~History of lace and its evolution~
If you read the previous blogs on the history of lace, we can confidently say that lace was unthinkable to detach from historical fashion.
We also find that lace is quite the collective name as so many different types of lace kept developing throughout the years.
Next to handcrafted bobbin lace, needle lace, cutting lace, there was crochet and tatting (a type of intricate knotwork), and many more ways to create lace were invented.
Because of also the industrial revolution, we can add lace made on different types of looms to this array of lace-making.
The lace industry by machinery became rife and vast!
But with machines taking over, there was also a decline in handcrafting lace…
~History of Lace and a few Important Laces~
Leavers Lace
Leavers lace was really and still is the most important one and is rightly called the “Queen of lace”.
This is the purest, the most expensive, the most beautiful, and the most sought-after lace fabric in the couture industry.
It is made on a Leavers lace loom that was invented in England and transformed by John Levers * in 1813 into the Leavers loom.
Around 1816, during a period of political and economic unrest, the machine also emigrated.
It landed (illegally) on the European mainland and thus also in Calais, France.
These machines have not been made since then and the production of the current Leavers lace is therefore still made on these old, now very rare original looms.
The delicate, refined, precious Leavers lace is a true art form, mostly still made in Calais and is often referred to as ‘Dentelle de Calais’ by many designers, or in other words; ‘Calais lace’.
We do however find a little shift in the name “Dentelle de Calais” as in 2015, next to still being called Leavers lace, is now officially called “Dentelle de Calais-Caudry”.
This precious Leavers lace or Calais lace was used in the couture fashion industry and still is.
Of course now we also find this most fabulous lace in the most beautiful, exclusive luxury lingerie collections.
*At a certain point in time, an -a- was added in the name Leavers loom, which was named after John Levers.
Chantilly Lace
Chantilly lace originated in a French town called Chantilly.
This lace reminds us of a kind of Leavers lace as it is still a very delicate.
It’s also a high-quality one with a tulle base, but the way Chantilly lace is made is different.
Chantilly lace is woven from top to bottom with a continuous thread.
The fabric is interrupted after each new individual pattern design.
This means that the threads around each design must be trimmed by hand.
It’s super delicate, refined, has little relief/relievo, and is nowadays the most used lace in the luxury lingerie fashion.
Guipure Lace
Guipure is a sort of collective name for different laces that have a lot in common.
This is a “heavy” kind with a lot of relief/relievo.
Guipure has a lot of structure and contains an open background, so no tulle or other fabric as a background.
A Guipure lace usually has coarse flower patterns that are tied together with threads.
There are SO MANY more types of laces that were developed in the history of lace, but the 3 mentioned above, are among the more popular ones.
It’s very Ooh La La to be able to incorporate these 3 stunning laces in luxury lingerie design of today.
Luxury lingerie and designer nightwear with Leavers lace is often the beautiful favorite for sure, mes chéries!
~*~
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