PARIS, Nov 26, 2004/ FW/ --- Lace producers from the Lille and the Calais region held a major press conference to highlight the area’s important and strategic place in the lace business. At the press conference, designer Alphonse Sene was presented as the chosen couturier-spokesman to promote the luxury product to the world.

"Alphonse is a talented designer and we are happy to work with him", says Martine Fause, curator of the Musée de la Dentelle. "Through his work, we are working to promote the use, the technical quality and savoire-faire of the Calais/Lille lace industry and to promote the creation of jobs linked to it. The city of Lille and the Musée de la Dentelle are the crossroads of our united efforts."

The region's lace producers mean business about their place in the privileged sector. They even brought out Jack Lang, the popular and ever-present former French minister of culture and of education, to punctuate the importance.

Sene is ecstatic about his new position in the lace lector.

"I love this material because it is great. Calais is the capital of this material”, he said to Fashion Windows during the press conference.

“Debra Milner helped me to enter the court of the 'grands'. I worked on materials with her for Philip Treacy. Thanks to Debra, I was also able to work on items for John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. "

Sene wasted no time in justifying the confidence that the region's lace producers have in him. For the occasion, he created a delicate, beautiful and daring collection made from several technically different kinds of lace and replete with pleats.

The collection has a wide range of looks appropriate from society mothers to debutants.

As I am one for detail, it would be utterly remiss of me to not speak about Sene's wedding dress. Created in an antique lace dating to 1880, it incarnates the stuff that inspires little girls to want to grow up and become brides.

Alphonse was gracious enough to allow me put this wonder through a scrutiny that rivals a senate confirmation hearing. I walked away with only the best impressions about his skill as a designer and confident that the lace industry is in safe and able hands.