A 2009 edition devoted to Haute Couture
A dream! Haute Couture is a dream… It is the ideal point of convergence of these craftmanships of which the numerous facets
are illustrated year after year.
For our sixth birthday, our desire is to introduce the excellence of this captivating art of which we can catch some snippets on
glossy paper, season after season, gathered by photographers on the fashion shows catwalks.
Who are those people turning the dream of a Grand Couturier into a unique clothing and transforming a brilliant sketch into a
tremendous dress, spectacular by the softness of its embroideries, the incredible material fabric, the purity of its cut…
Fascinated by these Grands Couturiers, impressed by their talent that one can even see as art, we also know that the only barrier to their imagination is in the hands of the craftsmen they work with, such as weaver, dyer, textile finisher, embroiderer, ‘plumassier’, tucker, glover, lacemaker, dressmaker…
It however seems that a guiding star keeps on leading the inventive hands of these alchemists who are able to transmute the designers secret desires and give to Donkeyskin’s dresses the colours of the moon, sun or time… a time which limit would not be the light of the sky but that would also aim at our era, where the utmost sophistication of applied sciences, chemistry and physics is at the service of the most poetic dreams and the craziest textures.
Let’s then give way to these high-flying craftsmen who are the pride of the needlecraft world in France.
The future starts here…
With 200 exhibitors from France, South Africa, Germany, USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey… presenting a panorama of all the happenings and creations in the sector; with creators exhibitions showing their artworks, technically brilliant and moving by their inspirations, with sewing or knitting happenings where only the most unbridled imagination is allowed, with demonstrations of the most standard techniques as well as the most groundbreaking ones, with its master classes in embroidery, sewing and knitting, led by some of the most talented designers in France, L’Aiguille en Fête stands more than ever for the place where creativity expresses itself with no barriers, a place where trends for the year ahead will be taking shape.That’s how the exhibition-show will uncover its treasure-trove of rarities, secrets, innovations… and of happiness.
Knitting is on the ring!
The French Speed Knitting ChampionshipsFor the third consecutive year, L’Aiguille en Fête will play host to the final of the French « Speed Knitting® » championships sponsored by Phildar, which 2008 edition hosted more than 350 people from 15 different countries, each one as sharpened as the other. Indeed, the 2008 winner, Marie-Alice Morisset, literally « blew up » the score of the 2007 winner, Ariella Lécuyer, from more than 27 stitches, the score to break being now 240 garter stitches in 3 minutes, which basically means nearly 1,5 stich per second!
A contemporary choreography for the 2009 knitting trends show
After the great success of the past year Dance/show, L’Aiguille en Fête invites the wool workers to introduce their new garments in the form of a modern dancing show…
Coming directly from Great Britain, an entirely hand knitted authentic gingerbread house
A one room life-size chalet, provided with hand knitted real size objects… From the roof to the carpets, and even the oven, the table, the cutlery, the clock, the bed, the box of matches, the bunch of flowers… you will find all the comfort, knitted in this amazing gingerbread house.
L’Aiguille en Fête 2009, also presents:
An amazing needlecraft university which will gather over the course of four days more than 1 200 people across many workshops!800 sq.m gallery bringing together experienced artists and younger artists full of promises, representing the various techniques shown during the exhibition or needle art works from other continents. Thus, this year L’Aiguille en Fête will present a selection of exhibitions, among which:
The Art of Embroidery by the Yi people.
Established in China, mainly in the Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, as well as in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region, the Yi people watch their traditional culture gradually disappear. An association in Toulouse and a Yi family led by a
young Chinese lady who got married in France are fighting for the preservation of the ancestral embroidery techniques. Exhibition and workshops.
The passion of letters by Michèle Gleizer
The cinema and theatre enthusiasts know her well, as she has been passionately practising her profession of actress for more
than 30 years, from a play by Luigi Pirandello directed by Jorge Lavelli to a TV film by Josée Dayan, but also acting in the French
film “Faut que ça danse” with actors like Jean-Pierre Marielle, Sabine Azéma and Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi… However, for
embroiderers, she’s first and foremost known for being the one who has been embroidering the Soie d'Alger® like no other since
the past 20 years, telling stories through her needle her own way and giving birth to a strong, poetic and totally original work
where letters and pictures interlace, playing with our perception as if to better leading us astray. Exhibition.
The hardanger or the pleasures of openwork embroidery by Nathalie Trois
On the occasion of the publication of a book, available from « L’inédite » editor, this great expert of the hardanger will exhibit her
works and give workshops of this technique which nowadays arouses a real passion.
Patchworks “in the wild” by the France Patchwork guild
On the occasion of the launch of the 100th issue of its magazine, the famous guild has asked its members to create patchworks
representing the most important moments of the newspaper history…
more than 20 stands for the « Découvertes de L’Aiguille en Fête » only, allowing young talents, unrecognized creators, new boutiques, etc, to exhibit at a reduced price and make themselves known to a general public eager for novelty;
the « Allée de la Soie », also called « expression de soie » (silk expression) by famous company “Le Ver à soie” will bring together in a common space a good many boutiques and designers who all share the same passion for this precious threas. A competition, a silk rally and an exhibition will be organised by “le Ver à Soie”.
the opportunity for publishing companies to launch their novelties… Therefore, this year, « Les Editions de Saxe » publishing company will take the opportunity to introduce the Bible of Letters written by Valérie Lejeune, a huge book of no less than 700 pages (which could easily find its place in the Guinness World Records!) which should become THE reference book as far as cross stitch embroidery letters are concerned.