Types of Lace:
Alencon
True Alencon must be produced from a French lace Chantilly base
Alencon lace is a chantilly base with a cording added to create a three-dimensional look. We also call this corded lace or reembroidred lace. On average, the process from the first day on the loom to finished yardage is 4-6 months.
If a lace is to be corded, after being dyed and clipped, the lace is sent to our preferred factory where the handwork is done.
All Alencon cording is done by hand
At Gelmor, all of the cording is done by hand by specialized skilled workers – each of whom has undergone a lengthy apprenticeship and is an expert at specific patterns so as to ensure the highest quality, and consistency, of each pattern. This results in clean lines and pattern cohesion.
At Gelmor – ethics are always at the forefront. Each worker is highly paid and works in a modern, clean factory – with heat and air conditioning. We would never allow or use anyone who employs children or underage workers or allows their staff to work in an unsafe environment.
Gelmor Alencon Lace is offered in a multitude of colors
The importance of quality and attention to detail at Gelmor is evident throughout the cording process, especially when looking at any of our Alencon laces offered in a multitude of colors.
None of our laces are ever redyed; each strip of lace is dyed from greige goods (raw goods) and the cord, called call gimp, is dyed to match the specific lace color. The core thread of the gimp, as well as the outside wrap is dyed to match the lace prior to being sewn onto the chantilly lace. The result: the gimp on a corded lace from Gelmor perfectly matches the base lace (chantilly) color so when cut into the lace never has any ‘white dots’ or ‘black dots’ from the core of the gimp as would be seen in cheaper, or any redyed, laces sold by our competitors.
All corded laces are not equal! There is NO substitute for this type of lace and true Alencon must be produced from a French lace Chantilly base. PLUS, the quality of the cording process can make or break the beauty of a corded lace.