Bilro

The richness of Bilro lace, also known as Ceará lace, begins with the making of the instrument itself. The lace maker constructs a fabric from an extremely fine cotton thread, which takes shape on a cushion using needles made from cardeiro thorns and tucum seeds, typical Brazilian trees. The time dedicated to this craft is a time of delicacy, almost impossible to conceive in today's world. Some clothing and home pieces can take up to two months to be ready.

The Bilro lace that reaches you through the #TravessiasArtesanais and #Olê projects comes from Trairi, on the west coast of Ceará, a municipality that has up to five thousand lace makers involved in this activity. A living jewel whose permanence also depends on each of us.

The Making

The beauty of this lace begins with the first process, making the tools, which come from nature, sometimes from the backyard: the threads are wound around a wooden rod that acts as a bobbin, and at the tip of each, the seeds of another tree, the bilreiro, are placed. The cushion is sewn, and the lace pattern unfolds on it, guided by pins made from the thorns of the mandacaru, also called cardeiro, which are stuck into the cushion.

As Bilro lace is constructed in the dance guided by the agile hands of the artisans, the sound of the meeting of the seeds spreads through the space like music. A percussion, a performance, a craft of multiple beauties.

A Map of Meanings

Bilro:A wooden rod around which the thread is wound for the production of lace that bears the same name, or the seed of the bilreiro (Guarea guidonia), a native South American tree. The bilreiro seed is used in the construction of the bobbins, placed at the tip of each rod.

Almofada:A type of padded frame, usually covered with chita fabric, which serves as the base for constructing the lace. The design is placed on it, and pins are stuck into its surface to guide the movements of the bobbins.

Trairi:Trairi is a city on the west coast of Ceará. With a population of just over 56,000 inhabitants, it boasts beaches that are postcards of the state and over 5,000 Bilro lace artisans.

Rabo de rato:A narrow and simple lace, usually where children begin to learn the Bilro technique.

Mandacaru (cardeiro):The mandacaru is a cactus native to Brazil, adapted to the climatic conditions of the semi-arid region. Also known as cardeiro, the plant can reach up to six meters in height and survives droughts due to its great ability to capture and retain water.

Where We Work with Bilro