Lace,
Today we distinguish four different techniques in lace in Flandres, the northern part of Belgian.
The first type of lace is bobbin lace, a speciality of Bruges, still the most imported city of lace. It's a very delicate kind of lace,made with bobbins and linen or cotton thread. Secondly the ribbon lace which is made in the area around Aalst. In this area the also make the princesse lace, an application on a machine made net (tule).
The last type, is called needle point lace, it isn't made with bobbins but like the name says only with a needle and a few threads.
The lace manufactory is a cottage industry, women between 60 and 90 years, work at home on their own piece and when finished, they bring to the lace manufactory, where when needed they further finalized.
Below we give you an description of the most imported types of lace.