Alençon lace is made entirely by hand, from bottom to top, on canvas-lined and perforated parchment. The lacemaker holds the parchment in her left hand while performing particularly complicated stitches with the other. Alençon's has been called the queen of lace since the Universal Exhibition in London in 1851. Previously, all kings of France since Louis XIV adorned their collars and sleeves with this fabric, renowned for its beauty. The tradition continues today through a collaboration of innovative artists such as Paul-Armand Gette, Pierrette Bloch, or Christian Jaccard.