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Fabric on the table: between aesthetics, hygiene and eco-sustainability

di
Marzio Nava

Table setting is more than a visual statement: it's an opportunity to combine elegance with eco-sustainability. The Made in Italy, renowned for its elegance and culinary excellence, naturally calls for a beautifully dressed and visually appealing table. Yet today, more than ever, that beauty can, and it should, reflect a commitment to sustainability. High-quality textiles not only enhance the dining experience but also align with more eco-friendly practices. Excellence at the table inevitably includes hygiene, which is all too often overlooked or inadequately addressed with bare tables or alternative solutions. Are you introducing new collections that respond to your clients' growing demand for both style and sustainability? Have you made greener, more conscious choices in your production and product range? And from your vantage point, which trends do you see shaping the future of table linens and hospitality textiles?

MASA

MASA has been producing table linens for over 75 years in the renowned textile district of Busto Arsizio. We meet Cristina Salvati, the company Manager, who, driven by a strong proactive approach, offers us some interesting insights. “As a company, we focus on a wide range of ready-stock items as well as product customization according to the specific and particular needs of our clients. Our offerings include: coloured napkins, classic and/ or customized tablecloths, runners with various patterns, stain covers, and American-style placemats. Elegance and sustainability, rooted in the use of natural fabrics, are all key factors guiding the restaurant’s choice for Made in Italy table linens”.

Your company places strong emphasis on obtaining certifications. Could you explain the motivation behind this approach and share which certifications you currently hold?

“For us, certifications serve as a visit card for new clients and reinforce our value and trustworthiness with long-standing customers. Our certifications include GRS (Global Recycle Standard) for products made with recycled fibres; GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), which ensures sustainable textile production using natural fibres from organic farming; ISO 9001, certifying optimized production processes; and OEKOTEX ® Standard 100, which guarantees the quality and safety of textiles throughout all stages of processing – from raw materials to finished products”.

With several international exhibitions on the horizon, what new products or innovations will you be highlighting?

“Our core strength lies in offering innovative products through unique designs and colour choices. We strive to distinguish ourselves from the standard offerings saturating the market, all while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability”.

TESSILTORRE

We spoke with Roberto Littamè, the Manager of TESSILTORRE, a company headquartered in Dairago, near Legnano. Littamè was the main driving force behind the study “Discovering the market for restaurant and food service textiles in Italy”.

As a board member of EXPODETERGO and an active participant in the Italian Association of Laundry Suppliers (AIFL), he joined other leading companies in strongly supporting the decision to engage Cerved with conducting the study. What impressions and ideas have you gained from this research, and above all, what actions do you see as possible and appropriate?

“The research certainly underscores the pivotal role of laundries, particularly industrial laundry services, for the majority of restaurants and hotels. It reveals that most restaurants prefer to entrust washing professionals who manage the entire laundry process, ensuring efficiency and quality. In line with the research, Tessiltorre emphasizes that the concept of Made in Italy should extend beyond cuisine to include the aesthetics and meticulous care of table settings, an unique Italian hallmark. Looking ahead, as producers of premium table linens, we recognize the need to introduce a quality certification that distinguishes restaurants and their table service. This certification would adhere to clearly defined standards and criteria, guaranteeing excellence. Such a mark would assure any guest visiting a restaurant or hotel that the tablecloths are crafted from high-quality fabrics, are visually appealing, and have been professionally laundered and sanitized in accordance with rigorous standards”.

What are the future forecasts regarding the use of fabric tablecloths?

“Our country has long been synonymous with hospitality and culinary excellence: cornerstones of a tourism sector that, according to the Ministry of Tourism, accounts for 18% of our GDP. Ensuring continued excellence is a shared responsibility among all industry professionals. It requires meticulous attention to detail to provide customers with an impeccable experience, encompassing every element, from service to a comfortable, personalized, and comprehensive environment”.

PAROTEX

What does the combination of fabric and table setting mean to Parotex?

We ask Andrea Rovea, the CEO of PAROTEX. “At Parotex, we believe that fabric is a key element that defines the value of a table setting. It is not merely an aesthetic choice; selecting quality fabrics reflects a commitment to enhancing the guest experience, ensuring hygiene, and respecting the environment. Since 1976, we have maintained full control over our production process at our facility in Busto Arsizio, managing every step from design and weaving to manufacturing and logistics. This integrated approach enables us to guarantee consistent quality and deliver targeted solutions tailored to the needs of high-end hospitality and catering industry”.

From your extensive range, which products would you highlight for us?

“Among our standout aesthetic offerings is Agatha, a 100% linen fabric appreciated for its visual elegance and exceptional tactile quality. Available in a broad spectrum of colours, Agatha embodies natural sophistication and is designed to elevate the most refined table settings. For a more casual yet equally refined option, the Ecofriendly line combines 80% cotton and 20% linen. Highly appreciated for its versatility, this collection brings character and personality to the table, featuring an extensive palette of colours, striped designs, and subtle patterns, ideal for a variety of environments and heterogeneous compositional styles. Committed to sustainability, we also offer the Re-New and Re-Cover lines, made from recycled yarns derived from industrial waste and regenerated PET fibers. Additionally, the Pure line features unbleached and un-stabilised fabrics: natural, free of optical brighteners, less processed and perfect for informal or eco-design-oriented settings”.

We have discussed environmental responsibility, what can you tell us about hygiene?

“Hygiene remains a fundamental priority for us. We believe that a table dressed with technical, washable, and reusable fabrics provides a safer environment than bare surfaces. To this end, we offer Helico, a patented polycotton blend developed by Parotex. This innovative fabric structure prevents stains from penetrating deeply and enables washing and ironing at low temperatures, all while maintaining hygiene standards comparable to traditional cotton”.

From your perspective, what trends do you see emerging in hospitality textiles in the coming years?

“Looking ahead, we anticipate a rising demand for customization as an expression of the customer’s identity. Custom colours, tailored formats, fabric choices, graphic elements, and logos will become key elements. “The true trend will be providing solutions that seamlessly blend aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability, carefully tailored to the specific needs of each client, concludes Rovea”.

TELERIE GLORIA

“For six generations, TELERIE GLORIA has been crafting linens for hotels, restaurants, industrial laundries, and institutions, where passion and creativity converge to meet the evolving demands of an increasingly discerning market”, says Giancarlo Rossi, at the helm of the company based in Lesmo, near Monza. At the core of our production facility, Jacquard looms enable us to create a wide and diverse range of table linens that combine refined design with authentic Italian craftsmanship. The entire production process, from warping and yarn dyeing to packaging, is carried out in-house and supported by a team of highly skilled professionals. Our key strength lies in our ability to personalize and customize products to meet each client’s specific needs, while maintaining a well-stocked inventory that allows us to respond to urgent orders across Italy within just a few hours. We are also deeply committed to production continuity, ensuring that customers can reorder and perfectly match previously purchased items, even years later. In addition to table linens, our collections also include a full range of bed, kitchen, and bath textiles.

In our table linen collections, we focus on creating products that enhance spaces with warmth and comfort, featuring soft, elegant tones that are regularly updated in both colour and pattern. We fully harness the creative and technological potential of Jacquard weaving, employing electronic looms that also allow for personalized designs, including customised logos. By using high-quality cotton and cotton-linen blends, we are able to produce fabrics in a wide range of widths, from 40 cm to 320 cm, offering flexibility for various applications. Our commitment is to combine premium quality with exceptional performance, achieved through refined design and durability, especially in terms of resistance to industrial washing and ironing cycles”.

ROYALTEX

In addition to its production of household linens, ROYALTEX also manufactures high-quality table linens for restaurants and hotels, collaborating closely with the industrial laundry network. With a broad and versatile experience in the sector, what is the defining strength and distinctive quality of Made in Italy table linens? We ask Matteo Bertasa, the company’s Manager. “We consistently receive positive feedback from our clients about the durability of our products. Compared to imported alternatives, often made with lower-quality raw materials, our linens stand out for their superior quality”.

Why is the durability of table linen particularly emphasized?

“Laundries are currently experiencing a wave of innovation and digitalization. Every item is tracked, making it easier to monitor durability and quality. Laundries now have an ‘identity card’ for each piece, allowing precise assessment of quality differences. This data is crucial for our work: How many washes can a tablecloth withstand? What is the true quality-to-price ratio? What’s the return on investment?”.

What is your opinion regarding the topic of recycled textiles?

“There is much discussion around them, but currently – for example, recycled cotton – they do not match the durability of new materials, especially considering the intensive washing processes our linens undergo. While the ethical value of recycling is undeniable and experimentation is important, recycled cotton does not yet guarantee the same longevity as virgin cotton”.

From a hygiene standpoint, fabric tablecloths offer clear advantages…

“When it comes to hygiene, fabric table linens provide a clear guarantee. There’s simply no comparison: tablecloths processed by professional laundries undergo rigorous washing and chlorine treatments to ensure the highest standards”.

Looking ahead to the trade fairs you’ll attend through the end of the year, what will be your main focus, and what do you consider your key strength?In vista delle fiere che farete da qui alla fine dell’anno su cosa puntate, qual è il vostro punto di forza?

“Cotton continues to see a rising demand, often paired with linen. While patterned fabrics have declined in popularity, colour remains a key focus, with combinations carefully chosen to complement the restaurant’s ambiance”.

INDUSTRIA TESSILE GASTALDI

“At INDUSTRIA TESSILE GASTALDI, through our Fili d’Oro brand, we believe that a well-dressed table goes beyond aesthetics, it represents added value in hygiene and sustainability”, says Jacopo Cappelletti, Sales Manager Italy. “For more than 130 years, we have been leaders in producing high-quality Made in Italy table linens for the hospitality sector, managing every stage of the production process internally, from design and yarn dyeing to the finished product. Over the years, we have partnered with some of the world’s best hotels and restaurants, which have chosen our linens to express elegance, meticulous care, and attention to detail. The use of textiles in the mise en place is not only a stylistic choice but also a commitment to hygiene and a tangible step toward more sustainable practices.

In recent years, however, there has been a noticeable shift toward “stripping down” the table setting: fabric use is often limited to napkins, which are sometimes disposable. This trend risks compromising the customer experience and undermines an iconic aspect of Italy’s gastronomic culture. Moreover, it raises important concerns regarding hygiene and ecosustainability. Through the Fili d’Oro brand, we continue to innovate in response to market demands while upholding our core values. Following the launch of a line made with organic cotton and our first recycled table linen, MUSTANG, we are proud to introduce a groundbreaking addition to our ready-to-stock collection: OPERA.

OPERA marks a new chapter in our sustainability efforts. It is a 100% recycled table linen certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), crafted from a carefully blended yarn comprising 60% post-consumer cotton, reclaimed from end-of-life terry cloth products, and 40% recycled PET polyester derived from plastic bottles. This product offers a tangible solution for those seeking to combine elegance with environmental responsibility. With Fili d’Oro, we aim to bring textiles to their rightful place at the center of the table, serving not only as a symbol of elegance but also as a tool for more attentive, sustainable, and conscious dining experiences”.

CORITEX

“Since 1970, the textile excellence of an authentic Italian story”, is the claim that stands out on the website of CORITEX, a textile company headquartered in Gandino, located in the heart of Bergamo’s renowned textile district. “Our commitment to sustainability starts with the decision to produce exclusively with high-quality compact and combed yarns, which offer 30 to 40% greater durability compared to standard cottons without these refinements,” explains Lorenzo Lanfranchi, the Sales Manager of the company. Italy has long been synonymous, especially in the global imagination, with the vision of a beautifully dressed, elegant, and refined table. The ambiance created by a restaurant dining room decorated with quality linens, rather than a bare, sterile table, is invaluable – not only for its style and hospitality but also for its hygienic benefits. Hemp is an intriguing fibre that not only significantly reduces CO2 emissions but also offers exceptional durability. Its rapid growth and strength position it as a key component in the emerging green approach, promising both lower environmental impact and increased reuse potential”.

TESSITURA PEREGO

In closing, we interview Giacomo Trussardi, Head of the Style Office at TESSITURA PEREGO.

In your opinion, what represents the real added value of your company?

“At Tessitura Perego, we rely on our in-house Design Office, where each product is the result of extensive trend research and creative development. Every pattern is an original creation, thoughtfully designed to align with both client expectations and the latest market innovations. Thanks to our fully integrated production process, we maintain complete control over every stage – from textile CAD design to the precise engineering of weaves and fabric structures. Fabric table linens bring an added touch of elegance and sophistication to the dining experience. By selecting high quality materials and refined designs, it’s possible to create a warm, welcoming ambiance, ideal for both intimate and upscale settings”.

And what about your commitment to eco-sustainability?

“EcoLine is the result of Tessitura Perego’s ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future. This innovative collection is made using yarns derived from post-consumer recycled plastic, which are transformed—through carefully managed, low-impact processes, into high-quality fibres for textile products designed for the table, bed, and bath. Certified by the internationally recognized GRS – Global Recycled Standard, EcoLine guarantees not only the use of recycled materials but also compliance with ethical and environmentally friendly production standards. At Tessitura Perego, sustainability is not a trend, it is a genuine, long-term commitment”.

Fabric table linen is also a guarantee of hygiene at the table...

“When setting the table, fabric table linen is a detail that should never be overlooked. Beyond its decorative appeal, it serves as a key element of hygiene. Unlike leather or plastic placemats, which can be challenging to sanitize thoroughly, fabric linens undergo regular high-temperature washing and drying, ensuring a consistently clean and sanitized surface. In short, fabric table linen combines practicality and style to create a more hygienic and inviting dining environment”. •

DETERGO MAGAZINE # JULY/AUGUST 2025

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