Colombo Industrie Tessili

From Tradition to Innovation: a textile company's transformation to experimental hub and creativity space

Dive into the heart of our textile mill

Explore the unique sounds of our textile mill, capturing the individual voices of our machines. Each loom weaves its own melody, creating a symphony of sound within our production space. We want to share this hidden soundscapes with the world.

In the Factory_The founders of Colombo Industrie Tessili by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Since 1962

Piero Colombo and his wife Anita founded a small textile company in San Fermo della Battaglia. Colombo Industrie Tessili company was born.

In the Factory_the old headquarter of Colombo Industrie Tessili by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

A vertically integrated company

From then onward it became a vertically integrated mill, that guarantees a high control from dyeing, weaving, finishing and quality check. This also means we can guarantee customizable products to our partners and clients.

In the Factory_From the design.. by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

From research and creativity...

In the Factory_AUTOCLAVE by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

...to yarn dyeing...

In the Factory_Dyeing fabric by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

...to fabric dyeing...

In the Factory_CONTINUOUS AIR by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

...to finissage...

In the Factory_CIRCULAR FRAME In the Factory_CIRCULAR FRAME by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

...to weaving and quality check

InFabbrica_Gobelin by Colombo Textile Industries_Progetto|62Museimpresa

Jacquard is the company's signature

Colombo Industrie Tessili creates a space where innovation and creativity thrive, experimenting with different products and processes to push the boundaries of textile production. Jacquard is one of the main and iconic products

InFabbrica_Fabric by Colombo Textile Industries_ITS ArteaMuseimpresa

Innovation

We explore technical materials, outwear and smart textiles that reacts to external inputs

InFabbrica_Fabric by Colombo Textile Industries_Progetto|62Museimpresa

We believe in blending traditional textile techniques with contemporary design approaches. This creates a unique aesthetic that's both familiar and fresh.

In the Factory_Collab with Art Design by Colombo Textile Industries_Progetto|62, Art Design and Eco-creativoMuseimpresa

Our journey towards sustainability

...which translates in creating partnerships with social associations and thus a powerful network of support, promoting social responsibility and a shared sense of purpose.

One of our projects in this direction is Palindromo, which highlights our commitment to social responsibility and creativity. We collaborated with Art Design Srl and Eco-Creativo to create a unique collection of fabrics. This partnership leveraged Art Design Srl's expertise in artisan printing and Eco-Creativo's contributions, using materials from Colombo Industrie Tessili, to produce a range of products that embody Italian craftsmanship and social inclusion.

In the Factory_Art WarMuseimpresa

Art War

In 2022 Colombo Industrie Tessili and the knitwear brand Froy launched a project called Art War to raise awareness about women's rights around the world. The project involves three international visual artists: Liana Ghukasyan (Armenia), Saba Najafi (Iran), and Elena Adamou (Cyprus).

These artists have donated their art to amplify the voices of women's rights. The proceeds from the event were donated to the Fondazione Pangea Onlus, an organization dedicated to protecting women's rights.

In the Factory_Certified fabrics by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Building a greener future...

Colombo Industrie Tessili is committed to environmental sustainability. This commitment extends to using certified fabrics, ensuring a responsible and eco-conscious approach to our production.

In the Factory_waste reuse by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

...through waste reuse

Colombo Industrie Tessili embraces a circular approach, transforming waste into valuable resources and giving new life to stock materials.

With this focus in mind, we partner with designers, artists and student, promoting a circular design, which uses waste or stock materials to create beautiful pieces.

In the Factory_Collab with EBE for MDW23 In the Factory_Collab with EBE for MDW23 by Colombo Textile Industries and EBEMuseimpresa

Ebe Collective

This is, for example, a project by EBE, a group of designers who transform waste materials into amazing and functional products, highlighting the potential of creative reuse. With this upcycling project, the company participated with them in Milan Design Week 2023.

COLLABS

We believe in research and in the power of collaboration, working with designers and students also on innovative and experimental projects, to explore new frontiers in textile design.

InFabbrica_Cap_able by Colombo Textile Industries_Progetto|62 and Cap_ableMuseimpresa

Cap_able

Made in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano and Cap_able, this is a technical fabric designed to safeguard digital privacy. This innovative material features patterns and colors based on algorithms that ‘hide’ digital identity, preventing unwanted facial recognition.

In the Factory_Grafene Fabric with Directa Plus by Colombo Textile Industries and Directa PlusMuseimpresa

Graphene

In collaboration with Directa Plus and their Graphene plus technology. This graphene-infused fabric, lends an extraordinary property of distributing the body heat uniformly.

In the Factory_Collab with D-House and Federico Cina_Milan Design Week 24 by Colombo Textile Industries, D-House and Federico CinaMuseimpresa

Milan Design Week 2024

A collaboration with D-house and Tiziano Guardini

In the Factory_Pigment-printed fabric by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Museimpresa

On January 2024, the company joined Museimpresa, embarking on a new journey into the narration of our world. The Colombo Industrie Tessili Archive is a vibrant space for research and experimentation.

InFabbrica_Fabric by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

It's a place where students, designers, enthusiasts, and curious minds can delve into the world of textiles. It's also a space for daily use by our team, with a focus on jacquard. We aim to preserve and cultivate the richness of Italian craftsmanship and our company's expertise.

InFabbrica_Fabric by Colombo Textile Industries_Progetto|62Museimpresa

By learning from our past, we strive to innovate the textile process for the future. The archive serves as a living testament to textile knowledge—not a nostalgic ode to the past, but a platform for ongoing experimentation, collaboration, and innovation.

A project laboratory and an exhibition space. We are open, by appointment, on the first and third Thursday of the month.

In the Factory_"Creatives" temporary exhibition by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

A new chapter begins

Since joining Museimpresa in January 2024, we've opened our doors to the public, showcasing our commitment to heritage and creativity. Our archive is the permanent exhibition of our space, offering a glimpse into Colombo Industrie Tessili's history.

In the Factory_Timeline Colombo Industrie Tessili by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Story Timeline

Visitors can explore our textiles, historical documents, digital archives, and design sketches. This collection tells the story of the company's legacy and showcases the creative process of jacquard fabric production, from raw yarn to finished product.

Moreover, video installations depict the company's vertically integrated production process and highlight initiatives throughout the years.

In the Factory_Site-specific installation by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Murals

Every day, our walls echo with inspiring words that fuel our passion and drive. These powerful messages remind us of our commitment to creativity and innovation, shaping the heart of our company culture.

In the Factory_The Fabrics booksMuseimpresa

An ancient archive

We believe innovation is fueled by heritage. Our vast archive holds a wealth of historical books featuring artworks, experiments, and research, providing a rich foundation for our future.

In the Factory_Collab with young designers by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Temporary exhibitions

The archive's space transforms with each exhibit, revealing the diverse collaborations Colombo Industrie Tessili has undertaken to promote sustainability, inclusion, and artistic innovation.

In the Factory_Cover of video interview project for the temporary exhibition "Creatives" by Colombo Textile IndustriesMuseimpresa

Creatives

This exhibition takes you on a journey through the creative process behind the designs of young designers who collaborate with the Colombo team. From research and sketches to experimentation, fabric selection, and final outfits, the exhibition highlights the intricate studio work

It also wants to underline the importance of fabric choice, not just as a tool, but as a key component in conveying the designer's message and his unique aesthetic. In parallel with this exhibition, we launched a series of video interviews to shed light on these partnerships. These interviews delve into the creative process and the motivations behind each collaboration, exploring the designers' creative journeys and their unique approaches to fabric while designing.

As the first of the video-interview, we had the opportunity to talk to Lorenzo Seghezzi in his atelier, exploring his creative process in depth. We delved into the motivations behind his work, seeking to understand the deeper reasons that drive him.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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