The TRENDSstation
FASHION ACCESSORIES FORECASTING
Around the world, the beauty and cultural wisdom of age-old craftsmanship is on the verge of extinction. Highly-skilled craftsmen and women have become an endangered species as more young people have chosen other career options. This, and the proliferation of mechanised, globalised production has brought many traditional, craft-based businesses to their knees. Those that remain are often small, family-run enterprises, without the financial resources to attract and develop new talent and without the skills to create sustainable business models. How can traditional craftsmanship survive in the modern world?
Introduction
Rene Caovilla is famous for its lavishly decorated evening shoes, which come with crystal or other embellishments.
The late 19th century, British artist W · Morris advocate of the "Arts and Crafts Movement” with other Europe artists. They noted that the historic traditional arts and crafts are human wisdom and valuable heritage. In the capitalist industrial production and advanced science and technology wave, the craftsmanship should be inherited and developed.
Luxury bags and shoes are evolving into exclusive, customised objects of desire that are treated with artisanal techniques, from hand-painting to stone setting. Such accessories are quickly becoming prized collectors' pieces.
Influencer
Industrial reason: Craftsmanship is usually unique and focuses on the details. Industrial production is dull while hand-making is exquisite. Although it has developed industrial, the handcrafted products are still regarded as a high-end art treasure by royalty and celebrities. So the craftsmanship targets the luxury market with the high price in nowadays. People in the pursuit of high quality of life, so craftsmanship will be a long-term trend.
Moynat's creative director, Ramesh Nair, often wonders whether proud owners of his creations are aware of all the "invisible" details that contribute to the maison's subtle luxuriousness. The French leather goods brand's signature smooth-edge finishing requires an artisan to hand-polish the leather fibre before applying a layer of paint, a process that needs repeating seven or eight times.
"Simplicity does not mean a lack of complexity," says Nair at Moynat's atelier, a few blocks from its flagship store on the bustling Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. "It highlights the workmanship, the materials used and the harmony between the different elements."
Hermès Birkins with diamond settings are hot auction items. They have set records at Christie's auctions
Moynat's signature mini vanity box. The brand's signature smooth-edge finishing requires an artisan to hand-polish the leather before applying a layer of paint, a process that needs repeating seven or eight times
In Chinene marketing: Jiang Qiong’er, the CEO of ShangXia, she said, the industry has rapid developing recently in China, so craftsmanship gradually disappears, because the young people do not want to take over with the low salary. Some of emerging brands realise the importance of protecting heritage, they try to find young people want to carry on the traditional arts and crafts.
Christie's luxury handbags and accessories auctions have set record sales for iconic bags such as Hermès' Birkin. Its Hong Kong spring sale on June 1 featured more than 300 luxury bags. Other auction houses taking luxury accessories more seriously include Sotheby's, Poly Auction and Heritage Auctions.