Feather

A feather, characteristic element of the class of birds, is an integumentary made of beta-keratin complex. As hairs, scales, nails, claws or hooves, feathers are appendages.

Calais&rsquot; lace

In december 1816 three manufacturers from Nottingham introduced at Saint Pierre les Calais the first Leavers looms. This is the beginning of incredible industrial adventure that still continues today and giving the Calais lace worldwide fame.

The Leavers loom revolutionized in 1830 making lace. By adapting the Jacquard system based on the use of punch cards, the mechanics Martyn & Ferguson allowed machinery to realize the true lace imitating the one made by hand. In 1910, there are 2708 looms in Calais. The Histopale Association (History of the Opal Coast) offers a virtual tour of a factory at that time with a nice gallery of vintage post cards.