From the Byzantine courts to the Renaissance, from the Bauhaus to the Cubism, the interior design world has been seduced by velvet and its glamour has never dimmed setting the rules for elegance. Its origin is mysterious, but common knowledge talks about the silk-road, as it seems that velvet was imported in the West from the Far East. Nevertheless it is during the Renaissance that velvet has gained a major role in interiors becoming synonymous of regality, richness and elegance.
Linen
The linen fibre is the most ancient and widespread fibre, already in use 6000 years before Christ.
The Egyptians considered linen textile precious and a symbol of purification and they used for the mummification. In Mesopotamia, linen textile was only for the richest classes. The Phoenicians, famous merchants and sailors, brought the fibre in Magna Grecia, from were it widespread all over Europe. Linen is famous not only for being a beautiful textile, but moreover for its characteristics of isolating, thermoregulatory, resistance and comfort.
Here the main characteristics:
Linen offers the best compromise between freshness and the capacity to maintain the heat constant.
Linen offers that highest level of absorbing water and humidity combined with the highest level of perspiration and ventilation (permeability to the air and steam).
Linen is hypo-allergenic and is tolerable also for those who have the most sensible skin
Linen has one of the highest degree of comfort compared with any other natural or synthetic textile.
Linen production
Linen is a 100% biodegradable and recyclable material. It is considered a model fibre: compared with the cotton fibre, its cultivation requires considerable less quantities of cubic meters of water, and much less tons of plant-protection products as it requires only rainy waters and no pesticides.
The energy required to produce linen is 4 to 10 time less then what it is required for the production of a synthetic fibre. Furthermore linen plantation absorb numerous quantities of CO2 tons.
The linen cultivated in Europe is meant to be the best in the world. This level of excellence depends on three major factors: The availability of the right fields, the climate conditions, and the knowledge of expert linen farmers, who pay great attention to the quality of farming and of the spinning of the fibre.
l’Opificio Linen Velvet
l’Opificio Linen Velvet, weft from the highest quality fibres of the linen plant, the so called “lungo tiglio” especially weft for us, have 100% linen pile. With a fresh and dry hand, our linen velvet is very comfortable, and thanks to the skilful finishing, it offers a great haptic and is simple to work with.
Typical of the linen velvet, it is that with the time it becomes even softer and gains a “used patina”, perfect for vintage armchairs and sofas. The high level of ventilation and perspiration, make sofas and chairs very comfortable in any season.
The chromatic choice proposed, trendy and colourful, with light flaming typical of this fibre, make the linen velvet a perfect choice for sophisticated interiors.
l’Opificio Linen Velvet collection, represent at best the attention that the company dedicates to sustainability, as beside using a fibre with a low environmental impact, it is also totally formaldehyde-free, without any heavy metals nor any toxic substances.
English