Use case 8 focuses on one of the world’s most important collections of European lace and embroidery, housed at the Textile Museum St. Gallen. Spanning from the 14th to the 20th century, it includes delicate handmade pieces, machine embroidery from Switzerland’s textile industry, and iconic objects from the Iklé and Jacoby collections. 

Artefacts range from tiny lace fragments to complex costume components and oversized decorative textiles. Many are translucent, textured, and executed with fine monochrome threads, making them difficult to study, digitise, or interpret visually. 

TEXTaiLES applies Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), 3D modelling, and automated scanning, including UAVs for large-scale objects, to digitally preserve structure, texture, and shape. These technologies enable rich online access, enhance research, and support long-term conservation of fragile and historically significant lace heritage.