On Wednesday 23 October in Paris – on the occasion of the CreativItaly event held at the UNESCO headquarters and dedicated to the presentation of the 4 finalist Italian cities – special textile productions were exhibited in the corner dedicated to Biella in which the technological content and manufacturing quality are combined attention to environmental sustainability and the cultural value inherent in the garment.
The UNESCO ambassadors were thus able to admire the new wool jersey polo shirt chosen as a uniform by the Gondoliers of Venice, who have recently expressed their support for Biella’s candidacy.
The 433 gondoliers of Venice have in fact decided to wear a new versatile fabric, 100% natural and renewable thanks to the collaboration of The Woolmark Company and the Venetian fashion house Emilio Ceccato.
The new fabrics are by Successori Reda and Tollegno 1900, two historical Biellese companies. Merino wool has been chosen for its natural isothermal and breathable characteristics. Reda Active fabrics were used for the polo shirts, specifically designed to give the best in sports performance, while the sweater yarn comes from the Tollegno 1900 house.
The initiative brings the gondoliers back to the renewal of a centuries-old tradition of wearing quality wool uniforms already at the beginning of the 1900s.
With this uniform, the Gondoliers were honored on 22 September with the Eco Stewardship Award from the Italian Chamber of Fashion and Eco-Age for the responsible use of wool in their uniforms, a return to their origins in the name of modernity.
Here is the letter sent by the President of the Gondolieri Association of Venice:
GONDOLIERI ASSOCIATION OF VENICE
President
On behalf of all the 433 Gondoliers of Venice I am truly happy and honored to support the city of Biella in its UNESCO Creative Cities Network candidacy.
For about a year, with the support of The Woolmark Company, we were able to wear our Merino wool uniforms again after 100 years.
Thanks to the well-known creativity and innovation of the Biellese wool industry, the garments we wear are the best answer to our quality and performance needs and in line with the fundamental principles of eco-sustainability that characterize our work.
…… without Biella what wool would it be! …
Thanks and “ad maiora”.
Andrea Balbi
President
Gondoliers Association of Venice.
