We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
domino gets schooled in the fashioning of fine Italian bedding.
cream of the crop
For more than a century, Pratesi has served as the gold standard of elite linens. In 1906, Remigio Pratesi set up shop in the Tuscan town of Vinci, creating exquisitely handmade bedclothes by reclaiming time-honored traditions of tailoring and embroidery. Today, the company has a global reputation, with brick-and-mortar shops located throughout the world. From the beginning, Pratesi has been a family business. And now, three generations later, Remigio’s great-grandson Federico and his wife, Gaia, oversee the company’s creative headquarters outside Florence. There, a devoted staff of designers, weavers, and embroiderers crafts linens like haute couture—by hand, and with a level of care that’s not of this century. “Our in-house artists operate with the full support of our family,” says Gaia. “When I work with them, it’s very clear to me what our company’s greatest asset is.”
the process
Gaia Pratesi gives us a guided tour!
1
The process begins in Pratesi’s Creation Department, where the components of each pattern are hand-sketched and painted by designers such as Lucilla.
2
Those illustrations are then artfully pieced together to create unique designs.
3
Next, individual silk screens are created for each color represented in a design. When printing begins, every screen is meticulously registered by the millimeter (by Fabio, head of the printing department) to ensure consistency.
4
During the screen-printing process, colors are applied by hand, one at a time.
5
Once each color is printed and has dried, the fabric is carefully checked, yard by yard, for textural flaws or defects.
6
Once each color is printed and has dried, the fabric is carefully checked, yard by yard, for textural flaws or defects.
7
Other pieces are scalloped by Ornella, who wears protective iron gloves while operating the cutting machine.
8
Next, each piece is finished according to design specifications. In some cases, the fabric is meticulously embroidered.
9
Here, Donata (an artisanal tulle cutter) trims lace with a laser.
10
Finally, the finished designs are ironed by hand and readied for Pratesi’s discerning clientele.
Vivaio sham
, pratesi.com