Showcasing the craftsmanship behind
the creation of luxury pieces
See how craft skills and traditions are handed down through the generations
How do craft traditions inform contemporary decorative techniques? This fascinating exhibition showcases the crafts heritage evident in the creation of contemporary luxury objects, from watches and jewellery to leather goods, fine tailoring, kimonos and much more. Observe master artisans from 15 luxury maisons working live in studio spaces, demonstrating the steps necessary to create unique pieces, and understand how specific traditions, handed down from generation to generation, inform how these masters work today. Around the artisans, beautifully crafted wall panels and specially made floor tiles reflect the heritage of each craft and its tools, while iconic objects illustrate the origins of each maison’s decorative style, as well as Japan’s influence on European artisans.
Alaia
Couture sculptureA dialogue between Azzedine Alaïa, the maison’s founder, celebrated as the last couturier, and Pieter Mulier, the new creative director. A dialogue devoted to the craft, the cut, the body and the fabric, and a shared fascination with how fabric interacts with the human body. In an endless quest for perfection, Alaïa’s renowned ateliers sculpt leather as though it were silk and transform knitwear and poplin into structured armour.
A. Lange & Söhne
EngravingEngraving is the crowning signature of every single watch of A. Lange & Söhne. The accomplished engravers master several techniques such as the tremblage. But what makes every timepiece unique is the engraving of the balance cock which is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback.
Aquaflor
PerfumeryIn artisanal perfumery, the perfumer’s task is to transform singular essences into an original and attractive olfactory combination, respecting and exalting their qualities. Creating a fragrance is both an art and a science, and at the same time is a result of years of studying, continuous research and a great deal of passion and creativity.
Buccellati
Fine silversmithingHammering, engraving, chiselling and embossing are precious silversmithing techniques which require top quality artisanal skills and passion for the job. Hours and hours of meticulous handcrafting result in magnificently refined silver centrepieces, enhanced by the renowned Buccellati creativity.
Cartier
GlypticsCartier celebrates glyptics – the art of gem carving – through a piece specially created for Homo Faber Event. A tribute to Japan and to cherry blossoms, the box carved in opal is adorned with a detachable bracelet and brooch. The design also features jewellery and straw marquetry, two metiers distinctive of the maison’s savoir-faire.
Chiso
Yūzen KimonoYūzen is a 17th century Japanese resist dyeing technique involving the application of rice paste to fabric to prevent the colour transfer of dye to certain areas. A complex process, there are over 20 steps to complete. The method creates vibrant and delicate colours, which, coupled with exquisite design, bring the beauty of Kyo-yuzen to life.
Dolce&Gabbana
Alta SartoriaSynonymous with uniqueness, creativity and style, Dolce&Gabbana Alta Sartoria is a great celebration of the Italian tailoring tradition combined with a revival of the most refined handcrafted and decorative techniques. Shapes, artistic inspiration and attention to the most precious details make each garment an authentic work of art.
Hermès
The 'velours au sabre' technique (velvet cut)This rare technique is used to create a velvet motif on a piece of fabric. Working by hand on double warp duchess satin, the artisan delicately cuts the uppermost satin surface with a sabre blade. This results in a beautiful velvet pattern adorning an exceptional piece of fabric.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
WatchmakingThe Atmos 568 by Marc Newson celebrates the simplicity of an ingenious watchmaking mechanism. Each of its 211 components is designed, manufactured and assembled by hand. Under a Baccarat crystal globe of absolute purity, the clock seems to float in the air, as if suspended. In a chromatic harmony of blue and silver-grey, it embodies Swiss watchmaking expertise and the mastery of precision.
Maison Lemarié
Feathers, flowers, couture sewing and pleatingFeathers, flowers, couture sewing, pleating: four exceptional savoir-faire mastered by Lemarié. In the heart of its Parisian ateliers, the feathers are dyed, then refined, cut, glued and curled. Camellias come in an infinite variety of colours, while smocking, ruching, quilting, inlays, ruffles, origami and other 3D motifs form unprecedented fabrics. Finally, precious cardboard moulds are used to create delicate pleats by the pleater Lognon, now under the tutelage of Lemarié.
Piaget
Gold craftingSince 1960, Piaget has developed a unique mastery of gold engraving which has become one of the maison’s trademarks. The engraver cuts the gold by hand, making grooves of varying depths and thicknesses. In this way, he creates a decorative pattern, surface effects and light reflections, making each ornamental engraving unique.
Serapian
Mosaico leathergoods craftingWhen Stefano Serapian brought Mosaico to life in 1947, he created a specialty so unique that it would become one of the maison's hallmarks. Strips of lamb nappa are delicately handwoven together by expert craftsmen to create an eye-catching graphic pattern that is a true emblem of the maison’s virtuosity and of the Made in Italy tradition.
Vacheron Constantin in partnership with The Musée du Louvre
Watchmaking and métiers d'artThe métiers d’art are endowed with the unique gift of creating emotion. The master craftsmen of both institutions have a talent that no machine could ever replace. Telling extraordinary stories are the feats accomplished by these masters.
Van Cleef & Arpels
JewellerySince its foundation in 1906 in Paris’s Place Vendôme, Van Cleef & Arpels has stood out for its High Jewellery savoir-faire. Illustrating its artisans’ ingenuity, the Zip necklace reinterprets the zip fastener in gold and precious stones and can be turned into a bracelet.
YOOX NET A PORTER GROUP & The Prince’s Foundation
Responsible luxury garment makingThrough The Modern Artisan programme, trainee artisans from the UK and Italy develop a range of skills from responsible design methods to natural luxury fabric handling, high-end construction methods and specialised handcrafting techniques to make luxury garments to last a lifetime and beyond.
Judith Clark
