Museum for Lace and Fashion

Lace from Calais has been the best in the world for the past 200 years. It adorns clothing like evening gowns and gloves, and can be seen everywhere on sophisticated lingerie, whether this be the work of Jean-Paul Gaultier, Pierre Cardin or Chantal Thomass. The latter is the patron of the Museum for Lace and Fashion in Calais too. The museum, which opened in 2009, is housed in a historic weaving and lace-making factory. Since then, a stunning futurist extension has been added, its curved glass facade in the style of a silk screen imitates the punched cards used in Jacquard looms – the technology that made Calais great in the 19th century and revolutionised the industrial manufacture of lace. The fascinating architectural ensemble is clearly a metaphor, not only of its ambitions as an industrial museum, but also as a shop window for contemporary fashion trends. Visitors arrive in a 3.000 square metre complex containing working, historic looms  where they can view an impressive collection of lace fashion from the 16th to the 21st century, and a presentation of state-of-the-art manufacturing methods. In addition the museum has room for temporary exhibitions, a documentation centre, a room for fashion shows and spaces for fashion workshops.

Museum for Lace and Fashion
Cité de la dentelle et de la mode
135 quai du Commerce
62 100 Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais
France
+33 (0) 32100 - 4230
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