Diamonds & Lace ~Lise Charmel
My mother had the most exquisite diamond engagement ring, a round stone embraced on one side by a semi-circle of tiny diamonds and on the other, rubies. Set in a platinum band, she bequeathed it to my sister, as it should have been. My sister had beautiful hands. Me, not so much. I never really understood the necessity and didn’t want a diamond ring when I decided to marry. I’m a bit of a cynic on the symbolism. But ignoring its potential as an investment that actually has generational intent was ignorance on my part at the time. When analyzing value, there is always more than meets the eye. Perfection in a diamond requires a level of expertise through multiple stages of craftsmanship, each stage effectively at risk by the next step in the process.Today, there are many versions of diamonds in the market, but grasping the elements that set apart the highest quality of these gemstones, requires insight into the 4 C’s; carat, cut, color and clarity.
Now why exactly am I bringing this up? Because, in a discussion about what sets Lise Charmel lingerie apart, my colleague Sandra Jones, US Manager of the Lise Charmel Group, suggested that I compare the product to a perfectly cut diamond. It made sense. Lise Charmel uses only Leavers lace to create their intimates. The Leavers technique, a disappearing art centered in Northern France, uses overlying threads to underline the lace design. In this example from the Dentelle Design collection, there are 8 separate backgrounds interwoven into the tulle that form an intricate pattern, not easily duplicated by any other machine. The Leaver’s looms are considered the most complex textile machines in existence, mimicking the hand movements of lace makers of yesteryear as they worked the tulle into a delicate arrangement. The paucity of available machinery coupled with the complex skill set required to use them insures that garments claiming a Leavers lace heritage are a worthy treasure. They are a homage to the art of lingerie. I know one bride whose framed Lise Charmel wedding bra still hangs today on her bedroom wall.
“Quality is Never an Accident. It is Always the Result of Intelligent Effort” ~John Ruskin
