The Iconic Calais-Caudry Lace

Lace from Calais isn’t just beautiful—it’s iconic. A shining example of French craftsmanship, this delicate fabric is woven into the city’s identity. While the Lace and Fashion Museum, located further along the Commerce Quay, tells the full story, we’ll give you a preview right here on Boulevard Jacquard. Let’s start with the name. Joseph Marie Jacquard, born into a family of weavers in 1752, is best known for inventing a revolutionary loom in 1801. It used punch cards to automate complex weaving patterns—a technological leap that paved the way for modern textile manufacturing. While Jacquard was born in Lyon, his name and legacy live on here in Calais, most visibly through this boulevard and a

of him in Place Albert I. But the real turning point for Calais came from across the Channel. In late 18th-century England, three innovators—John Heathcoat, John Lindley, and John Leavers—developed a machine capable of weaving tulle. Their invention sparked a booming lace industry around Nottingham. However, due to Napoleon’s Continental Blockade between 1806 and 1808, British textiles couldn’t legally enter France. As a result, by 1813 the British lace industry found itself in crisis, with overproduction and no export market. The solution? Many lace-makers smuggled their looms into northern France, and Calais—specifically the town of Saint-Pierre-lès-Calais—quickly became their new home. These English looms, known as Leavers machines, were soon adapted to the Jacquard system and powered by steam engines by the 1840s. The result? Mechanized lace that rivaled the finest handmade pieces. The lace industry brought enormous economic and demographic growth. Saint-Pierre-lès-Calais grew from just 3,000 people at the start of the 19th century to more than 33,000 by 1875. In 1958, the name “Calais-Caudry Lace” was officially registered, guaranteeing the quality, craftsmanship, and heritage of lace made in France on authentic Leavers looms. Today, this prestigious lace is still prized around the world—especially in haute couture and lingerie. Influential women like Kate Middleton, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Beyoncé, and Amal Clooney have all worn lace from northern France. It’s not just fabric—it’s art, industry, and living heritage, all woven into one timeless creation.