DESCRIPTION The premium quality kitchen towel is produced in Italy on 100+ year old looms. It is made of 60% linen and 40% cotton with a jacquard weave and simple machine hem. The kitchen towel carries a Biordi label by Busatti. For over 170 years, the family-owned firm of Busatti has been producing natural fiber fabrics in Anghiari, Italy. All work, from spinning to finishing, is done in time-honored methods. The raw long staple thread is treated with olive oil before being spun and linen and cotton are dyed on the thread using only Busatti colors. Mechanical shuttle looms, dating from the early 20th century, gently insert the weft-threads, giving fabrics incredible softness. Skillful details like hem stitching, embroidery, fringe and lace are among finishing options. Care Instructions: In the Busatti fabrics there are no synthetic fibers therefore there is minimum shrinkage of 7-8%. Follow the following washing suggestions to get best results. To preserve the brilliance of the colour and the beauty of the fabric we suggest: - First washing at 40°C / 104°F, following washings even at 60°C / 140°F; - Do not use softeners; - Natural drying - For red color fabrics first washing separately is advised. Linen/natural color will tend to turn slightly lighter after some washings. Our fabrics are woven on antique Jacquard and Ratiére looms, this is why you might find some small irregularities on the weft which are impossible to avoid. The small imperfections such as the difference in color, shape, diameter or small bubbles that form inside, do not constitute a defect but testify that it is actually an artisanal product. ARTISAN STORY Busatti has produced handcrafted natural linen fibers, hemp and cotton since 1842. The result are fabrics that keep alive the spirit of the country and the Renaissance traditions while staying new and innovative, through new processing and never sacrificing quality. The Busatti Story began on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, midway between Rome and Florence. This region, the geographic center of the Italian Renaissance, birthplace of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael and Piero Della Francesca, is imbued with a sensitivity to beauty and commitment to the highest quality craftsmanship of all kinds. In 1796, at the Castle of Anghiari, a textile factory specialized in weaving cloth for French Army troops which were settled along the Tiber River. Over time, the focus shifted from meeting the needs of the military to meeting those of the local people until, in 1808, it had transformed itself from serving soldiers to serving neighbours. The Busattis have lived in this region since 1790 and it was their talent and commitment to excellence that has kept this same textile factory in operation. From their earliest origin as successful merchants, the Busatti family gradually shifted their business interests from operating an emporium that traded in general goods, to becoming expert tailors and, finally, in the mid-1800s, to specializing in home linens. It was Giuseppe Busatti, great-great-grandfather of the present owners, who created a network of home weavers in the Tiber Valley. He built hundreds of handlooms, bought the finest linens and cottons, and insisted on exacting craftsmanship for all products that bear the Busatti name. Today, his family carries on the tradition begun by Giuseppe. The Busatti workshop is not simply a factory, but it is more correctly thought of a place where “artigiani” – artisans – exercise their craft with pride, skill and passion that comes from centuries of experience. Linen and cotton are dyed on the thread and not on the reel or on the woven fabric, using only Busatti’s colours. Some of the colour sources are “guado”, “henna”, onions, sage and carrots. Ancient carding machines work the wool of the Apennines. Shuttle looms insert weft-threads, giving fabrics that special softness that is so often lost today. Special attention is always paid to finishing the pieces and embroidery is still hand guided. In the past fifteen years the company has grown to meet increasing demand, first in Italy , then in Europe and, now in the United States and all over the world. Throughout this expansion they have remained true to their pledge to honour their origins and their history of quality. Although the Busatti family has run this business for 180 years, they consider themselves keepers of an even longer tradition – the art of weaving has had a home in Anghiari for centuries, They are handing down this love of creating fine fabrics to their children, They are constantly aware that they carry the spirit of the Renaissance in all that they produce
