On the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce, a school for textile education and training was created in 1866.

Pietro Pinchetti (1838-1916) was probably the leading figure in weaving teaching, but a number of important teachers followed him, for instance Ferruccio Severini, Attilio Lenticchia, Piero Ponci, Giovanni Maria Berliat and Francesco Solety Carrière, who fostered the spread of the textile expertise in the new born silk industry.
In 1868, such school was named “Scuola Comunale di Setificio della Città di Como” and, subsequently, “Regia Scuola di Setificio” (1904): it was the first one in Italy and the city council built its seat purposely.
Moreover, the school participated in the National Exhibitions in Varese (1886), Rome (1887), Turin (1898), Como (1899), Milan (1906), Fiume (1927) and, finally, in the International Exhibition in Paris (1900).

It was Paolo Carcano (1843-1918) who induced the government to found the independent “Istituto di Setificio”, as it was stated in the documents of the Chamber of Commerce (1904).
In particular, the act declaring the foundation of such school was aimed at training anyone willing to learn more on fabrics (above all those made of silk), dyeing and the expertise relative to silk production.
In 1908, the school was given the authority to issue official certificates on studies regarding thread quality and resistance, fabric composition and colours.
In 1912, Pietro Pinchetti, on the occasion of the foundation of “Museo dell’arte serica” (Museum of the silk art), highlighted the importance of an institution carrying out research into the silk industry, which still depended on Lyon, Krefeld and Paris.
In 1921, the school was named “Regio Istituto Nazionale di Setificio” and declared the only school for silk studies.
In 1933, it became “Regio Istituto Tecnico Industriale”; in 1942, it was dedicated to Paolo Carcano and, finally, called “Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale Paolo Carcano”.

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