Alençon Lace

An expensive fine needle lace that is characterised by raised floral and scroll patterns within. Alençon Lace originates from the Northern French town of Alençon, and was first created in the 17^th Century. The design usually consists of a sheer net background with the designs outlined in thicker thread, called Cordonnet. It is now usually manufactured using a machine but back in the 17^th Century it was all created by hand. Because of its delicate nature, Alençon Lace is mainly used for wedding dresses, bridal veils and headpieces. Alençon Lace usually has a scalloped edge to finish it off, which can be used as decoration and it can be heavily embellished with beads.