This is from the little road trip I took two weeks ago with my parents... it was just good to get away from home for a few days and enjoy some beautiful scenery and good food. We drove across the Swiss/Italian border into the Valtellina, one of the northern alpine valleys of Italy. It's famous for it's wine mostly, but they produce some other great specialties too like bresaola and pizzocheri. Anyway, we crossed back into Switzerland via the Val Poschiavo, the south eastern most valley of Switzerland, where Italian is the official language though the local dialect is something different - and it simply has it's own unique feel. Not quite Italy, not quite Switzerland or at least like the rest of the canton Graubünden it belongs to.
Anyway, our last stop there was at the valley's main town Poschiavo, and my mom thankfully remembered that this is home to the Tessitura Valposchiavo - a local handweaving business! They produce fabric that can be bought by the meter, but also things like napkins, tablecloths, kitchen towels, bath towels, shawls, bread bags, cushion covers... or you could have things custom made by them! Yes, they are not cheap, but all things considered, it's not super expensive either - after all, this is all made by hand. The Tessitura was founded in 1955 to keep traditions alive but also to provide jobs and keep people from moving away.
I just think it's wonderful that something like this still exists and obviously can be a business that works. I couldn't photograph the whole shop, but here's a photo of a modern hand loom and some of the items they had for sale - a shawl and bath towels - these are woven with two different thread colors in a waffle-like texture and look just fantastic. Anyone who loves beautiful fabrics would love this place!
From the outside - the shop is located in one of the many beautiful palazzi of Poschiavo. In the olden days, many of the locals sought their fortunes abroad (often as confectioners and pastry cooks) and when they returned, they built houses like this to show their prosperity.
Anyway, our last stop there was at the valley's main town Poschiavo, and my mom thankfully remembered that this is home to the Tessitura Valposchiavo - a local handweaving business! They produce fabric that can be bought by the meter, but also things like napkins, tablecloths, kitchen towels, bath towels, shawls, bread bags, cushion covers... or you could have things custom made by them! Yes, they are not cheap, but all things considered, it's not super expensive either - after all, this is all made by hand. The Tessitura was founded in 1955 to keep traditions alive but also to provide jobs and keep people from moving away.
I just think it's wonderful that something like this still exists and obviously can be a business that works. I couldn't photograph the whole shop, but here's a photo of a modern hand loom and some of the items they had for sale - a shawl and bath towels - these are woven with two different thread colors in a waffle-like texture and look just fantastic. Anyone who loves beautiful fabrics would love this place!
From the outside - the shop is located in one of the many beautiful palazzi of Poschiavo. In the olden days, many of the locals sought their fortunes abroad (often as confectioners and pastry cooks) and when they returned, they built houses like this to show their prosperity.
