Category: News

I want to stimulate my own knowledge of craft and the traditions behind today’s incredible resurgence so I’m picking four diverse opportunities to help me see more clearly…

Handmade for BBC4

This series needs extending and should in my mind become a channel in its own right.  I am going to find out how more of this remarkable tv can get made.

Social Fabric at William Morris

William Morris’ mantra is as appropriate today as always.  An opportunity to get up close with the actual blocks used to print his iconic textiles is not to be missed.

At Home Carl Hansen & Son and Mourne Textiles

The Danish refinement in upholstery is something I want to learn more about and Mourne Textiles make fabric that feels like it has come straight from the land where it is made.

James Sherwood selects his top four events

Making Behind The Royal Opera House

Every costume, wig, jewel and accessory worn on the Royal Opera House stage is made in workshops perched on top of the building. The craftsmen and women who make Tosca’s ball gowns, the White Rabbit’s waistcoats and the Queen of the Night’s diadem are world class. They bring to life the vision of the world’s greatest costume designers, they can work for opera or ballet and they have the technical skill to make masterpieces with stage presence that also perform. The opportunity to enter this wonderland and see it at work will be a privilege and a pleasure.

Tiara Making at Bentley & Skinner

Bentley & Skinner’s Piccadilly windows display a history of fine jewellery including masterpieces by Fabergé, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. But it is the tiaras that stop traffic. With the opportunity to wear a tiara ever diminishing, a shop that still puts these diamond and platinum pieces of heaven in the window encourages London to dream. I cannot think of a more enchanted evening than the invitation from Bentley & Skinner to watch a masterclass in making the most precious piece of jewellery that a woman can wear. As Anita Loose’s heroine Lorelei Lee would say, ‘I just love finding new places to wear diamonds’.

The Bespoke Shirt at Turnbull & Asser

Turnbull & Asser has crafted bespoke shirts for everyone from Cecil Beaton, Winston Churchill and Sir Alec Guinness to Terence Stamp, Michael Caine and Daniel Craig. The firm’s shirts have also been worn by fashion queens Katherine Hepburn, Bianca Jagger and Diana, Princess of Wales. Whereas a bespoke suit can be ripped, smoothed and improved over several fittings, a bespoke shirt has to be spot-on for the first fitting. Cutting bespoke shirts is an exact science. The opportunity to spend an evening with T&A bespoke director Steven Quin and a glass of Churchill’s favourite Pol Roger for a masterclass in the art of the bespoke shirt is not to be missed.

The Dinner Suit at Henry Poole

In 1865, founding father of Savile Row Henry Poole cut the prototype dinner jacket for the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) to wear for informal dinners at Sandringham. The dinner jacket is now the most formal garment an Englishman is likely to wear as evening dress. An evening in the company of Henry Poole’s Livery Department head Keith Levett and cutter Tom Pendry is at the top of my list for Craft Week not least because I will be at No. 15 Savile Row to show guests the historic ledgers in the new Archive Room including that first order by HRH in 1865 for the first dinner jacket.

Grayson Perry selects his top three events:

Bike Making at the Design Museum

Bikes are one of my passions and in the past I have embellished some of my rides (in particular for my bear, Alan Measles’, trip across Bavaria on a highly decorated Kenilworth AM1 motorcycle). This would be a great way to pick up some tips.

Social Fabric at The William Morris Gallery

I use fabric and textiles in a lot of my work and feel we are lucky to have such a wonderful resource in The William Morris Gallery. African textiles have also been a rich source of inspiration – so two reasons to head to East 17.

How to Buy: The Bespoke Suit on Savile Row

It would be interesting to investigate the tiny amount of wriggle room that men are allowed…!

Jewellery is being represented this year at London Craft Week by some of the leading craftsmen and designers that London and individuals from further afield has to offer.

Jewellery has been tainted with global marketing and mass production over the years which has overshadowed good jewellery made by our best craftsmen as a consequence. People have become more comfortable buying jewellery that looks similar rather than choosing a jewel for unique design and good craftsmanship. Jewellery is worn, it is very visual and just like the art collector, a discerning eye and an appreciation for originality is required to make a purchase that will be enjoyed and importantly will stand the test of time. The unique jewellery events during London Craft Week are a wonderful opportunity to hear from top designers and makers about what goes into making a good quality piece of jewellery. The skill of the goldsmith is in danger of being left to the history books and so its survival relies on people understanding, appreciating and ultimately demanding jewellery that has been beautifully handmade by a craftsmen, there is something quite special and magical in wearing a jewel knowing that there is not another one like it.

Philip Treacy selects his top four events

Wedgwood at the V&A

I am a craftsman myself so to have an opportunity to experience others time, care and excellence is a very exciting prospect. Wedgwood is one of the great British brands in ceramics so to see the process first hand will be fascinating.

Saddlery with the King’s Troop

I love horses and riding so to see a military saddle being made is a rare and unusual prospect.

Making behind the Royal Opera House – Lighting

Lighting is so important, I use it for my shows and there are no greater shows than those staged at the Royal Opera House.

Wang Dongling at the British Museum

I love calligraphy and to see Wang Dongling, a master of his craft at work…. need I say more? It’s a truly wonderful week to celebrate and showcase craftsmen and women from around the world.

Second Floor Studio & Arts’ Furniture Makers

Craftsmen are my celebrity and visiting artists in their studios is pure magic to me. I find it really inspiring to see where creatives work.  My studio says a lot about me and the way that I design  – I always refuse to ‘tidy’ it for photo shoots as I think seeing all the leathers, fabrics, mood boards and mad things I’ve collected  is exciting.

How to Buy: The Bespoke Suit of Savile Row

It’s safe to say I’m a little obsessed with craftsmanship, in particular with Bespoke, to the extent we have a world devoted to it, complete with onsite craftsman in workshops within our flagships. It’s our way of reconnecting the customer with how things are made. What could be better than visiting tailors in their storied environments, understanding the practices and traditions that have made this wonderful street the byword for unequalled quality, globally.

James Cropper were one of the first companies to support London Craft Week. We took the opportunity to speak to Mark Cropper, Chairman of James Cropper, to find out what makes craft so important to them.

LCW: Hi Mark, your support means a lot to London Craft Week, what encouraged you to take part?”

Mark: “Craft is really the basis of all industry – no matter how technical it has become at some point it started in craft, and that is certainly true for paper. It is about creating beautiful products of the highest quality.

LCW: In today’s digital world there’s always a distraction. As journalist India Knight recently said, “digital is killing creativity.” What are you thoughts on that?

Mark: “I really agree with that, I think without a pencil and paper nothing would happen – when you pick them up there’s no distraction, you can sketch and experiment, and really create.

At a Condé Nast Luxury event in Florence last year (April 2015) Albert Elbas of Lanvin spoke about how he had asked around his friends, among whom are many designers and artists, and found there was a general consensus that all creativity begins with a pencil and paper.”

LCW: “It certainly is the great equaliser – anyone can create a drawing or design. The idea that so many of the wonderful pieces of craft work that will be on show during London Craft Week started off as sketches on paper is rather wonderful. How else does paper play a role in the world of Craft?”

Mark: “Good paper is the secret of luxury, of packaging, wrapping, and even the label. It’s about how it feels, the way something is finished. It’s honest!”

LCW: “So paper is not just the beginning, but also the end. It’s strange to think that what the many works of art, the jewels, and all kinds of other craft works rely on for beautiful presentation is paper. It’s not just the end product though, don’t you also pay huge attention to how the paper is produced?”

Mark: “If you are sustainable in an environmental sense, you are sustainable in a business sense. Our fibres are all sourced from sustainable forests or recycling. The latter is growing all the time, not least since we developed the world’s first plant to recycle paper coffee cups. Contrary to some expectations, our recycled products are of the very highest quality.”

Very many thanks to Mark and the team at James Cropper for their support.

Three events with international makers

Karen Bit Vejle, Skandium 

Karen talks about psaligraphy, the art of drawing with scissors, and the magical stories in her work.

5 May 4.00-5.30pm, RSVP, free

More information | Book tickets  

Crafting Japan at Dartmouth House

Four of Japan’s treasured cultural traditions are brought to London for the week.

5 & 6 May, 11.00-16.00, £20 + vat

More information | Book tickets

Carl Hansen and Mourne Textiles 

Family-owned Danish furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen & Søn collaborates with family–run UK producer Mourne Textiles in a working display of weaving and upholstery making.

3 – 5 May, 9.15-18.00, Booking not necessary

More information | Book tickets

Three events by our sponsors 

Exposed Upholstery at Howe, Pimlico Road (Grosvenor Series)

Howe reveals the making of one of the company’s signature pieces, the Salon Chair, explaining its history and giving an exclusive preview into the craftsmanship behind the frame, upholstery, details and finishing.

4 May, 11.00-18.00, Booking not necessary, free

More information | Book tickets

Una Burke at The Dorchester 

Award-winning leather artisan Úna Burke, known for her designs for The Hunger Games franchise, discusses her work with Lexus. Also on show is a dress created by Úna Burke using the leather from a Lexus CT interior.

5 May, 11.00-12.00, Booking not necessary, 12 places, first come first served

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Watchmaking at Vacheron Constantin

Two Vacheron Constantin master craftsmen, a watchmaker and enameller demonstrate the skills required in fine watchmaking at their London boutique. Visitors will be able to witness the  assembling of a movement and discover the rare art of enamelling.

4-7 May, Daily slots 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-16.00, Booking necessary, free

More information | Book tickets

Three events by our strategic partners

Real to Reel by the Crafts Council 

Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival will take place on the 4 and 5 May at Picturehouse Central – each evening showing a different programme of films.

4-5 May, 18.00-21.00, Booking necessary, 125 places, free

More information | Book tickets

Crafted by Walpole at Fortnum & Mason

Curated by Peter Ting, makers from the 2016 Walpole Crafted mentoring programme including Silvia Weidenbach, Insley & Nash, Alexandra Llewellyn Designs, Eleanor Lakelin, Theresa Nguyen, Struthers London and Mark Tallowin will showcase their making process alongside a display of limited edition pieces, available to buy. Part of Fortnum’s ‘Season of Surprises’, Ettinger and Marwood will also present their work.

3-7 May, 10.00-20.00, Booking not necessary, free

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Craft Across Continents 

The Heritage Crafts Association’s conference celebrates outstanding craftsmanship in other countries as well as recognising heritage crafts and excellence in the UK, offering an opportunity to find out more about traditional skills. Speakers include Ritu Sethi from India, Eivind Falk from Norway and Britain’s Kate Malone amongst others.

7 May, 10.45-16.30, 200 places £35 for HCA members/£45 for non-members

More information | Book tickets

Three events with our Non Executive Directors 

Edmond Byrne at the New Craftsmen 

Join glass artist Edmond Byrne in conversation with The New Craftsmen’s Creative Director Catherine Lock and an architect and interior designer from Rolfe Judd for an exploration of his work, process and inspiration over afternoon tea round the table of The New Craftsmen’s new studio space.

3 May, 15.30-17.00, 12 places, £15

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Cockpit’s Jewellers

Contemporary Applied Arts critic, curator and jewellery-aholic, Corinne Julius explains the excitement of contemporary jewellery, through the work of three leading jewellers, Petra Bishai, Jo Hayes Ward and Maud Traon, all based at Cockpit Arts, Deptford.

6 May, 18.00-19.30, 15 places, £15 + vat

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Collecting Craft and the Market for Making at the Royal Academy 

Join leading art world experts and scholars for an informal panel discussion exploring the current state of craft and its market.

3 May, 18.00-20.00, Booking necessary via Royal Academy website

More information | Book tickets

Guy Salter, Founder of London Craft Week Selects his top events:

I wish I could attend everything.  With over 120 events that’s now a little tricky.  I’m particularly pleased that twenty percent of our participants are international this year.  Karen Bit Vejle is a Danish artist who cuts the most beautiful, ornate and romantic works from simple white paper, so I’ll be at her event at Skandium.  Likewise, Wang Dongling, who is recognised as one of China’s greatest living calligraphers, will be creating his monumental ‘mad’ cursive script calligraphy on the floor of the Great Court of the British Museum and is a must-see.   And of course closer to home, I’m not missing the super-talented makers who are part of the Crafted exhibition at Fortnums. And even though I have two of Eleanor Lakelin’s pieces in my library I never tire seeing more of them. Finally on Saturday I will be happily wandering along the Pimlico Road taking in all the activities. Last year I lost a memorable game of Chinese chequers to Rose Uniacke’s husband David.

I’m so pleased to be working with The Dorchester, our hotel partner for London Craft Week. I’m really looking forward to trying the new LCW Cocktail and of course eating at The Grill in-between events.