What is the lace?
Making a shoelace.
The first ones laces of the time were cut from leather or vegetable rope or from fabric to form strips. At that time, it was necessary to hold the shoe to the feet with any ropes.
The bands that served as lace were not necessarily cut well or even very straight, so they frayed all the time, because the tips did not yet exist.
Then in the Middle Ages the braiding of the lace was done by hand, which was called the cordelet, a braiding made with natural fibers.
When did the industrialization of laces arrive?
Officially, the first modern laces were invented in 1790 by Harvey Kennedy, this is the date when the patent for the leather shoelace and metal buckles was filed by this inventor in the United States.
In France, during the time of Louis IX
the first laces
in silk thread made their first appearances thanks to weavers. But the
laces
being poorly finished and fraying a lot, it was in the 13th century that the aiguillettes called today
aglets
protected the end of the lace to compress them. They were made of tin, gold or silver for the rich. It was also in the 13th century that braiding looms gradually arrived. The
lace entered proto-industrial in 1784 when in France a man named Perrault
will receive approval to use a wooden loom based on a German iron model for the production of
shoe laces
.
Then, The braiding of the
round laces comes from the Ambert basin, a tradition which dates back to the 17th century, and which was once the occupation of peasants, during the long winter months.
In the 19th century, the lace braiders became mechanized, taking over the water mills abandoned by the papermakers. It was at this time that textile braiding began its path to success.
But it was another Frenchman, Charles-François Richard, a passementier by trade, also known under the name of Richard-Chambovet, who decided to invent the flat lace and to make laces a fashion truly industrial. He innovated by using a steam engine as the driving force for these lace looms." L'lace industry developed only thanks to him, or he acquired almost a monopoly in Europe on the manufacture of flat laces . A manufacturing of excellence recognized as far as America. The lace production is indeed essential at this time. Thus, this pioneer opens the way to the industrial manufacture of laces in the world by exporting its steam loom.
Later in the 20th century, by making a global industrialization that the appearance of
aglets
plastic ones have made their appearances.
There are several large houses in France and Europe, but the market is so large that China has opened a huge number of factories and at the time they were the only ones who manufactured
printed lacesToday, the marketing of shoe laces has taken off thanks to sneaker manufacturers Nike and Adidas...it is currently the most worn shoe in the world.
What are the different lace materials?
We find lace in different materials cotton lace, linen, polyester, recycled polyester, nylon and Lurex and leather.
And not long ago in silicone.
You can find it in different forms in flat lace, round lace, tubular oval lace, thin round lace, thick round lace, leather lace and also in elastic lace with a cellulosic or metallic plastic tip and rubber finish.
As for the colors, there are plain lace, colored lace, printed lace and lurex lace.
The majority of shoe laces are mainly made of polyester, cotton and nylon for paracord.
Polyester entered the modern industry in 1954, providing even more resistance over time, in color retention and its elastic side, a material also called synthetic fiber, very present in the textile world, which represents 70% of the market.
This fiber which is obtained by a chemical process but also associated with natural fibers such as cotton and wool, textile essential to this day in the world of fabric.
If the laces were made of polyester, it is for its strength-resistance characteristics and its elastic side. Natural fiber cotton deteriorates more quickly and the colors fade over time. In terms of durability, polyester is simply unbeatable. This is what we are looking for in the lace resistance .
Comparison of Cotton and Polyester:
Cotton natural fiber Polyester fiber Synthetic 100% COTTON POLYESTER / COTTON
Cotton lace:
Lighter / Thinner / More delicate
Washable up to 90°
Rather off-white color, tint that does not last over time. No elasticity
Polyester lace:
Color Bright white
Colour fastness over time. Average 12% elasticity
Very resistant
Ecological impact:
You think that cotton is less guilty than synthetic fabrics in the end the production is too greedy in water and use of high pesticides. Except organic -20%.
Manufacturing mainly in foreign countries in
China, India and USA.
Today, most laces made in France are made with threads from foreign sources.
Given the drought we are experiencing, cotton production is not viable on our soils.
We are aware of the impact of waste on the earth, many laces are made with recycled fibers. This is our choice in most of our collections which are tested to European standards by our manufacturers.
We have chosen to work with the best manufacturers in France, Europe and internationally for 15 years.
You too change your laces instead of changing your shoes!
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