Giaquinto

Giaquinto started weaving linen and cotton in Gagliano del Capo in 1923. Now, over a century later, the family still does everything themselves: from preparing the yarns to sewing the final stitch. It all happens in their own workshop in Salento.

What I like about it is how they stick to the old machines. They still use looms from the late nineteenth century, with wooden shuttles and Jacquard cards. Cosimo maintains the looms, Antonietta designs the patterns, and every piece is checked by hand.

They mainly weave linen and cotton, for tablecloths and towels. The patterns aren’t printed on the fabric—they’re woven into it, using the Jacquard technique.

Grandma Francesca started it all in the 1930s, when she travelled to Como to buy their first loom. Now it’s a family business that has lasted generations, and they still show how it’s done.