Rome lore remembers well the old cotta griccia. In hushed tones senior prelates have relayed the story of how these rochets and albs were laundered back in the old days in the Vatican, soaked in starch, pressed in a special grill to make the intricate pleats, and rolled to dry. These images depict how they were kept in sacristies, like an accordion.
It was a lot of work to maintain this tradition and for that reason in the mid to late 1960s the nuns who worked in laundry rooms to curate this custom hung up their hats at the behest of the Vatican. It was a sad day seeing this time-honored custom die out with the times. It could have been kept, at least for special occasions.
Those who wore the cotta griccia did so with care. They did not sit in chairs. Instead, they sat on stools so as to avoid wrinkling the back. After Mass they were rolled up and stored this way in sacristy drawers. 
If you enjoy John Sonnen's content on LAJ, why not make a donation to him? You can choose the amount and it goes directly to him.
The example in the photos is extremely rare. It was spotted on eBay, still in its original from from the 1960s -- it has not yet been unrolled. It could be either a rochet or an alb. If an alb, a lace bottom would have been stitched on for the sacred liturgy. The cuffs display lovely tool work, obviously made by nuns with tender care and great love in order to adorn the sacred liturgy with great beauty.
Source: eBay. Hopefully some good person will scoop this up.
The description reads:
Extremely Rare Antique GRICCIA Cotta, Rochet, or Alb body, with lace cuffs.
Not to be missed. These hardly ever come up for sale as they are no longer made and have not been made since the 1960s. Never Used. Made of Linen and never unrolled since the intricate pleats were put in by hand. See how it is still tied up; I have not untied it, so I can’t tell if it’s a rochet or the body of an alb (which would just need a lace skirt to stitched on).
This antique GRICCIA Cotta Cotta, Rochet, or Alb body with lace cuffs is an extremely rare find for collectors of religious vestments or traditional fabrics. The intricate design and attention to detail make this piece a true treasure for those who appreciate the beauty of Catholic Christian art. 87cm long from shoulder to hem.
-------
Why not also consider subscribing monthly/yearly to Liturgical Arts Journal? Choose the amount for yourself. Your support of LAJ and its writers makes all the difference.
