Sophie Hallette and the Tradition of Fine French Lacemaking

“The world held its breath as Kate Middleton stepped from the royal Rolls Royce on her wedding day, ending months of anticipation as to what this major trendsetter and probable future queen would be wearing. But in a small village tucked away in a corner of northern France, the anticipation took on a whole new meaning.

“We were watching like everyone else and when we saw the lace a cheer went up through the factory,” says Maud Lescroart, marketing director for Sophie Hallette, a family-owned lacemaking company based in Caudry for over 125 years. Although Kate’s dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, a loyal client, secrecy was such that even the principles of the firm had no idea their lace would be the centrepiece of the royal wedding day. “We didn’t even know if she would wear lace,” says Lescroart. “Of course, it took a couple of hours to be 100 per cent sure it was ours, but we sensed it was immediately.””