WEI'S Luminous Lace

Description

The desire to decorate clothing with reflective fibers and embellishment is a longstanding Western fashion tradition. Gold, silver, and other plated and alloy metal threads were employed for trimmings and textile decoration even before lace was first produced. Metallic bobbin lace, in which small spools of metal-wrapped thread are knotted together, was developed in the late 16th century as a couched edging on cutwork, a precursor of lace. Because of its high gold and silver content, metallic lace was sold by weight. It was worn in such quantities in England and France that sumptuary (regulatory) laws were put in place to restrict its importation, creation, and use.