Point d'Alençon lace is a needlepoint lace, unique in the world, entirely handmade with thread that was once linen and today Egyptian cotton. Seven to fifteen hours of work are required to craft a piece the size of a postage stamp, depending on the complexity of the design. As for the complete mastery of the Point d'Alençon technique, it requires six to seven years of training. The finesse and prestige of the pieces of openwork textile that it allows create contrast with the simplicity of its production equipment (a thread and a needle) but justify the duration of the apprenticeship.