Until 1850, the clothes were made by hand. Tailors and workers made and embroidered all items of clothing, such as court dresses, under garments, etc. In the middle of the 19th century, the sewing machine changed fashion forever. It helped to ease the life of tailors and seamstresses and later, it made its way into homes.
In 2011, the temporary exhibition Handmade at the Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum showcased period clothing to visitors. It retraced the evolution of handmade through its collections.