Anna Ghigo Merlassino, President Via G. Demaria n. 10 - 10023 CHIERI (To) Tel. 011-9427421 - Fax 011-9490763

The Bandera Embroidery Association was founded on September 1999 in order to safeguard and promote this traditional Piedmontese embroidery handicraft. This entity is sponsored by and works in collaboration with the Chieri Textile Foundation and the Textile Museum, (Fondazione Chierese per il Tessile ed il Museo Tessile).
The Association works within its cultural policy of acquiring and applying the available information and knowledge in reviving this old, high quality craftwork; plus spreading and protecting the peculiar and unique caharacteristics of the designs and patterns of this particular embroidery.
By employing the heritage of various embroidery schools combined with the passionate interest of the teachers of this art, the Association strives and concentrates in expanding the knowledge and propagation of this embroidery in other parts of Italy and abroad. Furthermore, this Association proposed and created a trademark in order to define the quality and specifications for this art and defend and maintain the antique beauty and quality of the embroidery and of the Bandera cloth.
The Bandera cloth and its embroidery is considered a valuable and important Piedmontese heritage. The Association obtained the registered trademark on July 12, 2000.

Bandera Cloth and its Embroidery

The Bandera cloth's piedmontese or more specifically Chieri origins have been found in the "statutes of the Art of Fustian" (Statuti dell' arte del Fustagno), published in the 14th century. In these statutes the cloth is first described as being hemp and then as treated cotton and having regular raised motifs; parallel or cellular lines,also as being of white or light ecru. This cloth, in addition to ordinary uses was employed for military and family servitude uniforms.