T
Bordal showcased the contemporary potential of Madeira Embroidery in Hungary last May as part of the 23rd International Lace Exhibition organized by the Halasi Lace Foundation.
The participation included an exhibition that went beyond the presentation of embroidery pieces themselves, incorporating explanations of the production process, images of the factory, and a corporate video. The initiative sought to highlight the living nature of the craft and the artisans behind it.
“The exhibition allowed us to show the Hungarian public the authenticity of our factory and our manual know-how,” Bordal stated on its website, emphasizing that the event provided an opportunity to reaffirm its position as an ambassador of Portuguese textile culture.
During the event, Bordal also had the opportunity to present the Natureza Vestida em Fio (“Nature Dressed in Thread”) collection, inspired by Madeira’s natural elements, including flowers, forests, and the sea. The same fashion show also featured creations in Halasi lace by Hungarian designer Tünder, creating a dialogue between two distinct textile traditions and demonstrating the potential for cultural exchange through craftsmanship and design.
The exhibition was organized by the Halasi Lace Foundation, an institution dedicated to preserving and promoting one of Hungary’s most distinctive lace-making traditions.
As an interesting historical note, the Embassy of Hungary in Lisbon highlighted on social media a historical connection between Madeira and Halasi lace linked to Charles IV. According to the embassy, the Kiskunhalas Lace Museum displays a lace handbag created as a wedding gift for the coronation of Charles IV and Queen Zita in 1916. The last King of Hungary spent the final months of his life on the island of Madeira, where he died in 1922, creating an unexpected historical link between the Portuguese archipelago and one of Hungary’s most celebrated textile traditions.