Lace, a skill that has been evolving for over 100 years
The lace sector is a broad activity, which includes both the production of fabric for haute couture and lace used for lingerie. SOFILA has been supporting it for several decades, particularly through its long-standing companies, such as Transfil and Moulinages Schwarzenbach, which specialize in these demanding, high-quality threads.
SOFILA has supported lace manufacturers since its creation, originally with natural materials such as silk and cotton, quickly extended to artificial materials such as acetate, viscose, Tencel, Lyocel and since the middle of the 20th century to synthetic materials such as polyamide, polyester, elastane, and many others. The expectations of lace makers have evolved over the years, and SOFILA has always been able to adapt and preserve skills.
Excellent threads for leavers lace
The historic lace makers, who still work on Leavers looms and produce very high-quality lace that does not degrade and has unique, fine patterns. This lace is particularly prized by fashion houses, fashion brands and for wedding dresses. SOFILA now supports almost all ready-to-wear manufacturers, especially those using Leavers looms, with high-quality products and monitoring.
(Leavers loom, photo Sophie Hallette)
- Fine, highly twisted polyamides to ensure resistance and the demanding passage through these looms, whether for warp, bobbin or wimple threads
- Silk or viscose to provide shine and feel
- Fancy yarns for ornaments and fillings, such as metallized covered yarns
- Yarns with a little elasticity, via elastane covering, to provide comfort
- Sofila can also offer to supply dyed yarns, according to customers’ needs, through a dyeing partner.
- And for most of these threads, the option of working from recycled materials, whether polyamide or polyester (with traceability maintained thanks to our GRS certification)
Custom-made threads for quality lingerie lace
Lingerie lace makers, who now mostly work on more automated and flexible looms, and who produce the fabric more for the lingerie sector.
It is always lace and sometimes tulle. The threads used are generally twisted polyamide, but can also be viscose or polyester threads depending on the desired finish (gloss, softness, texture, etc.). Sofila works with players in this sector all over the world (France, Europe, South America, etc.), and is recognized by its customers for the quality of its threads and its ability to offer a configuration that is exactly tailored to the wishes and specificities of each customer. A difference of a few twist turns can change the appearance of the fabric and the way the weaving machines work! All our viscose is FSC certified, and our recycled synthetics are GRS certified.
