Handmade is the new luxe
Change is afoot in the retail luxury world, and it's bringing back some good old-fashioned values. From conspicuous consumption and the steroidal demand for logos on everything, we're seeing the return to handcrafted artisanal luxe.
Demand for these products has surged in recent years. Perhaps this change is spurred by mass production, which has driven many consumers to seek products with a story, steeped in heritage, unique products that resonate not just on a functional level, but also emotional.
Or maybe it's the challenging economic times we live in, when more value is placed on quality over quantity.
Or perhaps it's a reaction to fast fashion as more consumers question the provenance of brands after developing awareness of the manufacturing process and the sustainability and ethical practices of fashion. Handmade is not just your grandma's Christmas cardigans - it's the new luxe.
In step with the zeitgeist, this September Lane Crawford is debuting its Krafted I curated collection of handcrafted designer accessories from around the world. Starting in Hong Kong, it will move to Lane Crawford Shanghai and Beijing.
This first exhibition of seasonal presentations will feature products from 11 designers. These include Italian footwear from Alberto Fasciani; cashmere scarves from Mumbai designer Janavi; exquisite leather bags from Moreau, Paris; jewellery from eco-friendly New York brand, Maiyet; and handmade sandals in luxurious leathers from Alvaro Gonzalez, the Florentine design director of Valextra.
Internationally renowned architect and designer of Lane Crawford's IFC retail space, Yabu Pushelberg, will also be debuting a small collection of Brazilian wood furniture.
Kim Bui Kollar, director of fashion and special projects for Pedder Group, the accessories arm of the Lane Crawford Joyce Group, says the project "is the journey of a genuine and artisanal approach to design, where there is a story behind each product and how and where it is made".
Design collections were pored over and whittled down to a selection of products that resonated with the team for their beauty, design and materials.
"We looked in different parts of the world for designers who were doing specific things in their area. They were not necessarily as widely known as the designers we work with in our portfolio," says Kollar.
We looked for designers who were doing very specific things in their area
Available exclusively to Lane Crawford, Maiyet will be presenting a collection of jewellery that includes cuffs from Indonesia, rings from Colombia and bangles from Africa. "They're really going into areas that specialise in working with a certain material or technique," explains Kollar.
Handwoven with a couture-like approach, Janavi, who has produced cashmere blankets for Hermès and scarves for Chanel, will be showing blankets and scarves made of the finest cashmere from India, including a commissioned design available only at Lane Crawford.
A small selection of hand-buffed and hand-stitched bags will be available from French brand, Moreau, known for its luxury travel items.
The designers embody the spirit of artisanal tradition and quality craftsmanship," says Kollar. "Because the products are handcrafted they can't be produced in large quantities. For me, that adds to the appeal.
"Fashion luxury is all about being in the know and having something that not everyone has," says Kollar. "It's something that's understated. That's part of the spirit of the Krafted collection."
