As we all crave (if not actually achieve) digital detox, craft has an increasingly important place in our lives. Endless screen time has resulted in a generation in need of finding something meaningful to do with their hands than swipe left or right. And even if you don’t necessarily want to spend hours learning to weave, knit or bind your own books, you will be interested in finding out about the processes and techniques used by some of our favourite designers and makers.
Well, you are in the right place because London Craft Week launches tomorrow (May 3-7) with hundreds of events, talks and demonstrations from learning about making beauty products using seaweed by Margate company Haeckels at the Ace Hotel (May 3-5 10-5.30, booking not necessary) to a conversation on craft with Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson at Liberty (4 May 5.30, booking necessary). Here we highlight a few events that might inspire you to get involved.
For the whole glorious calendar of events, go to www.londoncraftweek.com.
Hostem Presents Tropidelico by CristaSeya
Wednesday 3 - Sunday 7 May, 11am - 5pm at The New Road Residence, 33 New Road, E1 1HE; booking not necessary.
Why? Because we are curious to see Hostem’s New Road Residence which will be open showcasing furniture and interiors by Faye Toogood, Max Lamb, Lino Bo Bardi and also a collection of jugs from CristaSeya finished by a series of artists alongside ‘Anaphi’, a selection of garments from their Edition #08 for Spring Summer
Mackintosh - Making a Mackintosh
Photo by Matthew Mumford
Thursday 4 May; Demonostration 11am - 4pm; booking not necessary. Talk 12.30-1pm; booking necessary, £8+VAT.
Why? Because we can’t wait to learn how a Mackintosh is made at this workshop hosted by some of the unseen heroes of this great British company, Factory Manager Scott Sheridan and Coat Making Manager John Mcguire. They will demonstrate and talk about traditional making techniques and modern production methods.
Sunspel - Reuse & Reconstruct – Textile Art with Sunspel
Thursday 4th May 6-9pm a at the Sunspel store, 13-15 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PG; booking not necessary, free.
Why? Because we love a bit of recycling and Sunspel will host a Q&A with textile artist Katherine May to discuss the process of reconstructing leftover fabrics using quilting techniques to produce textile art. Suspel’s English cotton jersey is still knitted and dyed locally in Leicester. Textile artist Katherine May visited their midlands factory to make a selection of their fabric to craft a wall hanging to be displayed during London Craft Week in their Chiltern Street store.
Katherine is an artist, designer and researcher who traces the threads that weave together textiles and society.
Shaun Leane on Alexander McQueen
Thursday 4 May 7 - 9pm at the Sarabande Foundation, 22 Hertford Road, Haggerston N1 5SH; booking necessary, free.
Why? Because Shaun Leane has 17 years worth of stories about collaborating with Lee Alexander McQueen on some of the most extraordinary feats of jewellery and accessory making. He will also introduce the work of the young jewellery designers he is mentoring at the Sarabande Foundation and guests will be able to see their work in progress in their studios.
Text by Tamsin Blanchard