CASERTA, Italy — Esant eco silk and nano technology has created a custom colored washable silk line from De Negri & Za.Ma geared to the yachting industry as well as to the residential curtaining and upholstery markets where luxury is desired without the inconvenience of a delicate material that silk always represents.

The development took two years and involved the study of sharkskin and its natural properties. De Negri said that shark skin is rough and has microscopic grooves which allow water to pass through it in a controlled way to reduce friction. This is the basis for the Esant nanotechnology which offers partial stain resistance; is waterproof and is washable in up to 30 degree temperatures, De Negri explained. 

The fabric is priced from 20 Euros TO 25 Euros per meter according to Massimo Spano, sales manager.

“We can produce any color without limitation,” he said. “We will submit our color proposals to our customer at Proposte just to give an idea of the colors possible.” The Esant  line is woven in De Negri’s mill in Piana di Monte Vern in the Caserta the region, well  known for its silks.    

Silk is not meant for cruise ships because it cannot pass the IMO standard but De Negri makes Trevira®CS for this purpose which still looks like silk. “We have another very beautiful line named ‘Like Silk’ which is 100 percent Trevira and totally flame retardant,” Spano pointed out. We will concentrate our offer at Proposte on three developments; traditional fabrics in mixed silk woven with new structures; Esant and flame retardant ‘Like Silk.’    F&FI

DeNegri group shot: Anna Paronyan, Fashion & Flat, Moscow based wholesaler with colleague Katerina Guseva; Ita Aingorn, American agent specializing in Russian market with Gustavo de Negri, CEO. De Negri & ZA,MA, Caserta, Italy silk weaver; Iveta Rupeika and Iveta Sirica of Suria curtain fabric wholesalers, Riga, Latvia