|
This dramatic new centre opened in 2009
in an old 19th century lace factory, with a
futuristic glass and steel extension.
It presents the social history and
manufacturing secrets of Calais lace, along with a showcase
for lace in today's fashion abnd design.
See Leavers machines create lace before
your eyes, and find out about the future of lace.
There is a restaurant and
shop.
|
The NEW International City of Lace-making and Fashion - in
Calais (Wikipedia, credit: Serge Ottaviani)
|
|
1.
Old Leavers machines can still create
lace.
|
Lace-making
machines
You're looking at a machine that brought new prosperity to
Calais after the Napoleonic Wars - it makes fine lace
[see 'History
of lace-making']. Not many
people know that much of the world's lace for wedding
dresses and ladies' underwear comes from Nord/Pas-de-Calais!
Examples of stylish
lace
This new museum has a collection of over 400,000 pieces of
machine- and hand-made lace. You can see the early machines
that created this industry, and find out how they were
smuggled from England. There are examples of designer lace
dresses and lingerie from the 17th century to the present
day - together with information about the social context of
lace-making.
Back to
top
|
|
Old and
new...
  
2.
Traditional lace head-dress, once worn
by peasant women on special occasions
3.
Modern 'haute couture' from Paris
fashion houses often uses Calais lace.
4.
The Museum's vast collection of
pattern books includes many special lace items made to
commemorate special events, like this lace doily made to
mark Louis Blériot's flight across the Channel in
July 1909. [see
Timeline]
|
...
