I’m the ninth generation of my family to be in the lace trade. The Cluny Lace factory, near Nottingham, was built in the 1880s, but we had machines in Ilkeston and Long Eaton before then.

Cluny sold off its modern Raschel machines - the huge, computer-driven automatons which now make mass-produced lace a relatively cheap product across the world. And decided to rely on its old ...

In London, Mason told me, you can always spot Cluny knock-offs on the tube, lace made with the efficient raschel machines that have forced every other East Midlands lacemaker out of business.

In London, Mason told me, you can always spot Cluny knock-offs on the tube, lace made with the efficient raschel machines that have forced every other East Midlands lacemaker out of business.

Cluny sold off its modern Raschel machines - the huge, computer-driven automatons which now make mass-produced lace a relatively cheap product across the world. And decided to rely on its old ...