"We are clearly in a period of fighting to keep this industry alive," says Christophe Machu, co-manager of Solstiss. Calais-Caudry lace, prized by the world's top designers, has benefited from a geographical indication (GI) since February to protect it from counterfeiting, but this has not stopped the decline in activity in the industry, which fears it could disappear. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES