Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode

The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode is the place to see concerning the lace industry of Calais. The demonstration of lace looms is not to be missed as is the annual exhibition of renowned couturiers. The museum is located in a former collective factory and offers catering and boutique services. 

The collections of the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais are exhibited in a former collective factory. This type of factory was common during the development of the lace industry in the 1870th century. It made it possible to share energy costs between each lace manufacturer-tenant. There were therefore investors in this historic lace district offering several manufacturers the rental of these collective factories. This is the Boulart factory, named after brothers who invested in this construction in the XNUMXs.  

It is one of the last witnesses of the collective lace factories of Calais. After its activity ceased, the city of Calais acquired it at the end of the 2009th century. The aim was to make it a place dedicated to the know-how of local lacemakers, the local economic and social history and the connections between lace and fashion. The architects Moatti and Rivière imagined this combination of modern entrance facade... while keeping the atmosphere and architecture of the original factory. The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode was inaugurated in XNUMX. 

The collections are divided into a route starting with hand-made lace from the pre-industrial period. A large part is devoted to mechanical lace, created in England and which led to many upheavals in Calais-Saint Pierre in the 19th century. The last part of the tour is devoted to the use of lace in the world of fashion. 

The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode in Calais offers a prestigious exhibition dedicated to a fashion designer every year. There is also a restaurant and a shop on site. 

Do not miss : The demonstration of lace looms is the moment not to be missed! They are presented by a lace professional explaining the manufacturing process. Or how such a massive machine makes a product as refined as lace!