More clarity and balance - with this in mind, KARL MAYER's textile specialists developed a lace last year that is characterized by an extremely precise and distinct appearance. The elaborate look is created by a filigree pattern and the utmost symmetry of the design elements. The name of the innovation is accordingly Symm-Net.

Opposing patterning for greater clarity

The new MJ 92/1 B Multibar Jacquard Raschel machine is used to produce Symm-Net. Equipped with a separately retractable jacquard bar, this newcomer can work not only in the same direction but also in the opposite direction and, moreover, with elastane filling in the two basic bars, also in the opposite direction.

The possibilities of this configuration were exploited in a first sample last year. Symm-Net was launched with an elastic lace tape for lingerie, in which a reverse weft lay was combined with a fringe lay and the two elastane bars with separate feed mirrored the movement of the jacquard bars.

The lingerie article was very well received on the market. Several of the newcomer machines have already been ordered by the end of 2022.

Inelastic Symm-Net pattern with fine jacquard structures

Just in time for the start of the year, KARL MAYER pushed ahead with its Symm-Net developments. Lace expert Jamie Heather created an inelastic pattern for outerwear, relying on a dainty Chantilly-style design, and was spot on.

"Especially for designs with small holes and fine net structures, Symm-Net plays off the advantages of precise drawing," explains the creative. Demand for light lace and especially Chantilly looks is just growing, Jamie Heather sums up after his visit to Interfilière in Paris in January. Many manufacturers showed complex designs, clip patterns and classic Chantilly designs in new ways at the leading trade show. Patterns with metallic yarns are particularly popular.

For the new Symm-Net lace, Jamie Heather used typical Chantilly yarns - polyamide and 15% cotton for the motif fillings - and used them to produce stringent geometric patterns on the MJ 92/1 B gauge. Three-meter-long stripes are created on the stitch, which are then separated by hand. "The goods show how symmetrical Chantilly can be, and symmetry is Symm-Net's strength," says the lace expert, describing his design approach.

Further developments are underway

The new, inelastic Symm-Net patterns bring pizzazz to garments with their clear signature, for example as collars, cuffs or insterts, and also attracted attention at Interfilière.

"The customers to whom I showed the lace were immediately struck by the visual clarity of the fine net structures," says Jamie Heather. Encouraged by the positive response, he is already working on further Symm-Net developments, including a clip pattern.