Embroidery history of Lunéville

In Antiquity, embroidery was a sign of social distinction, a personal treasure for the wearer. Over the millennia, the techniques for executing embroidery with finesse have diversified, thus embellishing this art. Around the 15th and 17th centuries, embroidery became a luxury that only the privileged class could afford. By privileged class, we mean members of royal families as well as the upper middle class. Today, in terms of embroidery, Lunéville embroidery is mainly used for haute couture and luxury ready-to-wear. This is the history of Lunéville Embroidery.

Noble materials and delicate techniques to keep the grace of Lunéville embroidery

Embroidery is an art that requires extreme finesse. It requires :

• silk,
• gold,
• money,
• small stitches in needle paint (also called couching).

During the 17th century, many artisan embroiderers settled in Lunéville, which is also considered to be one of the residences of the Dukes of Lorraine. In the early days, they produced coloured, gold and silver needlework designs. It was not until 1810 that a new embroidery technique appeared: the Lunéville stitch. To learn more about Lunéville embroidery, visit a specialised site.

Lunéville stitch is a needle chain stitch on tulle, a very light fabric. In 1850, embroiderers replaced the needle with the hook in order to embroider the chain stitch with better speed of execution. On a taut backing, the designs can be more delicate, the work and the stitch much more precise. In this way, the fabric no longer wrinkles around the embroidered parts.

In 1865, Louis Ferry-Bonnechaux discovered the technique of beaded and sequined embroidery. It allows beads and sequins to be placed using the hook. Its particularity? Lunéville embroidery is carried out on the reverse side of the fabric. The technique of beaded and sequined embroidery is mainly used to make beautiful evening dresses decorated with sequins and shiny beads. Lunéville even makes jet black and lighter, shiny sequins fashionable. Even though the use of pearls is very old, the technique of beading remains a Lunéville speciality. An organza fabric is stretched on an embroidery loom. With the help of a Luneville hook, the pearls and sequins are mounted on thread by means of a chain stitch.

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Lunéville embroidery : at Haute Couture’s service

Although the embroidery trade in Lunéville was hit hard by the Great War of 14-18, the Roaring Twenties revolutionised women’s fashion: short dresses embroidered with pearls and short hair. Unfortunately, this euphoric period was interrupted by the economic crisis of 1929. As a result, many companies closed their doors. It was finally around 1950 that Lunéville embroidery continued its expansion through large companies. From there, fashion accessories became trendy again with a beaded and sequined particularity.

Today, Lunéville embroidery continues to work wonders in the world of haute couture. The same is true in the world of show business and fashion. With its luminous renderings, its great diversity and its singular effects, Lunéville embroidery remains a reference in the world of embroidery. Because every year, fashion renews its requirements, embroiderers are constantly innovating, inventing and proposing colours and patterns that are each as particular as the next.

From now on, it is haute couture that allows this art to perpetuate itself. The cost of labour as well as the quality of the materials used put Lunéville embroidery at the forefront of the haute couture scene. All the embroideries are designed, thought out and embroidered by hand in a handcrafted manner for a rendering at the cutting edge of the requirements of haute couture.

Lunéville Embroidery : a wide variety of products

In perpetual evolution, Lunéville Embroidery now extends its products to fashion accessories, modern little wonders. Lunéville Embroidery is indeed available in :

• earrings,
• bracelets,
• brooches,
• necklaces,
• patches,
• rosettes,
• paintings.

Do you like original and unique products ? These little marvels will seduce you for sure. Please someone close to you by offering an embroidered jewel as a gift. You can also read : NoirEpine’s eco-responsible streetwear.

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