I spent 18 years in the lace trade as a threader. My husband retired at 75, having put in 50 years as a weaver. This is hard, loud work but I would love to sit down right now and knock out a set and thread it back again, just for old times' sake. Unfortunately, Rhode Island, USA has no more lace work. The mills are closed, the machines sold. This video made me glad that the old machines are still being run in France, and I hope they are able to get the young help they need as the older ones retire.I last worked in a lace mill in 1998. I had to take up other work as the mills were closing down. A lace weavers job is very difficult, hard work and takes time to learn. In my husband's day he started as an apprentice and worked up. He did his Army stint and came back to the machines. Once he retired, he missed those old machines very much. He made some very pretty lace. Thanks for the memories. I miss those old machines as well.
Those were well built machines unlike we have now days. I still have my grandmother’s pruners. When it rusted I put in a vinger bath and keep using a wire brush I am working on the iron bench that I had from her. But finding thin wood that is strong enough to support my fat ass is not easy.
Good evening, Ms. Linda. Any idea of how someone could apprentice at one of those mills in France nowadays??? And is there an age limit?? Thank you, and thank your husband for his service to lace and to the country.
i am completely blown away by the engineering of these machines. The amount of planning, calculations, and machining required to build these and all without the use of modern computers is astounding to me.
@Stacy Lyon If you believe that, you are entirely ignorant. It literally took hundreds of top of the line engineers years to develop programmable looms, which were the most advanced mechanisms in their day. Just because we have drafting software now doesn't mean engineers are any less intelligent; in fact, they can get way more done without having to manually draw everything with a ruler. The key difference between then and now is the fact that companies are cheap and don't want to hire quality, but rather the lowest cost because they have to legally for their shareholders.
I'm so happy to finally see my father's work (He's the gentleman who wore glasses and has a tatoo) And besides, I'm french, I just translated the sentences. If you ever have any questions, tell me in french😅
@@rhoeasie He just learned lace, he trained himself, he didn't need a diploma, he's been doing this job for almost 30 years. Thank you for your message.
I feel the product is reasonably priced for what it is. Also, the machines are truly beautiful and their intricate mechanisms remind me of a mechanical watch especially at 3:07.
What a great video. Having worked on looms made in the 1800s I must say the looms in this video are immaculately clean. Maybe it's because the thread is finer than the cotton I had worked with, but there is hardly any lint on the gears of their loom. That's impressive. I'm also surprised to see hardly any ear protection worn by these folks. Those machines are very loud, and I can't imagine working for long periods of time around those looms with no ear protection. The parts for these looms are incredibly hard to get if something breaks. They probably have their own machinist on call to make whatever they need. Thanks for all the work that went into this.
The quality of the yarn may have a bearing on the lint. Also it is necessary to keep the loom spotless as even small amounts of lint can degrade lace of this quality. The ragtrade has so many gems like these mechanical works of art in its history.
Wow! That's fascinating. I noticed one worker wearing ear protection while setting up. The video said the workers who run the machines have to look and listen for loose threads so I guess they need to be able to hear the machine and listen for inconsistencies.
I'm French and my grandma worked in this business when she was young, but without the machines: she had to use a hand looming (weaving?) machine and it was soooo much work. It was a very hard job and she was relieved when she stopped working there, but she's made sure to let her grandkids understand how much work was behind laces from the Northern factories. I remember visiting a museum with her where she showed me the old machines she had to use and the newer ones that now do the job she used to have to do! It's very impressive
Watching these incredible machines doing their thing with such precision after 100 years of use makes me even more annoyed with companies like Apple that build failure and obsolescence into their gadgets so that we’ll replace them every 2-5 years. So wasteful!
Well, do you see the loom manufacturers still in business? Corporations have a vested interest in making goods at the lowest possible quality to ensure they can maintain a continuous money stream.
@@gljames24 Oh I get that, of course the corporations have an economic reason for doing so. It just disappoints me that we live in a world where money is prioritized over integrity, quality, or the environment.
circuits aren't giant pieces of metal, unfortunately...but also fortunately. things that are that tiny are more prone to failure, and inherently less repairable on that scale
In Indonesia this lace is essential for the making of Kebaya (our national dress) especially for bridal kebaya. It's very beautiful and expensive! My mom handover her kebaya to me. Until today I still use it. This lace is everlasting!
The most incredible thing about these looms is something they barely mentioned - the jacquard punch cards. They were not only an innovation for weaving, but for technology as a whole. A census taker in the US looked at those cards (which work by allowing some pins of thread to pass through and stopping others in order to form the patterns) and decided to use that system to speed up the counting process for information in the 1890s census. Punch cards were then incorporated into early computers by companies such as IBM as a way to store data all the way up into tbe 80s. We went to the moon using computers reliant on jacquard loom punch card techonology! I love that these looms are still in use today.
I crochet lace using thread (very small items) so I appreciate the work that goes into this. Watching a piece come together is magical. This lace is worth every penny and more.
My grandmother, visited us in 1970 and showed me a lace border she was crocheting for me. She put it on to a fine cotton with a border of drawn thread work - all hand done. I still have it.
@@coldcynic2213 Do it! I made a crocheted wedding shawl for a niece who married earlier this year. I used cobweb weight wool and glass beads. Just manage your time better. Blocking the thing at 2:00 a.m. the morning of the wedding was not ideal.
If we, as consumers, invested in quality and took care of our purchases, we might not be throwing so much away. We have become gluttons in our purchases. 40 years ago I sewed a garment from black silk and hand sewn crystal embellishments. I paid 70$ a yard. I still have it and cherish it. I’m 64 now.
@@adamuppsala1931 You're impressed that a 64 year old can type and use RUclips? I'd be impressed if someone in their late 90s could do that but at 64 that's completely normal.
I used to think lace was embroidered fabric with cut-outs until I found a drawer in my grandma’s house filled with real handmade lace by my great-grandmother. When my grandma told me what it was I was shocked that I had lived a quarter of a century and never saw real lace. Most people don’t even know what it’s supposed to look like which I bet is a contributor to the decline in demand. But once you see and feel it, you can’t unsee it. The way it billows and falls is ethereal. Absolutely exquisite! It is love at first sight
My grandmother was a true lady. She had different sizes and shapes of lace throughout her house. She had a round table in an entryway with a large round lace doily on it. A vase was in the middle. Over the years, with age, dust, numerous hand washings.... they yellowed. She went into the hospital and was there for 3 weeks. I had a few relatives help me come in and paint, clean and really brighten the place up. I made a sink full of that oxyclean for the very first time. I had a round white yellowed lace doily. I had a sink of mild warm water. I put the oyxclean in a container with hot water to dissolve it all. I poured that in the sink of water. I placed the doily into the water and literally almost gasped as if I was on a tv commercial. It almost instantly turned white with brown water behind. I was floored and flabberghasted. I laid down two bath towels on the counter. I rinsed the doily and then placed it on the two towels topped by two more. Afterwards, I hung them over two chairs to finish drying. It looked like it was worth a million bucks. We did all of her lace. When she got home, she noticed that immediately and had a tear in her eye. She said they were her mothers and back then they knew how to make quality linens and lace. Oh, we brought a ton of her knickacks, etc to the sink to clean. She had a lady with a hole beind her to put flowers in. She had artifical flowers and they were yellowed. I grabbed them and pushed them down into the oxyclean water, almost as a joke and they too whitened like brand new. We rinsed them and put them on towels to dry. So that product works for that silk flowers.
Growing up my great grandmother and grandmother had leaver lace in different places all over their homes. The quality and beauty is beyond amazing. The looms and threads are so delicate and take such a precise eye and touch. I actually got to hold a wedding dress made out of leaver lace the texture and beauty is exquisite. This art form I truly hope and pray carries on for many more generations. Ty for bringing back wonderful memories and for this awesome video 💕
Ok so I know that I'm autistic and I can get /very/ passionate about a handful of topics. This is one of them. I've watched this video 4 times over the last 2 days and I still get goosebumps Thank you (for sharing information and/or for reading my comment)
I love the precision and passion with which these laces are made. I love that there's someone who carefully goes over the lace to repair it! They are serious about their craftsmanship and I admire that.
Those machines are a work of art in themselves. The talent to devise them is astounding. Respect. Such a wonderful trade. Who wouldn't appreciate a piece of their beautiful lace.
I proudly use Jean Bracq lace for my lingerie brand TéAmore. Seeing the whole process makes me so much more thankful that people like this exist - those who cherish slow fashion, quality things and old craft. They are such lovely people, a true family business, and the lace is exquisite. I hope it's all up and up from here, Julien!
I've been looking for good lace for so long now, hoping to find something other than the quickly manufactured crap you usually find. To know now that this exists has me so excited! I've always had to do my own lacework by hand, and it's such a pain, and it's always far too chunky for what I'd like. This has me over the moon about possibilities now! To create new patterns for lace, to go outside the normal possibilities and offer something completely different? Knowing now that it's possible with such machinery? Man, I could just kiss you all. This has given me hope that my dreams could become reality. It may mean more expense, but it's always worth it for the good art. And this? This is good art.
You should check around your area for bobbin lace makers. Bobbin lace is the original hand-made version of what these machines produce. You might find someone willing to sell you some fine lace you find suitable, or maybe even take a commission.
@@quinbee_creates I've tatted with bobbins before, and it comes out lovely, but it's hard to find good tutorials on it. But that's definitely a good suggestion!
This is incredible! I hope exposure like this helps the industry. I once got to work with leavers lace on a wedding dress. It was such a finer quality than what we commonly see. I wonder if technology can be utilized to keep the looms working in the future. Could 3d printed parts help with broken parts if no other could be found? It would be interesting to find out!
A lot of sewing machine afficionados find older metal-only machines much more reliable compared to commercial machines marketed to home-sewers that have plastic parts break all the time. Similarly, renown brands that produce industrial machines (that typically only have one type of stitch aka one cartridge) typically use high quality steel/metal alloy parts and nix the easily breakable plastic, so unfortunately I would imagine that 3d printed parts, even at high resolution 3d printing, would not do the trick. edit: also I haven't seen a bobbin holder or bobbin case made out of plastic, it's a constantly moving piece that requires regular oiling because otherwise it would grind. It seems that the parts the video shorthanded as "bobbins" are a combination bobbin holder and case compressed flat.
@@littlegreenclementine It is possible to print airplane and bicycle parts now. It's just that the type of 3D printers that are required to print steel parts with industrial strength and precision aren't available to the home hobbyist but they do exist. It may be a viable option. However 3D printing is not the only way to replicate antique parts, it could also be done by scanning and using computer-guided machining if it's necessary to carve the parts from a solid block of steel.
All of the baptismal gowns and communion dresses in our family are made from leavers lace. Each one has a unique pattern. My communion dress has little doves and lilies in the pattern. And my daughter got to wear it when it was her turn. I hope it holds up should I have a grand daughter some day.
I see why some all lace wedding dresses are so expensive. The meticulous details and the time it takes to actually design and create the pattern is amazing 🙂
Oh, I hope this continues. Such a beautiful skill shouldn't be lost to economical fall. I've got empty pockets, but if I didn't, I'd definitely try to order a lovely bit to make sheers from.
I had the occasion too visit the lace museum in Calais. It was wonderful and they make some demonstration on old lace machine. If anybody has the occasion passing through Calais, take time too visit it! 🥰
Lace is actually making a bit of a comeback, but I'm not sure if it works with the high price-point of this particular lace. I do enjoy seeing those old machines in action, and hope the industry can survive the lull and previously waning interest in lace as a design element.
I think demand will increase because the only thing of similar quality (crochet lace) is even more expensive and once your eyes have adjusted for lace quality, it's difficult to get excited over $3 a yard fabric.
We are used to buying cheaper goods and lots of them from overseas. When we decide to have less items and better quality we will pay the price. Better for the environment and reduces clutter in our homes.
Wow! As a fashion designer this is amazing to see and learn! I wish I could be there at the factory. I would love to learn how to repair the lace and be apart of the creating of the lace! Seeing those early 19 century design books...wow! Lucky guy!
Good christ, this is so fantastic! Everything in this factory is an art. I can say that whatever the price is totally worth the product. I am an occasional tailor and I never heard such lace that wide. I think that's easy to cut and sew for any desired measurements than the cheap lace nowadays. One day, I'll buy at least a meter of this piece of art!
This was riveting! Reminds me very much of a long conversation I had with an old man working a loom on the isle of Harris, where tweed is traditionally made on man-operated looms without electricity or other power.
My dad repaired looms at a textile mill. They made beautiful intricate upholstery fabrics. That business just closed last year. So sad what they allowed the pandemic to destroy.
How can one be not impressed with this kind of dedication and challenges of this special lace production. . . I am saddened by the thoughts of Jean at the end. It is a result of economics and difficulty of recruitment. However, I want to wish his company and staff all the best. Be safe and prosper.
I used to have a few sheets that hung from the post in my bed to make an arch shape. They were always so beautiful and impressive to look at and I hope to find more one day 🙂
I have always loved lace, leavers lace, bobbin or needle lace. One of my grandmothers born in Brittany, F had made her own bedroom curtains and bedspread in needle lace. She was also doing bobbin lace doilies and gave them as presents. I was fascinated by her dexterity. She once said that lace making was a school of patience knowing it isn't one of my virtues. I still have some samples of her work at home.
This is an irreplaceable art. We just can't lose this! This is the side of Covid I had not seen - the industries that might be killed entirely because of it!
@venswim Thank you for explaining. That is always a good thing. But first we have to save the art - old skills are sometimes not valued until they are gone. New blood to train is always a good thing - so long as the old blood is still there to train them.
Absolutely amazing video! I'm a seamstress, designer, knitter, spinner, and loom weaver, and I absolutely loved watching this and will share it with my groups! My mom worked for decades in the Garment Center in NYC in alot of designer companies, and I remember all the amazing and beautiful fabrics she use to work on. But it hasn't been the same for decades, so many companies have closed down since then (I was doing bridal as well as regular fashions)- even half the buildings are even there anymore! 😣😔
Not from NY, but we had a fabric store here that sourced from the same suppliers as the Garment District. Run by a woman who learned the trade from her dad, who bought fabrics for department stores in the 50s and 60s.She kept up with all the contacts and made new ones over the years. She had the most amazing lace fabrics in one room. Beaded and unbeaded in every color known. If I had a daughter I would have bought enough for a wedding gown and put it aside. She bought overruns, discontinued, etc. and was a sharp negotiator, so her prices were great. I have silk for a dress that she sold me for $12 a yard. Sadly, she passed away three years ago at age 95 or so. Was still opening the shop two days a week.
The lace itself may not be one of the more expensive things, but who ever just uses lace? It gets added to other pieces of clothing, and the price of the lace gets put into dresses and lingerie and what have you.
@@Air.keccc1 That is no ordinary lace though. It's made from expensive raw material and involves more labor. Especially the people who are making it are more skilled than the ones who make a meter of lace for 10$
i have a couple lingerie pieces made from leavers lace, i knew it was made using large machines but id never seen them in action like this before! very cool i hope this craft stays alive
@@rk-ve6jy yeah of course, it's usually stuff thats durable and comfortable because leavers lace lingerie pieces arent practical for everyday wear. but lingerie is made from all sorts of fabrics and can be simple or very elaborate
My mom still has her grandmother’s lace pieces and they’re beautiful! Mom’s extremely careful with them. I truly wish I had the money to purchase some of this stunning lace, but I’m really happy that it’s still being made. I sincerely hope that business bounces back and we don’t lose this trade and gorgeous works of art!!
@@TheNo1pencil There's a couple youtube channels (red cardinal crafts is the main one that I'm thinking of) that can teach you the basics. Feel free to reply if you want more specifics
Stunning craftsmanship of both the lace and the antique looms they use. Expensive, yes, but given that it takes years to become adept at weaving the patterns on these wonderful machines, it's worth it. You get what you pay for, and here, you get decades of experience at working these incredible looms, creating patterns, and hand finishing to create the gorgeous, delicate lace.
It is too beautiful with its tiny very stiching by hand and by the weaving machine @ this beautiful lace factory amazing what human weavers can do it is so beautiful but it is a specialised talent that some people have or learn to do thank you so much for sharing the beautiful video @ Business Insider👍👍😀😀😀🌹❤️❤️
It's wonderful to see these weavers lace looms still working. I hope the industry recovers and picks up and this wonderful factory continues into the future.
What an excellent documentary, thank you. Tremendous amount of work and skill to please the eye with beautiful patterns. Labor of love for the art for sure, people love artistic things.
It’s an impressively beautiful and kind work made by machine. Old - and at the same time : timeless - machines. People set carefully the machine to do the same delicate patterns / designs. A challenging work. I love lace.
I’m a tailor in LA working in the movie / tv costume business. I have a button hole machine that makes suit buttonholes … it’s from 1908 and it still works like a dream. It looks a bit like the lace machines…. I treasure it.
All I can say is WOW! I LOVE lace, and making (crochet) lace by hand. This video was truly fascinating! I hope to be able to own a small amount of this specialty lace someday, and I really hope the company rebounds now that COVID is pretty much in the past. Thanks for such an awesome video!
I am from Britanny (it's the western peninsula of France) and we have our own culture (a Celtic culture like Wales' and Ireland's) and our traditional women's hats are made from this lace. Every city has its own design and type of hat.
And to find these talented articulate humans is a art on its own goodness me. My great grandmother was a millinery wonderful woman and mum of 7 children she had to survive in the war times this sort of thing she made was so beautiful. So the sort of people that does this is wow . Lovely vid. I wish them every hope of doing even better than ever before. As very hard times now . We can’t lose these people. 💥
High quality videos with very informative content and always offering a nice and vast variety of interesting video. Thanks for the hard work and endless effort, we really do appreciate the time and money you have put in to entertain us and to enrich our knowledge about such fascinating topics.
@Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him I believe in Jesus as my beloved prophet. I love him so much to the point that whenever his name is mentioned I immediately follow it by saying peace and blessings of god be upon him. I studied and still study his life & his journey today, and always wish to be with him in Heaven. I just don’t worship him like you, as he was sent by god for the purpose of guiding the Jews and mankind, to a monotheistic religion, a religion which worships Allah and Allah only, as he’s the only true and real god.
There are many you can make by hand, though not quite as fine. If you want to try any, I used to do crochet and tatted laces. I even crocheted a table cloth for a friends wedding. Belgian lace is made by moving threaded bobbins on a type of pillow. That one is harder then the other two but the finished items are lovely. The ones I mentioned use a thicker thread, so generally aren't as fine as this or as large. But I will say, there's a great sense of pride looking at a piece you made yourself.
So interesting ! It’s our heritage ; thank you for making it known throughout the world ! 🇫🇷🙏🏻❤️ C’est tellement intéressant ! Ceci est notre patrimoine ; Merci de le faire connaître dans le monde.
I would love to learn this astounding and beautiful art work -its sad to see artisan trades die out and I truly hope this business will survive - best wishes 👏❤️🇨🇦
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you very much for the documentary. I've always wondered how lace was made. I would have loved a career fixing the holes in lace and a dabbling I bit in threading the machines. I hope they do a RUclips channel on lace because that would definitely increase many people's desire to have original lace.
It's amazing. I respect the artistry. I still can't help wondering if the new machines couldn't be designed to still produce the woven lace, but computerized instead of punch cards. That is how computers first started producing computations - with punch cards. It would still require the generational knowledge, but reality is that the current generation has zero interest in these endeavors. Very sad. There was a mill that embroidered beautiful fabric, and no local people wanted to buy it, so all equipment was sold to Turkey.
I spent 18 years in the lace trade as a threader. My husband retired at 75, having put in 50 years as a weaver. This is hard, loud work but I would love to sit down right now and knock out a set and thread it back again, just for old times' sake. Unfortunately, Rhode Island, USA has no more lace work. The mills are closed, the machines sold. This video made me glad that the old machines are still being run in France, and I hope they are able to get the young help they need as the older ones retire.I last worked in a lace mill in 1998. I had to take up other work as the mills were closing down. A lace weavers job is very difficult, hard work and takes time to learn. In my husband's day he started as an apprentice and worked up. He did his Army stint and came back to the machines. Once he retired, he missed those old machines very much. He made some very pretty lace. Thanks for the memories. I miss those old machines as well.
Those were well built machines unlike we have now days. I still have my grandmother’s pruners. When it rusted I put in a vinger bath and keep using a wire brush I am working on the iron bench that I had from her. But finding thin wood that is strong enough to support my fat ass is not easy.
Good evening, Ms. Linda. Any idea of how someone could apprentice at one of those mills in France nowadays??? And is there an age limit?? Thank you, and thank your husband for his service to lace and to the country.
Thank you for sharing, it's amazing to hear from someone in the industry!
Wow thank u for sharing
They're hiring! But they want people that will stay, they have bad hourd too haha
I will never complain about threading my sewing machine bobbin ever again. Just astounding!
Forreal!
Was just thinking that!!
Me too!
I get where you're coming from, but I'm still going to cuss at my overlock
Right! Those looms are amazing though. :)
i am completely blown away by the engineering of these machines. The amount of planning, calculations, and machining required to build these and all without the use of modern computers is astounding to me.
It may have been the past, but it will be the future again.
These jacquard machines were actually an important precursor in the development of programmable computers! Notice the punch card system :)
Sammmeeeee
Education system then, VS Education now. The people educated then are infinitely smarter than the people who are educated now.
@Stacy Lyon If you believe that, you are entirely ignorant. It literally took hundreds of top of the line engineers years to develop programmable looms, which were the most advanced mechanisms in their day. Just because we have drafting software now doesn't mean engineers are any less intelligent; in fact, they can get way more done without having to manually draw everything with a ruler. The key difference between then and now is the fact that companies are cheap and don't want to hire quality, but rather the lowest cost because they have to legally for their shareholders.
I'm so happy to finally see my father's work (He's the gentleman who wore glasses and has a tatoo) And besides, I'm french, I just translated the sentences. If you ever have any questions, tell me in french😅
I always wonder how do people get into these incredibly interesting but very niche jobs, how did he get into it? The end result looks incredible
Haha c'est trop cool que c'est ton père 😊 dis lui que son travail est très apprécié😊👍🏾
@@rhoeasie He just learned lace, he trained himself, he didn't need a diploma, he's been doing this job for almost 30 years. Thank you for your message.
@@im_youknow_marty Merci beaucoup pour ton message 😊. je lui dirais.
Bravo à lui. 👍🤩
I feel the product is reasonably priced for what it is. Also, the machines are truly beautiful and their intricate mechanisms remind me of a mechanical watch especially at 3:07.
I agree, but how do you find someone who sells it by the meter/yard? Odd they don’t sell to retail customers only to fashion houses?
I completely agree with you!! Well said
@@lynetteclauser3551 would be cool if you could but as a private customer
You can get it very cheap in Asia. People use it as tablecloths.
I also just checked on Ebay. It $6 for 3 meters of French levers lace.
What a great video. Having worked on looms made in the 1800s I must say the looms in this video are immaculately clean. Maybe it's because the thread is finer than the cotton I had worked with, but there is hardly any lint on the gears of their loom. That's impressive. I'm also surprised to see hardly any ear protection worn by these folks. Those machines are very loud, and I can't imagine working for long periods of time around those looms with no ear protection. The parts for these looms are incredibly hard to get if something breaks. They probably have their own machinist on call to make whatever they need. Thanks for all the work that went into this.
The quality of the yarn may have a bearing on the lint. Also it is necessary to keep the loom spotless as even small amounts of lint can degrade lace of this quality. The ragtrade has so many gems like these mechanical works of art in its history.
Wow! That's fascinating. I noticed one worker wearing ear protection while setting up. The video said the workers who run the machines have to look and listen for loose threads so I guess they need to be able to hear the machine and listen for inconsistencies.
Wow, you must be over 200 years old…. 🫣
@@Shoshana-xh6hc looms MADE in the 1800's. not that they worked on looms in the 1800's.
Ear protection at 2:47 and 6:42 at least, I hope they value their hearing 😰
I'm French and my grandma worked in this business when she was young, but without the machines: she had to use a hand looming (weaving?) machine and it was soooo much work. It was a very hard job and she was relieved when she stopped working there, but she's made sure to let her grandkids understand how much work was behind laces from the Northern factories. I remember visiting a museum with her where she showed me the old machines she had to use and the newer ones that now do the job she used to have to do! It's very impressive
The one near me kept the old machines
Watching these incredible machines doing their thing with such precision after 100 years of use makes me even more annoyed with companies like Apple that build failure and obsolescence into their gadgets so that we’ll replace them every 2-5 years. So wasteful!
100% Agree
Well, do you see the loom manufacturers still in business? Corporations have a vested interest in making goods at the lowest possible quality to ensure they can maintain a continuous money stream.
@@gljames24 Oh I get that, of course the corporations have an economic reason for doing so. It just disappoints me that we live in a world where money is prioritized over integrity, quality, or the environment.
circuits aren't giant pieces of metal, unfortunately...but also fortunately. things that are that tiny are more prone to failure, and inherently less repairable on that scale
Same goes for cheaper products too, they aren't exactly reusable either. It's just so utterly frustrating.
In Indonesia this lace is essential for the making of Kebaya (our national dress) especially for bridal kebaya. It's very beautiful and expensive! My mom handover her kebaya to me. Until today I still use it. This lace is everlasting!
@@hi-ve1cw most european traditional dresses are also post-1600s in fashion style, so idk why youre ragging on indonesians for doing the same.
The most incredible thing about these looms is something they barely mentioned - the jacquard punch cards. They were not only an innovation for weaving, but for technology as a whole. A census taker in the US looked at those cards (which work by allowing some pins of thread to pass through and stopping others in order to form the patterns) and decided to use that system to speed up the counting process for information in the 1890s census. Punch cards were then incorporated into early computers by companies such as IBM as a way to store data all the way up into tbe 80s. We went to the moon using computers reliant on jacquard loom punch card techonology! I love that these looms are still in use today.
This is incredible!! Thank you for this fascinating information. My mind is blown!
That’s insane. I love it.
Way back when I was in college, I had a course on data processing which included making punch cards. It was fascinating!
Your comment deserves more likes.
Nobody went to the moon
I crochet lace using thread (very small items) so I appreciate the work that goes into this. Watching a piece come together is magical. This lace is worth every penny and more.
Yes! Me too! I've taken up irish crochet and its painstakingly long winded to create a net curtain!
I'm a handspinner and lace weight wool yarn comes naturally to me. My goal is to knit an Irish wedding ring shawl.
My grandmother, visited us in 1970 and showed me a lace border she was crocheting for me. She put it on to a fine cotton with a border of drawn thread work - all hand done. I still have it.
@@elipotter369 That is a true family heirloom, made by family for family. I know you treasure it.
@@coldcynic2213 Do it! I made a crocheted wedding shawl for a niece who married earlier this year. I used cobweb weight wool and glass beads. Just manage your time better. Blocking the thing at 2:00 a.m. the morning of the wedding was not ideal.
I fully appreciate the people who set up the looms and run them but the ladies who check and repair the errors, are absolutely wonderful.
If we, as consumers, invested in quality and took care of our purchases, we might not be throwing so much away. We have become gluttons in our purchases. 40 years ago I sewed a garment from black silk and hand sewn crystal embellishments. I paid 70$ a yard. I still have it and cherish it. I’m 64 now.
So true! And if we invested in more quality products I'm sure that in itself would inceptivise us to care for the garments for as long as possible
So true!!! Congratulations on your ripe old age! I'm amazed you can still type and know how to use RUclips.
Adam, having a bad day?
@@adamuppsala1931 You're impressed that a 64 year old can type and use RUclips? I'd be impressed if someone in their late 90s could do that but at 64 that's completely normal.
@@houseofschenck6230 I believe Adam was being a bit snarky. Perhaps he didn’t realize the age was written for context of time. Who knows?
I used to think lace was embroidered fabric with cut-outs until I found a drawer in my grandma’s house filled with real handmade lace by my great-grandmother. When my grandma told me what it was I was shocked that I had lived a quarter of a century and never saw real lace. Most people don’t even know what it’s supposed to look like which I bet is a contributor to the decline in demand. But once you see and feel it, you can’t unsee it. The way it billows and falls is ethereal. Absolutely exquisite! It is love at first sight
My grandmother was a true lady. She had different sizes and shapes of lace throughout her house. She had a round table in an entryway with a large round lace doily on it. A vase was in the middle. Over the years, with age, dust, numerous hand washings.... they yellowed.
She went into the hospital and was there for 3 weeks. I had a few relatives help me come in and paint, clean and really brighten the place up.
I made a sink full of that oxyclean for the very first time. I had a round white yellowed lace doily. I had a sink of mild warm water. I put the oyxclean in a container with hot water to dissolve it all. I poured that in the sink of water.
I placed the doily into the water and literally almost gasped as if I was on a tv commercial. It almost instantly turned white with brown water behind. I was floored and flabberghasted. I laid down two bath towels on the counter. I rinsed the doily and then placed it on the two towels topped by two more. Afterwards, I hung them over two chairs to finish drying. It looked like it was worth a million bucks. We did all of her lace. When she got home, she noticed that immediately and had a tear in her eye. She said they were her mothers and back then they knew how to make quality linens and lace.
Oh, we brought a ton of her knickacks, etc to the sink to clean. She had a lady with a hole beind her to put flowers in. She had artifical flowers and they were yellowed. I grabbed them and pushed them down into the oxyclean water, almost as a joke and they too whitened like brand new. We rinsed them and put them on towels to dry. So that product works for that silk flowers.
Nice try Billy Mayes
@@undeadcatman RIP Billy Mayes
Such a lovely story, thank you. True heirloom lace is an absolute treasure and should be valued as a family keepsake.
Cool story bro.
I use an off brand oxygen cleaner for similar purposes. It's satisfying to see grime float away.
Man, that machinery is absolutely incredible. A work of art on itself even
honestly, the fact that its 100 years old is ridiculous
@@The_Horizon why
@@The_Horizon Wowza, didn’t expect to see you here
@@mq5731 true
The smiths man is the real artist
Growing up my great grandmother and grandmother had leaver lace in different places all over their homes. The quality and beauty is beyond amazing. The looms and threads are so delicate and take such a precise eye and touch. I actually got to hold a wedding dress made out of leaver lace the texture and beauty is exquisite. This art form I truly hope and pray carries on for many more generations. Ty for bringing back wonderful memories and for this awesome video 💕
Lace guy: We are selling holes!
Donut makers: Finally, someone gets it
Swiss cheese maker : I get it too, brother.
Hahaha 😂
Tire industry: man I was lonely here guys
Strainers, colanders, and graters: this!
Sieve makers: We must unite
Ok so I know that I'm autistic and I can get /very/ passionate about a handful of topics. This is one of them.
I've watched this video 4 times over the last 2 days and I still get goosebumps
Thank you (for sharing information and/or for reading my comment)
I love the precision and passion with which these laces are made. I love that there's someone who carefully goes over the lace to repair it! They are serious about their craftsmanship and I admire that.
Those machines are a work of art in themselves. The talent to devise them is astounding. Respect. Such a wonderful trade. Who wouldn't appreciate a piece of their beautiful lace.
I proudly use Jean Bracq lace for my lingerie brand TéAmore. Seeing the whole process makes me so much more thankful that people like this exist - those who cherish slow fashion, quality things and old craft. They are such lovely people, a true family business, and the lace is exquisite. I hope it's all up and up from here, Julien!
I've been looking for good lace for so long now, hoping to find something other than the quickly manufactured crap you usually find. To know now that this exists has me so excited! I've always had to do my own lacework by hand, and it's such a pain, and it's always far too chunky for what I'd like. This has me over the moon about possibilities now! To create new patterns for lace, to go outside the normal possibilities and offer something completely different? Knowing now that it's possible with such machinery? Man, I could just kiss you all. This has given me hope that my dreams could become reality. It may mean more expense, but it's always worth it for the good art. And this? This is good art.
You should check around your area for bobbin lace makers. Bobbin lace is the original hand-made version of what these machines produce. You might find someone willing to sell you some fine lace you find suitable, or maybe even take a commission.
@@quinbee_creates I've tatted with bobbins before, and it comes out lovely, but it's hard to find good tutorials on it. But that's definitely a good suggestion!
The fact that someone design and made that machine and process is amazing.
This is incredible! I hope exposure like this helps the industry. I once got to work with leavers lace on a wedding dress. It was such a finer quality than what we commonly see. I wonder if technology can be utilized to keep the looms working in the future. Could 3d printed parts help with broken parts if no other could be found? It would be interesting to find out!
A lot of sewing machine afficionados find older metal-only machines much more reliable compared to commercial machines marketed to home-sewers that have plastic parts break all the time. Similarly, renown brands that produce industrial machines (that typically only have one type of stitch aka one cartridge) typically use high quality steel/metal alloy parts and nix the easily breakable plastic, so unfortunately I would imagine that 3d printed parts, even at high resolution 3d printing, would not do the trick.
edit: also I haven't seen a bobbin holder or bobbin case made out of plastic, it's a constantly moving piece that requires regular oiling because otherwise it would grind. It seems that the parts the video shorthanded as "bobbins" are a combination bobbin holder and case compressed flat.
@@littlegreenclementine It is possible to print airplane and bicycle parts now. It's just that the type of 3D printers that are required to print steel parts with industrial strength and precision aren't available to the home hobbyist but they do exist. It may be a viable option.
However 3D printing is not the only way to replicate antique parts, it could also be done by scanning and using computer-guided machining if it's necessary to carve the parts from a solid block of steel.
Old machinery and craftsmanship is something else 😯
All of the baptismal gowns and communion dresses in our family are made from leavers lace. Each one has a unique pattern. My communion dress has little doves and lilies in the pattern. And my daughter got to wear it when it was her turn. I hope it holds up should I have a grand daughter some day.
What an intricate process! Mad respect for both the operator and designer as well.
I have a huge fascination with French lace because it has a different look to me especially when it’s used in bridal wear
I now have whole new appreciation for lace.. wow
I see why some all lace wedding dresses are so expensive. The meticulous details and the time it takes to actually design and create the pattern is amazing 🙂
Oh, I hope this continues. Such a beautiful skill shouldn't be lost to economical fall. I've got empty pockets, but if I didn't, I'd definitely try to order a lovely bit to make sheers from.
I had the occasion too visit the lace museum in Calais. It was wonderful and they make some demonstration on old lace machine.
If anybody has the occasion passing through Calais, take time too visit it! 🥰
Lace is actually making a bit of a comeback, but I'm not sure if it works with the high price-point of this particular lace. I do enjoy seeing those old machines in action, and hope the industry can survive the lull and previously waning interest in lace as a design element.
I think demand will increase because the only thing of similar quality (crochet lace) is even more expensive and once your eyes have adjusted for lace quality, it's difficult to get excited over $3 a yard fabric.
We are used to buying cheaper goods and lots of them from overseas. When we decide to have less items and better quality we will pay the price. Better for the environment and reduces clutter in our homes.
@@katesleuth1156 Definitely agree.
Idk. I see people paying more attention to yo quality materials
I feel like this is one of the only things on So Expensive that is actually worth its price
I pray that this exquisite art continues for generations to come. It would be so sad to see such skill and passion leave this world.
Wow! As a fashion designer this is amazing to see and learn! I wish I could be there at the factory. I would love to learn how to repair the lace and be apart of the creating of the lace! Seeing those early 19 century design books...wow! Lucky guy!
Your consistency and quality of content never disappoints!
@Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him nah i worship black rock
@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 I worship the RNG gods
@@kmsyahid1234 wo thats so random lol XD
@Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him
"Do not preach to those who didn't ask, you push them further away
AFormerChristian 31:25"
I hope to one day produce content just as good!!! I post videos every Sunday
Good christ, this is so fantastic! Everything in this factory is an art. I can say that whatever the price is totally worth the product. I am an occasional tailor and I never heard such lace that wide. I think that's easy to cut and sew for any desired measurements than the cheap lace nowadays.
One day, I'll buy at least a meter of this piece of art!
This was riveting! Reminds me very much of a long conversation I had with an old man working a loom on the isle of Harris, where tweed is traditionally made on man-operated looms without electricity or other power.
That would make an amazing tourist stop. To see all the machines going and everyone working at their highly skilled jobs. Verycool.
Le savoir faire à la française.... C'est rare de voir une boîte qui n'a pas tout remplacer par des machines modernes...
Très beau travail !
My dad repaired looms at a textile mill. They made beautiful intricate upholstery fabrics. That business just closed last year. So sad what they allowed the pandemic to destroy.
Deliberate destruction of craftsmanship and small businesses, so that the globalist cabal can take over everything. It’s despicable.
How can one be not impressed with this kind of dedication and challenges of this special lace production. . .
I am saddened by the thoughts of Jean at the end. It is a result of economics and difficulty of recruitment. However, I want to wish his company and staff all the best. Be safe and prosper.
I used to have a few sheets that hung from the post in my bed to make an arch shape. They were always so beautiful and impressive to look at and I hope to find more one day 🙂
I have always loved lace, leavers lace, bobbin or needle lace. One of my grandmothers born in Brittany, F had made her own bedroom curtains and bedspread in needle lace. She was also doing bobbin lace doilies and gave them as presents. I was fascinated by her dexterity. She once said that lace making was a school of patience knowing it isn't one of my virtues. I still have some samples of her work at home.
Love lace ! One of my favorite childhood memories of all my aunts houses !!!!
U into ur aunty?
Happy they are built to last. We need to come back to that mindset.
This is mind blowing. I hope this art continues for a long time. Something I wish I could do but my eyes. Kudos to all the workers.
Even when I was a child I always thought lace was so elegant. I made sure my wedding dress had lace, lace makes the dress so classy and timeless.
One of the reasons why HAUTE COUTURE is expensive. These artisans are the pride in their respective industry.
I’m so in love with the looms. Here is a metaphor for love. The strength of this giant machine to make something so fine, and delicate, and precious.
the lamest comment I’ve ever read 🙄
@@EricaRossini-s3b I’m so glad to have left an impression on you! I hope your comfort zone grows.
This is an irreplaceable art. We just can't lose this! This is the side of Covid I had not seen - the industries that might be killed entirely because of it!
Absolutely beautiful...good evening Julie..
I make with ✋. Need much Time.
@venswim
Why not? Why not what?
This one is pretty cool, but I think there are industries that deserve and should be killed off.
@venswim
Thank you for explaining. That is always a good thing. But first we have to save the art - old skills are sometimes not valued until they are gone. New blood to train is always a good thing - so long as the old blood is still there to train them.
Absolutely amazing video! I'm a seamstress, designer, knitter, spinner, and loom weaver, and I absolutely loved watching this and will share it with my groups!
My mom worked for decades in the Garment Center in NYC in alot of designer companies, and I remember all the amazing and beautiful fabrics she use to work on. But it hasn't been the same for decades, so many companies have closed down since then (I was doing bridal as well as regular fashions)- even half the buildings are even there anymore! 😣😔
Fellow seamstress here..it will be marvelous to get my hands on this too
@Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him I did over 23 years ago - your preaching to the choir 🙄
Not from NY, but we had a fabric store here that sourced from the same suppliers as the Garment District. Run by a woman who learned the trade from her dad, who bought fabrics for department stores in the 50s and 60s.She kept up with all the contacts and made new ones over the years.
She had the most amazing lace fabrics in one room. Beaded and unbeaded in every color known. If I had a daughter I would have bought enough for a wedding gown and put it aside. She bought overruns, discontinued, etc. and was a sharp negotiator, so her prices were great. I have silk for a dress that she sold me for $12 a yard.
Sadly, she passed away three years ago at age 95 or so. Was still opening the shop two days a week.
This is one of the lesser expensive "so expensive" things explored on this channel.
1:51 "Jean Broc uses a libary". Lmao
I mean, as somebody who buys lots of fabric, ive found lace for under $10/m. $500/m is pretty expensive
The lace itself may not be one of the more expensive things, but who ever just uses lace? It gets added to other pieces of clothing, and the price of the lace gets put into dresses and lingerie and what have you.
@@Air.keccc1 That is no ordinary lace though. It's made from expensive raw material and involves more labor. Especially the people who are making it are more skilled than the ones who make a meter of lace for 10$
@@btsarmyforever3816 yeah i agree, i think you may have misunderstood my comment
people have to be really intelligent and masters at what they are doing for this job, mindblowing..
i have a couple lingerie pieces made from leavers lace, i knew it was made using large machines but id never seen them in action like this before! very cool i hope this craft stays alive
U wear lingerie every day?
@@rk-ve6jy yeah of course, it's usually stuff thats durable and comfortable because leavers lace lingerie pieces arent practical for everyday wear. but lingerie is made from all sorts of fabrics and can be simple or very elaborate
@@buggydust that's cute of u
My mom still has her grandmother’s lace pieces and they’re beautiful! Mom’s extremely careful with them. I truly wish I had the money to purchase some of this stunning lace, but I’m really happy that it’s still being made. I sincerely hope that business bounces back and we don’t lose this trade and gorgeous works of art!!
I got into making bobbin lace a couple years ago, and it’s really interesting to see what the lace industry has become in the modern day
I wanted to get into lace making a number of years ago but at the time I couldn't find any easily accessible resources to get started.
@@TheNo1pencil There's a couple youtube channels (red cardinal crafts is the main one that I'm thinking of) that can teach you the basics. Feel free to reply if you want more specifics
What beautiful, creative talented people. This tradition must continue, we just can’t leave all this Beaty behind.
Beautiful and beautifully complicated!
Just gorgeous!, Please keep these trades alive!
Stunning lace, absolutely stunning
I adore every writer in this channel so much!
something about those large, loud machines producing such a delicate product is really moving
Where artistry meets engineering. Those workers are so amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
You guys do the journalism that matters. It's so amazing
Stunning craftsmanship of both the lace and the antique looms they use. Expensive, yes, but given that it takes years to become adept at weaving the patterns on these wonderful machines, it's worth it. You get what you pay for, and here, you get decades of experience at working these incredible looms, creating patterns, and hand finishing to create the gorgeous, delicate lace.
It is too beautiful with its tiny very stiching by hand and by the weaving machine @ this beautiful lace factory amazing what human weavers can do it is so beautiful but it is a specialised talent that some people have or learn to do thank you so much for sharing the beautiful video @ Business Insider👍👍😀😀😀🌹❤️❤️
It's wonderful to see these weavers lace looms still working. I hope the industry recovers and picks up and this wonderful factory continues into the future.
What an excellent documentary, thank you. Tremendous amount of work and skill to please the eye with beautiful patterns. Labor of love for the art for sure, people love artistic things.
It’s an impressively beautiful and kind work made by machine. Old - and at the same time : timeless - machines.
People set carefully the machine to do the same delicate patterns / designs.
A challenging work.
I love lace.
I’m a tailor in LA working in the movie / tv costume business. I have a button hole machine that makes suit buttonholes … it’s from 1908 and it still works like a dream. It looks a bit like the lace machines…. I treasure it.
Back then everything was made to last.
It is special and magic. I've worked 18 years weaving and mending curtain fabrics. ❤️❤️❤️
France really is the fashion capital of the world
All I can say is WOW! I LOVE lace, and making (crochet) lace by hand. This video was truly fascinating! I hope to be able to own a small amount of this specialty lace someday, and I really hope the company rebounds now that COVID is pretty much in the past. Thanks for such an awesome video!
I am from Britanny (it's the western peninsula of France) and we have our own culture (a Celtic culture like Wales' and Ireland's) and our traditional women's hats are made from this lace. Every city has its own design and type of hat.
The simple black dress the deep v is gorgeous I wish I can own a dress like that
Those machines are incredible!
And to find these talented articulate humans is a art on its own goodness me. My great grandmother was a millinery wonderful woman and mum of 7 children she had to survive in the war times this sort of thing she made was so beautiful. So the sort of people that does this is wow . Lovely vid. I wish them every hope of doing even better than ever before. As very hard times now . We can’t lose these people. 💥
High quality videos with very informative content and always offering a nice and vast variety of interesting video. Thanks for the hard work and endless effort, we really do appreciate the time and money you have put in to entertain us and to enrich our knowledge about such fascinating topics.
@Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him I believe in Jesus as my beloved prophet. I love him so much to the point that whenever his name is mentioned I immediately follow it by saying peace and blessings of god be upon him. I studied and still study his life & his journey today, and always wish to be with him in Heaven. I just don’t worship him like you, as he was sent by god for the purpose of guiding the Jews and mankind, to a monotheistic religion, a religion which worships Allah and Allah only, as he’s the only true and real god.
Emperialist american youtube channel - Business insider
@@yaseenmousa4441 👍
My grandmother has a lot of these! I thought they are normal but now I appreciate those fabrics more.
I loooooovvveee lace!!! Always wanted to know how it was made. ❤
There are many you can make by hand, though not quite as fine. If you want to try any, I used to do crochet and tatted laces. I even crocheted a table cloth for a friends wedding. Belgian lace is made by moving threaded bobbins on a type of pillow. That one is harder then the other two but the finished items are lovely. The ones I mentioned use a thicker thread, so generally aren't as fine as this or as large. But I will say, there's a great sense of pride looking at a piece you made yourself.
So interesting ! It’s our heritage ; thank you for making it known throughout the world ! 🇫🇷🙏🏻❤️ C’est tellement intéressant ! Ceci est notre patrimoine ; Merci de le faire connaître dans le monde.
It is a beautiful French lace...my favourite ❤️
I have not realised how much work it takes to make lace. Thank you for the video and God blessings on your work.
I would love to learn this astounding and beautiful art work -its sad to see artisan trades die out and I truly hope this business will survive - best wishes 👏❤️🇨🇦
This was so interesting to watch, and the lace designs are exquisite! I really hope demand comes back for their lace.
Beautiful machine.
Beautiful lace.
Beautiful company to keep this going.
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you very much for the documentary. I've always wondered how lace was made. I would have loved a career fixing the holes in lace and a dabbling I bit in threading the machines.
I hope they do a RUclips channel on lace because that would definitely increase many people's desire to have original lace.
Believe me, this is the most BEST series ever.
May this never die. May they always have people with passion and reserve
Machines from the Golden age of mechanical engineering.
Back when machines were actually designed to last for life, not to be replaced every year or two...
This was fascinating! Some of the best manufacturers still use the original machines. A true craft.
It's amazing. I respect the artistry.
I still can't help wondering if the new machines couldn't be designed to still produce the woven lace, but computerized instead of punch cards. That is how computers first started producing computations - with punch cards. It would still require the generational knowledge, but reality is that the current generation has zero interest in these endeavors. Very sad. There was a mill that embroidered beautiful fabric, and no local people wanted to buy it, so all equipment was sold to Turkey.
I hope they can continue to make this even if I cant afford it. it is a work of art I hope we never loose it.
I would love to learn this trade, so beautiful
Fascinating insight into a traditional industry. Thank you.
It takes the skill of an iron worker, the ingenuity of. machinist and dexterity of car mechanic to create art with spiders webs. Totally awesome.
They keeps producing newer design, as well. That is just amazing and one of a way to keep the tradition alive.