Straight answers from the mill that embroiders the lace.
The lace
What is African lace?
African lace is embroidered lace worn across West Africa, above all in Nigeria and Ghana, for weddings, burials, birthdays and church. Most of it is embroidered on schiffli machines — traditionally in Austria and Switzerland, today also in Asia. The main types are guipure (cord lace), Swiss voile, organza lace and tulle (net) lace.
What is guipure lace, and is it the same as cord lace?
In the Nigerian market the two names are used for the same family. Guipure has no net ground: the motifs are joined by embroidered bars and outlined with a raised cord, so the cloth is heavy and sculptural. It is the statement lace for the celebrant and close family. Many buyers in Lagos call it “dry lace”.
What is Swiss voile lace?
Swiss voile is fine cotton voile embroidered on a schiffli frame, often with punched eyelets. It is light and matte, which makes it the daytime lace for church, naming ceremonies and for men’s agbada and kaftans. On its own, “swiss lace” often means wig lace — the fabric is called Swiss voile lace.
What is organza lace?
Organza lace is embroidery on sheer organza. It floats, catches light and is used for evening gowns, overskirts, sleeves and capes. Our ẸBÍ dessin runs the same embroidery on organza and on Swiss voile, so a family can match in two fabrics.
What is tulle (net) lace?
Tulle lace is embroidery on a fine net ground, often with beads, sequins or glitter. The pattern seems to float on the skin — the evening and celebrant lace.
How can I tell embroidered lace from a printed copy?
Turn it over. Embroidery has a back side: the satin stitch sits on the ground and you can feel the thread. A print is flat. Every OLORI parcel also carries a certificate stamped by the mill.
Buying and yardage
How many yards of lace do I need?
Five yards make one standard outfit (blouse and wrapper, or a gown). Plan 7 yards if the gele and ipele should match, and 10 yards for men in agbada. One OLORI length is 5 yards (about 4.57 m), 130 cm wide, cut in one piece. In the shop you order whole 5-yard lengths.
How do I order aso ebi for a group?
Order the total lengths of one dessin in one colour and send us your order number with the split, for example “40 yards as 8 × 5”. Everything is cut from the same bolt. From 10 lengths (50 yards) the price per yard drops. See aso-ebi orders.
Can I see the colour before I order?
Yes. Write to us and we post cuttings of the colours you are deciding between.
Shipping and payment
Do you ship to Nigeria, Ghana, the UK and the US?
Yes, tracked. Order to door, including 2–4 working days for cutting and packing: UK 5–9 working days, USA and Canada 7–14, Lagos and Accra 8–18, EU 4–9. Outside the EU, import duties and import VAT are paid by you at delivery. Details on shipping and payment.
How can I pay?
Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Maestro), PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and eps at checkout. Bank transfer on request.
Care
How do I wash African lace?
Hand wash cold or dry clean — guipure prefers dry cleaning. No bleach, no soaking, no wringing. Dry flat in the shade, iron on low heat from the back with a cotton cloth between, and store rolled, not folded.
About OLORI
Who makes OLORI lace?
OLORI is the direct label of Stickerei Sükün e.U., a family embroidery mill in Lustenau, Austria, embroidering since 1999. The town of Lustenau has embroidered lace for the West African trade since the 1960s. Read more about the mill.