Bespoke Living Interiors & Design

The Rise of the New Craftsmen

Crafts, once deemed the opposite of cool and covetable, have become the driving force behind the “new new age” of contemporary interior design

Time was when crafts were the preserve of the local community center or a kindly (read: penny-pinching) relative at Christmas. But in a world grown tired of identikit interiors, designers of luxury homewares are reconnecting with the power of the handmade. From elaborate hand-stitched cushions to textiles and rugs woven in the loom by hand, buyers are becoming increasingly concerned with the backstory behind their bespoke interior objects. This renewed interest in provenance is driving the rebirth of artisanal manufacturing, inspiring designers to strike out on their own.

According to the US Census Bureau, more than 75 percent of US manufacturing firms employ 20 or fewer employees. These artisan businesses may never match up to the global supply chains of their corporate competitors, but neither do they want to. Their aim is to customize their wares for a more quality-sensitive customer.

The result is an ever-increasing variety of unique interiors perfect for fashioning a truly original home with a bucketful of character. Here, we round up the best of the new breed of craftspeople.

The New Craftsmen
United by a shared love of people and beautifully made things, Mark Henderson, Natalie Melton, and Catherine Lock are joint founders of The New Craftsmen in London’s Mayfair. The atelier showcases the work of craftsmen and women who all excel in their field. “The mission of the company was borne out of a desire to shine a light on some of the finest craftsmen in Britain,” says Henderson, who was previously chairman of Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes.

At The New Craftsmen you’ll find beautiful homewares from around the British Isles, from handwoven throws and chunky whisky tumblers made in London, to handblocked wallpaper from Dorset, and benches made on Orkney. The atelier also has a dedicated area for developing bespoke orders, where “Makers’ Drawers” act as mini portfolios of materials and inspiration for whatever it is you’re looking to commission, be it unique tableware, a chair, or a cabinet.

Banner image: The New Craftsmen represents over 75 British makers of various disciplines, including ceramics, silverware, jewelry, furniture, and glassware. Pictured above is the latest line of minimalist ceramic tableware created by Stuart Carey and available through The New Craftesmen. Photographs courtesy of The New Craftsmen
Banner image: The New Craftsmen represents over 75 British makers of various disciplines, including ceramics, silverware, jewelry, furniture, and glassware. Pictured above is the latest line of minimalist ceramic tableware created by Stuart Carey and available through The New Craftesmen. Photographs courtesy of The New Craftsmen

And while you’re in Mayfair, why not join the Connaught Hotel on one of its “What Is Luxury” guided walks. Upcoming walks include “What Is Luxury: Craft” (October 6), “What Is Luxury: Bespoke” (November 3), and “What Is Luxury: Service – 5-star Hotels & Restaurants (December 8). Walks cost £125 ($193) and end in the Connaught’s Coburg Bar with a cocktail created specially to resonate with the theme of the day. 

Jude Cassidy
This award-winning textile designer has rejuvenated the traditional Irish craft of hand weaving with her signature collection of hand-woven textiles, including cushions, throws, and rugs.

All of Jude's design are handmade, using traditional techniques that guarantee each product is unique. Photograph courtesy of Jude Cassidy
All of Jude's design are handmade, using traditional techniques that guarantee each product is unique. Photograph courtesy of Jude Cassidy

Cassidy studied textile design at The Glasgow School of Art before establishing her reputation in design firms throughout London, Paris, and Thailand. She still draws inspiration from her travels, particularly the dramatic Haussmannian architecture of 1860s Paris. Her lavish yarns are sourced through regular trips to Europe, where she scouts out only the best.

She now runs her own brand from Belfast, Ireland, where she designs an annual collection on her 150-year-old loom. With such dedication to her craft, it’s no surprise she’s attracted the attention of five-star boutique hotels and luxury homeowners from around the world.

Jude uses the architecture of the many cities she's visited and lived in to inspire her designs. Photograph courtesy of Jude Cassidy
Jude uses the architecture of the many cities she's visited and lived in to inspire her designs. Photograph courtesy of Jude Cassidy

Of course, the true secret to her success lies in her simple philosophy: that fabric should not only feel good but beg to be touched.
www.judecassidy.com

Emma Geddes
Geddes founded her company, Aamos Designs, in 2006, fresh out of The Glasgow School of Art. Since then, she’s busily scribbled and stitched from her studio in Scalloway, Shetland, producing a covetable collection of 100 percent merino lambswool scarves.

Geddes’s traditional techniques, paired with luxurious materials, have taken Aamos Designs from strength to strength. But no matter how busy things get, she refuses to compromise on quality – at her busiest she’ll produce just three scarves per day.

An example of Emma's intricate, handwoven scarf designs. Photograph: Leanne Macleod
An example of Emma's intricate, handwoven scarf designs. Photograph: Leanne Macleod

Every year Geddes expands her range, constantly experimenting with new colors and treatments. Favorites include a diamond-patterned “honey scarf” and the “mermaid’s purse scarf” – a slightly wider design with a distinctive weave structure.

Outside of her studio, which has recently moved to Burra, Emma works part-time as a lecturer at Shetland College, teaching students how to weave and work with color, pattern, and design.
www.aamosdesigns.com

Tara Chapas
Weaving has always been in Chapas’s blood. She was first introduced to the craft by her great-grandmother as part of a family tradition originating from the island of Evoia, Greece.

Chapas cut her teeth at Syracuse University before embarking on a professional career in San Francisco. Photograph: Trel Brock
Chapas cut her teeth at Syracuse University before embarking on a professional career in San Francisco. Photograph: Trel Brock

Great-grandma’s lessons clearly made an impression, and Chapas went on to study textile design at Syracuse University. From there, she embarked on a career in San Francisco, managing a staff of weavers to design and produce handcrafted carpets on Swedish rug looms. Her next career move took her to the bright lights of New York, where she would later found her own company, Chapas Textiles, in 2008.

Collaboration is at the heart of this Brooklyn-based design studio, which aims to provide a platform for interior designers and textile artisans to work with each other.

"We had an unspoken bond over making fabric," says Chapas of her relationship with her great-grandmother. It was through her that Chapas's early passion for handweaving and geometric design first took root. Photograph courtesy of Tara Chapas
"We had an unspoken bond over making fabric," says Chapas of her relationship with her great-grandmother. It was through her that Chapas's early passion for handweaving and geometric design first took root. Photograph courtesy of Tara Chapas

Chapas approaches every commission as a blank canvas, offering clients an infinite range of color and design options. For her, design is not about creating a single product, but rather a concept that can be adapted to anything.
www.chapastextiles.com