'Azalea' silk of Bellagio is a small family businesses established in 1968, combining timeless and contemporary silk designs, famous the world over - with good reason. Family members from different generations work together in their two shops on Salita Serbelloni in Bellagio, one of the charming cobbled stepped laneways that runs through Bellagio.

Silkworms were first smuggled out of China and arrived at Como via Sicily around the 1400’s where the lake’s ample water supply combined with Ludovico Sforza’s brilliant idea of planting mulberry trees started Lake Como’s successful silk industry. This led to rapid economic growth in the area, especially to Como and the nearby village of Cernobbio.

In 1869 this industry was boosted by the foundation of the setificio Paolo Carcano – a 5 star school for craftsmen, training the most talented silk masters in Italy. By 1972 silk from Lake Como exceeded production from China and Japan. Many of Europe’s big designer names continue to rely on Como’s silk houses as they have for many years. Como remains at the heart of silk history and production and boasts an impressive silk museum for those interested in seeing the traditional production methods.

Today Como produces 85% of all silk make in Italy and provides 70% of Europe’s silk, although sadly the manufacture of silk in this area is now in decline.

Silk scarf large - Wild cat