From Cornish hedge weaving and canal barge painting to smithing arrows and making musical bows, some traditional British crafts are at risk of disappearing for ever, according to the Heritage Crafts organisation. Its experts have added 17 skills to a "red list" of those in danger of extinction — and five of them are critically endangered, meaning they are at “significant risk of not being practised within the next generation”. The charity attributes this to a perfect storm of factors, including the cost of materials (the price of silk rose sharply during the pandemic) and Brexit uncertainty. It wants governments to take action.
Luckily, many people still practise crafts, and some of them even have websites. Among them is crochet designer Clairebellemakes, who has an aesthetically pleasing blog and e-commerce store, selling kits for all manner of creations. Her patterns combine whimsy with practicality, and her 'how-to' posts include detailed photos to help beginners learn their way.
Another expert to watch is hat maker Karen Harvey MBE, who opened We Are Hoos in 2016 with the aim of promoting heritage crafts, particularly those practised by women. The store stocks a heady mix of Scandinavian design favourites and work by contemporary craft makers, such as Glasgow ceramicist Tokes Sharif. Its London gallery also hosts regular workshops.
While the Crafts from the UK and Crafts Movement was born out of a desire to revive traditional methods and materials, it also had political overtones. The designers, who included Morris, were largely socialists and advocated a fair pay for artisans. Some of them, like the architects Ernest Gimson and Philip Webb, set up communities where their members lived and worked together. They also forged relationships with shops such as Morris & Co, Heal's and Liberty, which helped them spread their ideas to the general public.
In the UK, these links between makers and retailers have been strengthened by a growing appreciation for the handmade. This has been bolstered by the success of online stores such as Etsy, where the founders believe there is strength in numbers for small-scale designers and the merits of work standing for itself rather than relying on advertising.
Despite the challenges facing some of the nation's oldest crafters, a number of crafts have seen a revival in popularity in recent years. Origami, for example, has seen a spike in sales at John Lewis and Paperchase, and a raft of new DIY books are being released by hobby craft stores to capitalise on this renewed interest. Meanwhile, sewing has returned as one of the hottest trends in 2023 with many people now motivated to make their own clothes, refashion old ones or recycle fabric into new accessories. There are also new kits for a range of crafts from needlepoint and lace to embroidery and papier-mache. All you need is a bit of imagination and a willingness to get stuck in.
No comments:
Post a Comment