Our company was founded in 1859 in Munich Germany by Rosa Klauber. The first laces sold by Klauber were hand made and the firm steadily grew until it became a leading producer of fine machine made Leavers Laces as well as a manufacturer of lingerie. The company was confiscated by The Nazis and had to be rebuilt completely in America. The U.S. firm is still family owned and the 5th and 6th generations of Klaubers are currently active. The experiences, challenges, archives and values of the past are still very much part of our success.
Klauber is recognized as an innovative and reliable supplier to both the lingerie and dress trades. Although we have always maintained partnerships with companies in other countries, our core products and technical advances are developed in house. Most of our patterns are copyrighted and based on original artwork. Klauber has a reputation for utilizing the latest machinery in a unique and creative fashion to develop new designs. More important is our focus on breakthrough techniques that advance the art of lace making. Additionally, Klauber carries probably the largest inventory of greigh and finished colors in the industry to respond to our customers rapidly changing needs. Our global production and warehousing base is diversified to ensure uninterrupted service and competitive price points in today's challenging environment.
The most profound changes in our industry will remain the globalization of production and sales, coupled with computerization and rapid communication. This has created an enormous outpouring of designs. Although our libraries and inventory are massive and provide “one stop shopping” our goal is quality not quantity. The lessons we have learned since 1859 will be respected because, although technology and design must evolve, the bedrock value and ethics that have been passed through the generations are what our customers can count on.
Thank you for your support and we will work tirelessly to deserve it.
Leavers
The laces we feel are most beautiful are the genuine Leavers, crafted in one of the only mills in the world, still in existence.
This factory is in New England and staffed by weavers or as they are more accurately called, Twist hands. This refers to
the unique manner in which the patterns are formed. Extremely fine threads are wound around brass bobbins that are then inserted into
thousands of steel carriages which swing back and forth and twist around the threads coming off beams. The patterning mechanism is a
Jacquard card system which employs numerous punched holes that allow a varying number of metal droppers to fall through the holes.
This is a form of computer that was invented in the early 1800s and still produces the most beautiful laces today. Leavers laces
have a handmade and dimensional quality that make them unique. There are thousands of cards needed to form a typical lace as well as
approximately 18,000 total threads.
The Leavers machine has the capacity to run patterns ranging from heavy crochet Cluny looks to the lightest Chantillies.
It can also run stretch laces with complex yarn systems producing an unusual, tonal appearance, when dyed. The looms themselves
are massive, tipping the scales at 34,000 pounds. They are close to 10 feet tall and occupy floor space of 500 square feet,
not including the required, and considerable, auxiliary equipment.
The crew that operates and maintains these machines are highly skilled and most come from families that have learned the art of lace
making over generations. The laces are produced and finished entirely in The U.S.A. and exported worldwide.
We are very proud and honored to bring them to you.