Do You Know Why Sateen Sheets Were Created?
It Began In The Renaissance…
The Renaissance had it’s start in the 14th century, emanating from Florence to Venice and then spreading throughout Europe. It signified a return of interest in classical antiquities in all areas of life and commerce, including textiles.
The designs emanating from this time have never lost their power and/or beauty. If you close your eyes and think of Italian fabrics, you are probably picturing designs from the Renaissance.
The Renaissance Textiles…
Simultaneous with this “rebirth” the development of textile techniques such as velvets and brocades began. The combination of design and technology gave way to some of the most outstanding fabrics in all of history and certainly the most beautiful in the West.
You need only to study the paintings of this period to comprehend the importance of these fabrics, not only in fashion, but also in the decoration of homes and public spaces. So much of Renaissance art focuses on painting textiles.
Silks and satins figured heavily in all of this. At that time, silk was produced in Italy and not in Asia. Eventually a pest wiped out the silk worm production which was replaced by Asia. But Italians, and the world, never lost it’s love for the glistening silks and velvets. Again, there is something opulent and romantic about it all; part of our collective consciousness.
A Substitute For Silk…
Sateen sheets were created to approximate the look of silk and/or satin. Sateen sheets have a sheen and a hand that is very different from percale. Basically, there are two forms of sheets. Sateens and percale. Yes, there are exceptions, but these two choices make up the bulk of it.
Sateen sheets are woven by “floating” a thread on the surface of the fabric making it more slippery.
Some people will only sleep on sateen. They prefer the smooth “silky” hand. Anichini sateens are all Italian and, therefore, the best available. The mills are all in the Lombardy region hit hardest by COVID. They are struggling to get back on their feet.
Please join us in celebrating the Italian culture and these remaining small companies who are producing some of the most exquisite textiles in the world today.
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