The Foundation was instituted in 1971 by Fidalma Lisio, daughter of Giuseppe Lisio who in 1907 founded one of the best-known manufactories of hand-woven silk in Italy, with the task of preserving the old manufacturing techniques.

The Foundation conserves a collection of looms and one of antique fabrics and technical drawings. The collection of looms includes early twentieth-century handlooms, some of them functioning, built according to the Renaissance typology, with the sole addition of a system of perforated cards of nineteenth-century conception for changing register, to enable a single worker to operate the machine. The collection of antique fabrics and technical drawings includes some 350 antique silk fabrics, most of which date between the 17th and 18th century, and the technical drawings of the old Lisio manufactory, used for weaving.

Teaching is conducted in a computer workshop, used for designing textile patterns, and in two workshops equipped with handlooms. Part of the handlooms has been adapted to teaching needs: the Fondazione school has six Jacquard looms, one for each textile typology: lampases, damasks, velvets, double warp fabrics.

The Foundation also has a library specialised in textile techniques and history, and conserves a small collection of photographs of the early 20th century and a collection of autograph letters by Gabriele D’Annunzio, Giuseppe Lisio and Giò Ponti.