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The Crossroads of Art – Silk Scarves Manufacturing in Como

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Ilona Tambor silk craftsmanship in Como – hand-illustrated designs and silk production in Italy

The Crossroads of Art: Silk Craftsmanship in Como

Como has long held a quiet place in the story of Ilona Tambor. It is where silk, history, craftsmanship and patience meet. For me, it is not simply where our scarves are made, but where the drawings begin to take on their final form.

Set between the lake and the mountains, Como carries a beauty that feels almost suspended in time. Yet it is also a working city, shaped for centuries by silk. That duality has always stayed with me. There is elegance, of course, but also discipline, knowledge and a deep respect for process.

Our scarves begin far from the finished piece. Raw silk arrives from abroad, and from there it passes through many careful stages before becoming fabric, then print, then something that can finally be held, worn and lived with. What happens in Como is not only production. It is transformation.

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Living history, today

During my visit, I spent time at the Museo della Seta di Como, where the history of silk production is told through machines, tools and processes that once shaped the whole city. Seeing that history laid out so clearly made something feel immediate. Silk in Como is not a distant story. It is a living tradition.
I was struck by how much devotion lies behind what can seem, from the outside, so effortless. Silk has always travelled, arriving from distant places before being refined and transformed in Italy. That journey continues today, just as it has for centuries.
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Craftsmanship made tangible

After the museum, I visited the workshop where our scarves are finished. It is one thing to speak about craftsmanship, and another to stand beside the people who practise it every day.
There is a quiet precision in these spaces. Nothing is rushed. Every stage requires care, from handling the silk to finishing each edge. What appears delicate in the final piece depends on years of experience behind it.
These are not anonymous processes. They are shaped by people who have dedicated their lives to mastering their craft. Their knowledge gives each scarf its refinement and allows every illustration to become something tangible.
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Sustaining knowledge through collaboration

Working with local makers in Como means more than achieving a certain level of quality. It also means supporting a tradition that deserves to remain alive. These techniques exist because they continue to be practised, valued and passed on.
At Ilona Tambor, we believe beauty should not be separated from responsibility. Our pieces are created in collaboration with artisans whose expertise has been shaped over generations.
Each design begins as an illustration. In Como, it becomes something tactile. Something finished with care. Something that carries both art and craftsmanship within it.
Visiting Como offered a deeper appreciation not only of silk, but of the people behind it. What we create is never the result of one place alone. It is the meeting point of art, heritage and human skill.
That is what makes these pieces feel so meaningful to me. They carry not only my vision, but also the memory of process, place and craft.
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A small glimpse into the making can be seen below.

Preview linking to Ilona Tambor Instagram reel about silk craftsmanship in Como
See the process in motion on Instagram. Watch the reel

7 thoughts on “The Crossroads of Art – Silk Scarves Manufacturing in Como”

  1. Petra

    Awesome story, I adore Como :)

  2. Louise Johnston

    What a wonderfully imaginative way to share the background to your lovely products. The photos are beautiful and it must have been a memorable trip to Como. I live in COMO in Western Australia, which is also beautiful but not quite as perfect as the town in Italy! You look super in your scarves :-) The Italians are incredible with their crafts and it is fascinating to see them at work here. Hopefully you are inspired to even more lovely creations!

    1. Ilona Tambor

      Hi Louise, I am happy that you find my Como story interesting. Indeed I get many inspirations from the Como journey. It’s quite extraordinary that you live in a place called Como but in Australia. Many thanks :)

  3. Trevor Edwards

    Very interesting. I love leaning more about the inspirations behind your beautiful designs and products.

    1. Ilona Tambor

      Hello Trevor, I am happy that you find my Como story interesting. Thank you so much for your comment :)

  4. Kate

    Well written story, Como is lovely.

    1. Ilona Tambor

      Thank you so much. :)

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