A marriage, Italian style, between Sophia Loren and Dolce & Gabbana: the smoldering brunette who tempted Mastroianni in the movies “ties the knot” with the masters of lace.

A guipure lace shirt under destroyed denim overalls? A Chantilly lace skirt worn with a grey sweatshirt? Or a lace top and jogging pants?

A designation that encompasses the different Leavers lace manufacturers in Calais and Caudry and marks a logical evolution since today the Caudry basin represents 75% of Leavers lace production worldwide. And while we’re talking numbers, we mention that 90% of the world’s Leavers looms are located in France, concentrated in the Calais-Caudry area.

As an important moment for contemporary creation that captures what’s “in the air” as much as it invents the future, the Maison & Objet trade fair on January 22 to 26 north of Paris will welcome, as it does each year, thousands of professionals and individuals looking to discover trends and innovations for wall coverings, lighting, curtains and furniture.

Lace … it evokes Northern France, Victorian blouses, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress … and of course : lingerie. In the same way, mentioning lingerie immediately evokes : lace. De même, qui dit lingerie dit, immédiatement : dentelle.

“Double Je” is the title of an exhibition that, from March 24th to May 16th at Palais de Tokyo* in Paris, features artistic craftsmen and artists.

A series of weightless jackets in front of a luminous screen look like x-rays of women where we don’t see lungs … but garments. This sublime, unsettling installation by artist Mal Burkinshaw was done in partnership with Sophie Hallette whose extremely fine, beautiful laces contribute to giving the show its magic.

“The hand and the machine” has been the balance at the heart of Sophie Hallette, a company that has associated the engineering of Leavers looms with the excellence of top craftsmen since 1887.