Grayson Perry Opens London Craft Week
Last night, Wednesday 6th May 2015, Grayson Perry opened London Craft Week at the V&A Museum. Makers rubbed shoulders with leading creatives, influencers, Captains of industry, editors and directors from the art, design, culture, food, luxury, fashion, media and government, whilst admiring maker demonstrations from London Craft Week’s public programme that started today.
Zoe Bradley from Walpole British Luxury’s Crafted programme, Vacheron Constantin’s watch engraver, Emma Yeo from Cockpit Arts and Davide Taub (bespoke tailor and Head Cutter) at Gieves & Hawkes, demonstrated their expert skills in paper sculpting, watchmaking, millinery and contemporary tailoring (hand sewing and pattern making) respectively and guests also enjoyed a private view of the V&A’s ‘What is Luxury?’ exhibition.
Grayson Perry opened the evening saying, ‘I am officially this evening’s liability but in all seriousness it is my enormous pleasure to be invited to launch London Craft Week. This is a great moment acknowledging that craft is woven into many parts of our lives. It is the place where we connect with the materials all around us. Craftsman working with their hands are relevant to modern life and encompass so many businesses from tailors and jewellers to car manufacturers and joiners, ensuring that Craft isn’t some sort of nostalgic thing’.
Key artists, designers and chefs who attended the evening included Grayson Perry (artist), Tom Dixon (designer), Mark Hix (chef), Rupert Sanderson (fashion designer), Edmund de Waal (artist), Jay Osgerby (designer), Richard Wilson (artist), Valentine Warner (chef), Kirstie Allsop (presenter), Ozwald Boateng OBE (designer) and Roja Dove (perfumer). Notable names from the fashion, art, cultural, media and luxury disciplines as well as famous faces, who celebrated the week’s opening and enjoyed the demonstrations ranged from Sol Campbell (footballer), Sir Peter Bazalgette (Chair of Arts Council England), Charles Saumarez Smith (Royal Academy), Penelope Wilton (actress), Amanda Berry (CEO Bafta), Kate Hobhouse (Chairman of Fortnum & Mason), Lady Carole Bamford (Daylesford), Jo Malone (entrepreneur), Kit Kemp (Firmdale Hotels), Enrique Loewe Lynch (President Loewe), Peter Williams (founder Jack Wills), Peter York (commentator) and Stephen Bayley (commentator).
