History of Italian Embroidery

The first embroidery work-shops in Italy were opened in Palermo by Saracens about the year 1000 and soon they gained European fame. A century later other work-shops rose in Genoa, Pisa and Venice. In Renaissance, thanks to new economic possibilities that opens the trade with the East but above all to the prestigious contribution of the painters of that time that provided with the drawings, embroidery gains the preciousness of a work of art. In the 15th century Lace were originated to satisfy the new direction of fashion towards the preciousness of clothes and embroideries. Originally it was made just like the embroidery from which it derives, on already existing background with a very loose weave and to make this weave the stitches are fixed by a very thin needle and then stitch on stitch thread works itself creating a very delicate weaving. The lace can be made using needle, bobbins or crochet hooks. The refinement of the precious weaving can produce authentic works of art that maintain their own identity of working and decoration that is different from region to region.. In the 17th century one started using gold embroidery which considered as very luxurious and effective. “Filigree” technique is one of the famous embroidery pattern of Italy. Since the 19th century definition of fashion has been changed, the embroidery is oriented towards new era which is called "white embroidery" used to decorate underwear and linen.