17th century

Alençon already had a tradition of lace making by needlework, especially the "point coupe", or cut thread stitch.

Madame La Perrière (1605 - 1677) found a way to imitate and gradually perfect Venetian lace making techniques in her workshops...

In 1665, Colbert founded a royal lace workshop in Alençon, given the existing lace making expertise in the town. Nearly eight thousand workers in Alencon and its outlying areas (Sees, Argentan, up towards Falaise, Mamers and Beaumont) were engaged in needlepoint, known at that time as the "Point de France".

From 1675 onwards, the Alençon lace-makers took advantage of their newfound autonomy to develop their own style. They adopted the mesh backing technique and invented a new and even more delicate stitch : Point d'Alençon lace was born.

18th century

At court, Alençon lace was declared "winter lace" (each lace was associated with a particular season). The Point d'Alençon style was more fashionable than ever and incorporated a wide range of decorative elements.

The revolution did not halt the manufacture of lace in Alençon but it dealt a serious blow to this artform.

19th century

Under the reign of Napoléon I, lace production reached new heights thanks to the commission of several luxurious pieces, but by 1820, demand was in decline again.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Second Empire reintroduced a taste for luxury and the Point d'Alençon won more plaudits at exhibitions around the world. The Point d'Alençon style triumphed at the first World Exhibition in London in 1851, where it was hailed as "the queen of lace"...

From 1880, the twin threats of mechanical lace making and changes in fashion started an irreversible decline in the fortunes of Alençon lace making by hand.

20th century

In 1903, the Alençon Chamber of Commerce wanted to safeguard the special Alençon technique and it founded a lace making school.

In 1976, the Point d'Alencon National Workshop was created by the State to uphold lace needlepoint traditions. Today there are only a handful of experienced craftswoman with the expertise to keep alive this unique skill and they produce pieces of needlework destined for our great state-owned properties.