Study Abroad 2023 in Como, Italy - Natalie Broder

Natalie Broder is an Arthur MBA student whose hometown is Charlotte, North Carolina

We began our visit to Taroni, a silk manufacturer in Italy, in a room surrounded by bright, vibrant various woven silks. While silk originates from China, it made its entry into Italy via barter and trade with the Romans. The silk manufacturing industry eventually found its home in Lake Como due to the ideal pH and salinity of the water, which is ideal to dye the silk.

During our visit, we watched the process of weaving the silk into sheets through many looms into various densities and prints for the customers of Taroni. I found it quite interesting that while the silk industry and manufacturing were industrialized, the quality of the silk is still checked via the human eye. While competition still exists, it is welcomed to continuously produce a high-quality product(s) for customers and the fashion industry.