The silk industry in Lyon dates back to the 15th century. King François 1ér granted Lyon a monopoly to produce silk in France and the city became the real capital of silk. By early 17th century there were more than 10,000 silk looms in the city and the technology of weaving silk had flourished. In…
Category: Traditional crafts
Crafts: how to protect them from disappearing
For many of us, the term “craft” brings to mind something old, out-dated, maybe even kitschy. You may think of one of those touristy stalls that you see while on holidays, selling tacky wooden figures, kitchen plates with Eiffel Tower painted on them or yellow amber jewellery that you would buy for your grandmother. But…
Delvaux: the noble craftsman
A couple of years back, Delvaux was a rather unknown brand anywhere else than Belgium. Still today not many people know that Delvaux is one of the oldest leather goods companies, older than Hermès. Delvaux dates back to 1829 when Charles Delvaux started making and selling leather trunks. This was a right moment as shortly…
Manus x Machina, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Manus (hand) and machina (machine) are often seen as the opposites. It’s either one or the other. The hand-made symbolises craftsmanship, tradition, individuality, exclusivity. Machine-made is mass, fast, modern, progressive. The Industrial Revolution of XVIII-XIX centuries was one of the most important steps for the industry and society. Modern production methods replaced manual workforce and lead…