The conference described the so-called "thread art" exposed in the 1920s Monza Expositions, focussing on the figure of the silk producer Guido Ravasi (1877-1946); celebrated by coeval critics for his renewing ability, he was able to modernize contemporary Italian textile production.

The innovative change was Ravasi's adhesion to Japonism, an artistic style already in use since the 1870s that turned around European applied arts, establishing new beauty standards and unusual themes.

The conference was included in the event series conceived for the celebration of the forty years' twinning between Como and Tokamachi (Japan).

A graduate of the Scuola di Setificio of Como, Francina Chiara has a degree in Modern History from the Università Statale of Milan, before specializing in Art History at the Università Cattolica of Milan. She has been working at the Museo Studio del Tessuto of the Antonio Ratti Foundation from 1995 to 2016, first as assistant curator and then as curator. During the first phase of her activity she participated in the realization of the Multimedia Catalog of textile collections and in the development of the didactic activity, opened with the public opening of the museum in 1998. In 2001 she took part in the FAR research project on the history of the Como textile area, presented in an exhibition (SILK. The twentieth century in Como) and a publication. Since 2006 she curated with Margherita Rosina the exhibitions of the Foundation: Carla Badiali disegnare il tessuto (2007), Guido Ravasi il signore della seta (2008), L'età dell'Eleganza. Le filande e Tessiture Costa nella Como degli anni Cinquanta (2010), for which she contributed for the catalogue with essays. She has also represented the Museo Studio del Tessuto as member of CIETA.