The story of DEA is the story of Dea
Mantellassi, who since she was a child cultivated the passion and fervour for
top quality linens. She grew up among embroideries, laces and decorations due
to her parent’s involvement in the industry. In 1963 she opened her own
company, DEA. She was almost immediately successful within the Italian
aristocracy and needed to expand. At that point DEA created the first workshop
in the Chianti region, famous not only for its wines but also for the ancient
embroideries and its plentiful number of skilled artisans specialized in the
textile arts. Madame Dea refers to these artisans as the women with the
golden hands.
In the 1980s and ‘90s DEA began
expanding internationally under Mantellassi’s daughter Sabrina Berini. At the
turn of the century, DEA expanded its retail operations to not only Italy but
also Asia, South America and the establishment of DEA U.S.A.
In 2017, DEA was introduced to Supima
and a year later it added the cotton to its collections. "First we were
attracted purely by the quality of the fabric,” Stemmler said. "Additionally
the fact we could substantiate its quality with certification and be able to
assure our customers of the quality of the yarn really persuaded DEA to move
some existing collections to this new fabric.
The Best of Both
Worlds (Italy and US), DEA uses Supima on
both its Splendido sateen and its Fascino percale. Offered as plain sheeting
and/or duvets and also with the options to embellish them in any of Dea’s 50
embroideries and many laces.