In the heart of Montmartre, Paris, there is a tall building where the lights often burn late at night. Home to a name that epitmoises French luxury better than and other. Lesage. They don't design dresses, they just embroider.
They embroider for queens and princesses, they embroider for Chanel, Dior, Schiaparelli, YSL, Lanvin and Worth. Each bead, each sequin sewn on individually and by hand.
This is the address that the great designers turn to, when fantastic embroidery is needed to make a piece shine and dazzle. Founded in 1924, the current Monsieur Lesage is over 80 years old. He says he can't sew, his skill is the interpretation of designer's dreams. When Yves Saint Laurent called him to ask for embroidery "that would look like the reflection of my chandelier against a dark rainy window", he knew where to start.
Even Monsieur Louboutin requires their services
And the really amazing news, especially to those of you who like to embroider, is that there is a Lesage school, and they run classes at all levels. So when you're next in Paris, why not do something totally off the tourist track and check in to a 3 hour beading class, in the house of a master of the craft.
Now that would make a good souvenir de Paris!
