Types of Lace:
Types of Lace:
Chantilly Lace, Alencon Lace, Lyon Lace & Tulle
Lace has been treasured throughout the centuries. It is timeless, elegant, and always in style for any occasion. There are 3 main types of French lace plus tulle – all of which we carry at Gelmor:
- Chantilly, is non-corded lace. The result: Chanitlly is the thinnest and softest of laces and serves as the base of Alencon (corded lace).
LEARN MORE - Alencon, aka corded or reembroidered lace, is a chantilly lace base enhanced with cording (aka gimp) on top to create a 3D style fabric LEARN MORE
- Lyon Lace – the creme de la creme of French Lace, characteristics include larger scale, pattern complexity, and multiple gradients (i.e. size and types of holes weaved in the pattern).
LEARN MORE - Tulle, a fine, soft, netting that exists in several varieties. While not actually a lace, it serves as the foundation of lace itself, and at Gelmor, is exclusively from France.
LEARN MORE
True, Authentic,
Genuine French Lace – simply put, is unparalleled.
All true “French Lace” is made on specific looms, unique to Calais-Caudry, France.
“Classic” French lace – Chantilly or Alencon – is woven, never knitted, in France on leavers looms. This exclusive method for producing the lace results in the most luxurious and highest quality lace in existence. While the method is more complex and both time and labor intensive, it is a worthy investment and not cost prohibitive.
What is True French Lace?
Others who make lace elsewhere may use the term “French” however that is false, only lace actually made in France, in the cities of Calais & Caudry, on these 120+ yr old looms are true French Lace. It is the way these looms work that make the lace superior in quality and beauty. In fact, these looms are so unique that not only do they have landmark status, but they also cannot be exported from France nor can they be recreated. Leavers looms are manned by highly skilled mechanics and technicians, “tullists”, who check the progress of the lace meter by meter constantly looking for defects. That is only the beginning of this intricate process…