Homo Faber. Fashion Inside and Out

DISCOVER THE ARTISANAL TALENT INSPIRING THE CONTEMPORARY FASHION INDUSTRY 

Fashion designers are often in the limelight, but most of us are unaware which talented craftsmen and women helped bring their designs to life. Here, curator and exhibition-maker Judith Clark puts the spotlight squarely on the master artisans whose skills are so crucial to contemporary fashion. Taking craftsmanship as her inspiration and drawing on her personal experience of the industry, Clark shows the importance of collaboration between designers and artisans, the transformative power of the hand on raw materials and the vital role of craftsmanship both in fashion itself and the way it is exhibited. 

Craftsmanship as a muse 

TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES INSPIRE CONTEMPORARY DESIGN 

Fashion may be constantly reinventing itself but contemporary designers still draw inspiration from long-held artisanal techniques. Embossing, pleating, weaving, goldsmithing… when harnessed by designers these traditional skills don’t have to be nostalgic, but can lead to innovative and impactful new pieces, as shown by Naomi Filmer’s wearable jewellery sculptures and Dai Rees’ use of embossed leather for hats and skirts. 

Images courtesy of  Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice. Photos by Marco Kesseler.