sample of wool with background in sky-blue taffeta and geometrical motifs realized by grey extra warp floats.

The Chiostri textile company was one of the largest factories in the Prato area whose over 100 workers were able to complete all the stages of the textile production cycle (from twisting to weaving, dying and finishing). In line with the rest of the industry, in the 1950s and 1960s the company mainly focused on the production of wool-based products, most of which were exported to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Middle East and the USA. The fabrics shown in the sample books include the most popular dress fabrics of the 1950s and 1960s: crepes, velours, tartans, pied de poules, tweeds and double fabrics and other winter textiles of various weights and compositions ranging from carded wools (between 50% and 70%) to nylon, combed fibres and regenerated wool. The most popular materials included ‘Chanel’ fabrics obtained by alternating yarns of different weights and the use of iridescent yarns produced by subjecting slivers of combed fibre to an exclusive twisting process.