production activities of the textile-fashion sector in terms of testing, analysis and quality checks on materials and in the field of sustainability, and also in terms of research and development, technological assistance, specialized training.

Business support activities focus on sustainability issues, in particular management and use of chemical products, in view of the progressive elimination of dangerous ones.

The laboratory carries out different tests such as: technological ones, physical-mechanical ones, chemical and eco-toxicological ones, instruments calibration; the activities are divided on four testing departments: chemical, resistance to fire, technological and dyes area.

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Tests concerns both qualitative and quantitative parameters of raw materials, semi-finished and finished textile products, and also chemicals. All the tests are carried out in accordance to international standards, using advanced equipment.

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Main accreditations and awards:

Since December 1992, accredited testing Laboratory for (at last update) ISO/IEC 17025 (N. 0045L)

Since July 2011 the Laboratory has been enrolled in the Albo dei Laboratori di Ricerca Altamente Qualificati (Register of High Qualified Research Laboratories), managed by MIUR (Italian Ministry of University and Research)

Since January 2007 the Laboratory has been authorized by the Italian Ministry of interior for the release of Test Certificates for the Ministerial Approval of materials for fire prevention purposes, pursuant to D.MN. 06/26/1984 and subsequent amendments

Since September 2008 Centro Tessile Serico has been accredited by QuESTIO (Quality Evaluation in Science and Technology for Innovation Opportunity), a repertoire and accreditation system of the Research and Technology Transfer Centers of the Lombardy Region.

Since March 2017, the Laboratory has been recognized by the American CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) - ID number 1598 - for the tests "flammability of textile products for clothing" 16CFR part 1610 and "lead content in paints" 16CFR part 1303.

CTS carries out tests valid for the purposes of granting the EU Ecolabel for the "textile products" group (European Commission Decision 2014/350 / EU of 5 June 2014).

The Center is recognized by the ZDHC International Foundation (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) as an accredited laboratory for the analysis of wastewater and chemicals.

Since February 2019 CTS has been officially recognized Italian Training Provider by the ZDHC International Foundation.

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Since years the Center is recognized as an important reference point for the development of research and innovation projects.

Thanks to a team of highly specialized and qualified technicians, the Center offers both a standard training offer and the possibility to carry out customized company courses on specific topics.

CTSS is the owner and manager of the Seri.co mark, the collective quality brand of silk and silk-like fabrics, produced by Italian companies that adopt a rigorous Disciplinary accompanied by Product and Health and Safety Technical Sheets.

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Innovhub

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The Silk Division of Innovhub is one of the technical Departments of Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l’Industria, an industrially oriented multi sector research center located in Milano. Its mission is the scientific support to sustainable innovation in the Silk Italian value chain.   Major fields of activity are related to sustainable development, circular economy and advanced chemical and morphological characterization of the textile fibers and fabrics.

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Activities and services:

1. Support for developing collaborative research and innovation projects

2. Product quality and performance   

Scanning electron microscopy

Advanced Infrared spectroscopy

Testing for fabric comfort

Antibacterial activity of fabrics

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3. Circular economy

Innovative use of sericin by-products

Technological solutions for short-fibre silk production

4. Sustainability

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies

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5. New Business opportunities through the Enterprise Europe Network

In 2019, working with several companies of the silk value chain mainly of Como district, the Division developed the first time Silk Product Category Rules for Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that may be used globally.

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