Silk production has a long history in Como, Italy dating back to the 6th century when silkworms were first brought to the region. In 1510, Pietro Boldoni established Como's silk industry after silkworm breeding spread from China. The ideal environment around Como supported a booming silk industry with families breeding silkworms. By the 18th century, Como became Italy's largest silk producer using newer mechanical methods. Although silkworm breeding declined after World War II, Como still thrives as a silk producer by importing silkworms from China and processing the raw silk into fashion products sold around the world.

1. ERASMUS+
THE PLACE WHERE WE LIVE

2. Discovering the memory of my place

3. COMO THE CITY OF THE SILK
Silk :
Its introduction
in the economy
of Como is
undoubtlly the
event which has
changed the
history of our
place

4. Como silk history takes us
right back to the sixth century.
Silkworms were smuggled out
of China in bamboo canes and
brought to the eastern
Mediterranean by two Persian
merchants disguised as
priests. From there, the
breeding of the silkworms
spread to Sicily and continued
further north.
The history…
COMO THE CITY OF THE SILK

5. The silk Production
In the year 1510, Pietro Boldoni of Bellano was
the first to establish the silk industry in Como,
after his initial efforts, the industry in the region
boomed, quickly surpassing most of Europe’s
leading manufacturing centres.
The region of Como provided the ideal
environment to develop sericulture, with its
abundance of mulberry trees and crystal clear
waters.
In Como all families worked on the manifacture
of silk,
breeding silkworms in order to obtain the shiny
thread.

6. However it was on the turn of the 18th century
that Como became Italy’s largest silk producer,
with the help of mechanical methods replacing
older ones. Sadly, silkworm breeding died down
in Italy after World War II, but the industry is still
thriving in Italy and Como, which imports the
silkworms from China before the silk is woven,
coloured and tailored to design in Italy. Today
Como provides silk for the fashion houses of
Milan, Paris and New York, as well as Italy.

7. The production
Silk is an animal protein fiber produced by
silkworms which build their cocoons and
webs.
Many different types of silk are produced
by a huge variety of different types of
insects other than moth caterpillars. Yet
none of these have been exploited for
commercial purposes, though there has
been basic research into the structures of
such silks. Silk is most commonly
produced by larvae, and thus largely
limited to insects with complete
metamorphosis.

8. The cycle of the silkworms

9. Sadly, silkworm breeding died down in Italy after World War II, but the industry is still
thriving in Italy and Como, which imports the silkworms from China before the silk is
woven, coloured and tailored to design in Italy. Today Como provides silk for the
fashion houses of Milan, Paris and New York, as well as Italy.