Behind Our Fabrics

Fermo Fossati Mill

Est. 1871

millHero desktop image 2

RegionLake Como, Italy

Employees58

Est.1871

OwnedFermo Fossati

Mill typeSilk

FabricsSilk

Fermo Fossati

Fermo Fossati’s first ties came off the looms in 1856 at its original atelier in Binago, in the province of Varese. The business was officially established in 1871, and later moved to Tavernerio, on Lake Como, shifting its focus from making ties to weaving silk fabrics. It still uses specialised vintage looms and traditional spinning wheels, even though modern equipment is faster.

Raw silk threads are washed, bleached and dried before dyeing and spinning. Fossati’s ties come in two weaves. Grenadine is a gauze-like weave made on specialised looms, where warp yarns are twisted around the weft to give a strong, breathable and flexible fabric with texture. Jacquard ties have a pattern or motif woven into the cloth, which gives a structured, durable fabric.

We use Fossati silk for ties, pocket squares and other accessories in our year-round collections.

Old leather-bound book dated 1901 on wooden desk
Industrial silk loom machinery in factory

A 150-year mastery of silk.

After 150 years in operation, Fermo Fossati has earned its reputation as one of the world’s true silk-making masters—perfecting the art of turning delicate raw silk fibers into premium, complex fabrics of peerless refinement. But what has set them apart goes beyond the quality of their silks into how they are created.

Vintage grenadine spinning loom with silk fabric

Vintage Grenadine Machinery — Fossati uses one of the world's few remaining slow-spinning silk looms.

Hand touching dark silk fabric

Once raw silk threads have been washed, they are bleached and dried before moving on to dyeing and spinning. Fossati has remained true to their roots by producing these luxurious silk fabrics the traditional way, on authentic vintage equipment. Though modern equipment can spin faster, slower, more traditional spinning wheels are an integral part of the production process Fossati has committed to keeping alive.

Silk loom weaving patterned fabric

From Loom to Collar — Fine, pure silk fiber on the way to becoming one of our new jacquard weave ties.

Green jacquard weaving machine in factory

Fossati Silk Ties: Grenadine & Jacquard Weaves

Among Fossati’s offering of luxury ties you’ll find Jacquard and Grenadine, the latter of which is produce by only a handful of weavers.

Grenadine is a gauze-like style which can only be produced on one of the world’s few remaining specialized looms. For this, two warp yarns are twisted around weft yarns, creating a strong yet breathable fabric that’s naturally flexible, and perfect for bringing texture and variety to a range of wedding looks.

Grenadine silk tie on grey background

Grenadine

Jacquard patterned silk tie on grey background

Jaquard

Jacquard ties, alternately, feature a design, pattern, or motif woven into the construction of the weave. This is achieved by passing weft threads over and under warp threads to build a criss-cross pattern of yarns. The result is a durable, structured and wrinkle-resistant fabric with endless design potential.

Fossati & Suitsupply

At Suitsupply, Fossati silk fabrics are a collection staple for a range of year-round accessories like pocket squares and, most notably, ties. Their range and quality are a testament to a heritage of traditional know-how, over a century of experience, and a dedication to preserving the old ways of production.

Fermo Fossati Collection