The majority of lace makers is and have always been women. Intricate fine pieces of lace could take a whole day to produce only a few centimeters. Lace is created by looping and twisting threads using a set of bobbins or a needle. All true lace is done this way. True hand made lace is also constructed separate from any woven fabric.
True lace appears to have first been made in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century.
The finest laces were made in Italy, France and Belgium. Various qualities of lace were also produced in several parts of Europe, China, India, the Philippines, and South and Central America. Laces were typically made from flax, silk, metal wrapped silk and some cotton and wool. The majority of this type of lace is made by machine today. It commonly used as trimming for wedding gowns.