“Lace is a great invention that can rival nature’s creations. No human invention has ever been more elegant and subtle.”

　　——Coco Chanel

　　Exhibition hall

　　On June 2," Art of Threads, Glamour in Lace" was officially launched in No. 1 Temporary Exhibition Hall of the World Expo Museum. This exhibition showcases lace in Western fashion in categories such as home textiles, garments and accessories spanning the 18th to 20th centuries.

　　Part of the exhibition hall

　　The exhibition is divided into four parts:"The Birth of Lace","The Expo and Lace","Colorful Splendor" and "Introduction into China". Through an exploration of the categories, functions, historical and cultural background of lace and the origins of the World Expos, the historical significance and humanistic sentiments behind lace are presented in this exhibition.

　　The Expo and Lace

　　In the " The Expo and Lace " section, we can see that lace as a traditional handicraft often plays an important role in the World Expo, it becoming an important carrier for cultural exchange and promotion of traditional handicrafts and arts among countries around the world.

　　Lace porcelain

　　Lace can be seen in the Expo 1851 London, Expo 1862 London, Expo 1876 and Expo 1893 Chicago.

　　Sissi's fan

　　There had been many celebrities wearing lace at the World Expo, and two of the most representative female images are the famous Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth (Sissi).

　　lace dress

　　With the innovation of lace technology brought about by the industrial revolution, lace gradually got rid of the shackles of high manufacturing costs, enabling women of all classes to use this wonderful art to decorate their lives.

　　Lace has a variety of postures

　　lace dress

　　As a traditional handicraft and decorative material, lace has a rich cultural connotation and historical origin and has been constantly upgraded and innovated to meet the needs of modern fashion and changes in the market in recent years.

　　lace umbrella

　　Lace has evolved from the original dress embellishment and home decoration to the elements of high-end ready-to-wear, and stepped into the realm of contemporary installation art.

　　mallet handmade lace tool

　　The " Colorful Splendor " section displays various types of lace art works, including home textiles, clothing, accessories, etc. The audience can see the same dress in "Downton Abbey" at the scene. The silhouette of the lace evening dress is straight and low-waisted, and the stitching at the hem increases the width of the skirt, increasing the dynamic beauty of the wearer.

　　"Downton Abbey" same style lace dress

　　While preserving and passing on the traditional skills of lace, the development of lace will also focus more on digitalisation, functionality, innovation and cross-border collaboration, so that more people will understand and appreciate lace and bring more beauty and surprises to people.

　　Part of the exhibition hall

　　Visitors in the exhibition

　　The museum is a display window of culture. The curator hopes that the audience can gain a deep understanding of the history, inheritance and application behind the exquisite lace through this exhibition. From the cultural development and technological evolution, we are familiar with the lace shape different from the public perception, and we can see the various postures of lace in the past and the present.

　　Curator: Wei Xiaming

　　Curator: Zhao Fan

　　Art of Threads, Glamour in Lace

　　Time: June 2 to August 27, 2023

　　Venue: Temporary Exhibition Hall 1, World Expo Museum

　　Curators: Wei Xiaming, Zhao Fan

　　Ticket price: free

　　Text: Wei Xiaming

　　Photography: Lin Qiandie

　　Editor: Katherine