Light purple patterns, animal prints, and frilly blouses are just a few items on my list of “fashion no-no’s”. They look better on certain ultra-feminine folks and not necessarily on a hoodie- and puma-wearing Swedish tomboy. Thanks to Settecento – an Italian mosaic and ceramic tile company – we can each can take advantage of colors that look better surrounding you with their collection of Croco Tiles inspired by the signature style of our swampy friends.

Croco Tiles. Designed by Settecento.

The collection is divided into two subcategories: Croco Classic and Croco Joy. Separating themselves by coloring alone, the darker, mellower shades belong to the Classic line while the bright, hip shades are part of the Joy line. If you want to spice up the solid colors, opt to add a Decoro Wave or a Decoro Point to the Tile. The Wave is a vertical, wavelike shape that is positioned off-center and in a different Croco Tile color. The Point is the same as the wave, only it is a circle of another color. Three rectangular cuts of tile are offered: 24 x 72 cm, 3.8 x 72 cm, or 3.8 x 24cm.

Established in 1969 in Fiorano Modenese, the company’s name of Settecento – meaning “seven hundred” in Italian – was developed after the Valtresinaro brand was bought out in 1993. A huge producer of cutting edge, mosaic tiles with a long legacy under previous ownership, their business soon began boom. Now, with 80% of their 25 million Euro business coming from exportation, those who experience the luxurious tiles call them the “it” company of mosaic and ceramic design.

They are associated with the Confindustria Ceramica of Italy and together with the Italian Tile Association, they’re dedicated to the sustainable development of their tiles through integrated and comprehensive standards and regulations (like ISO 14001 and EMAS Regulation). Although Croco Tiles does not yet use pre- or post-consumer recycled material, the company works diligently to produce tiles with minimal environmental impact by monitoring gas emissions, water, and energy consumption closely. They also use purifiers, waste water recycling systems and new production technologies to be a “zero environmental impact” factory.

Although I don’t recommend head-to-toe crocodile fashion just because it looks great on your wall, I do think that Settecento is surfacing with an incredible way for animal lovers, environmentalists, and fashionistas alike to appreciate natural beauty.