London Craft Week – Putting craftsmanship centre stage of the world’s creative Capital
If you have a proclivity towards craftsmanship – the art of how things are designed and who makes them – there is no finer place to be this week than London Craft Week.
Supported by the oldest continuously operating Swiss watchmaking company Vacheron Constantin, a name synonymous with unwavering quality and distinguished dexterity, this inaugural annual event set across numerous locations within the Capital celebrates and showcases exceptional craftsmanship, from unknown makers to the revered masters at the roots of the world’s most luxurious brands.
The aim is to dig beneath the surface of static objects and brand-led fashion and design, and meet the brawn and brains behind them – the unfamiliarity behind the familiar. At the London Craft Week one can observe a watchmaker hand-engrave a stunning timepiece; watch Takahura Osako stitch leather belts; learn of the art of gunmaking with James Purdey & Sons; and witness the extraordinary design and creativity that goes into the manufacture of a Rolls-Royce.
Cars, guns, watches and leather goods all hold a unique beauty in their own right, but to appreciate and understand the skill, time and effort that goes into their creation is to truly learn of their quality and value. Craftsmanship, although all too easily superseded in today’s frenetic machine-led world, still flows through the veins of production – in Vacheron Constantin’s case, this year celebrates 260 years of uninterrupted watchmaking.
That Vacheron have pulled so many names of notoriety together is truly special, affording a platform for raw talent that until now has been largely confined to the shadows. It promises to be a wonderful and hugely insightful five-day event. Don’t miss it!
From Weds 6 – Sun 10 May, To book or see a list of exhibitors, visit www.londoncraftweek.com
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