London Craft Week is back for 2021, and this year it’s a hybrid of amazing digital and in-person events.
From the 4th - 10th of October, London Craft Week will be bringing together over 250 established and emerging craftspeople, designers and brands, to showcase the best of British craft.
The week of events takes place in studios, galleries and stores across London (and online), and ranges from watch making, mending, embroidery, gun finishing and cocktail making workshops to tasting events, exquisite exhibitions and talks from the UK’s leading craftspeople and brands.
Phew! There is certainly a lot of great events for you to choose from, so we have narrowed down the search a bit for you and pieced together a selection of 10 events to take part in this week.
1. LOEWE meets master of Ikebana: Sofu Teshigahara
What?
LOEWE are celebrating the launch of their Botanical Rainbow fragrances by honouring the avant-garde work of Sofu Teshigahara (1900 – 1979), "whose sculptural creations revolutionised the practice, reach and relevance of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging".
LOEWE has also invited the master of Teshigahara’s Sogetsu Ikebana School to exhibit his incredible style in "several breath-taking floral arrangements" at the CASA LOEWE LONDON store.
Where? 41 New Bond St, W1S 2SQ
When? 4th - 9th October, 11:00 - 18:00 and 10th October, 12:00 - 18:00
How much? £0.00
2. The Makers Tales: Collective Celebrating The Beauty of Imperfection
What?
The Makers Tales Collective "presents a lively discussion led by The World of Interiors‘ Grace McCloud, exploring the human element of the making process and how it embraces beauty through imperfection." The talk is a celebration of the stories behind each of its members’ artisan designs for interiors, revealing how the spirit of encouragement and collaboration runs through every textile, sculpture and paper creation.”
Where?
56 Barkston Gardens, SW5 0EL
When?
Talk - 6 October 2021, 11:00 - 12:30
Open house - 6 October 2021, 13:30 - 14:15, 14:30 - 15:15, 15:30 - 16:15, 16:30 - 17:15
How much?
Booking necessary - Talk £10, Open-House Free
3. Adire Cloth Masterclass with Abiola Onabule at the V&A Museum
What?
Surrounded by the impressive cultural craftsmanship of the V&A, Fashion Designer Abiola Onabule hosts a workshop in which she shares the "techniques and meanings ingrained into adire cloth made by Yoruba dyers in South Western Nigeria". Participants in the workshop have the opportunity to engage in learning practical techniques as well as learn more about Nigerian textile heritage.
Where?
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
When?
10 October 2021, 10:30 - 16:30
How much?
£100
4. Clare Pentlow – In Search Of Takumi: Paper
What?
Clare Pentlow's demonstrating will both inspire you, and open your mind to the possibilities of paper. Clare uses hand cutting and folding techniques to embrace the "versatile qualities of strength and fragility whilst challenging perceptions, transforming it from something ordinary to extraordinary".
When?
5th October 2021, 13:30 - 16:00
Where?
The Stables, Entrances on both 40 Earlham St, WC2H9LH and 25 Shelton St, WC2H 9LH
How much?
£0.00
5. Making Leather Jewellery with Tania Clark Hall
What?
Award-winning jeweller Tania Clarke Hall is well known for her bold and sculptural designs that she handcrafts from Italian leather in her London studio.
During Tania's workshop participants will learn how to make a beautiful leather cuff inspired by the architecture of medieval Cairo, something that Tania is currently researching as part of a project teaching jewellery making to women in Cairo.
When?
10th October 2021, 14:00 - 17:00
Where?
The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, EC4A 3DE
How much?
£38.32
6. Lines of Possibility: Taiwanese Rush Weaving, Exhibition by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan
What?
Curated especially for London Craft Week 2021, “Lines of Possibilities: Taiwanese Rush Weaving” will take from the practice’s origins 300 years ago, to recent industry innovations in the industry, and the revival of rush weaving by a younger generation of talented artisans, who have returned to the crafts birthplace of Yuanli, and sparked a renewed interest in the industry.
When?
4th to 10th October 2021, 11:00 - 18:00
Where?
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street
How much?
£0
7. The Art of Hand Cutting Leather with Crockett & Jones
What?
Visit the Crockett and Jones factory in Northampton and watch as one of their skilled artisans demonstrates the art of hand cutting leather, known as ‘clicking’.
London Craft Week explains that "the word ‘clicker’ derives from the ‘click’ sound made when the knife is removed from the leather. Anyone who has been trained over many years in this traditional skill is known as a ‘clicker’.”
When?
8th to 9th October 2021, 10:00 - 18:00
Where?
92 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6JE
How much?
£0.00 - Booking not necessary
8. Meet The Maker: Demonstration Weekend at The Barbican
What?
Artists Jamie Temple and Daniela Rubino will be located in the Barbican shop and will be giving demonstrations of their work in-store. Be inspired by Jamies's process of creating large-scale abstracted landscape-inspired prints with printed lino blocks and painted textures, and marvel as Daniela takes you through the process of making her terrazzo-effect items using Eco Resin.
When?
9th to 10th October 2021, 11:00 - 16:00
Where?
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
How much?
£0.00 - Booking not necessary
9. An Insight Into Contemporary Korean Craft – Online Talk
What?
The Korea Association of Art and Design's specialist members, joined by the V&A’s curator of Korean art, present an online talk on Korean crafts and their status within the international scene.
"The talk focuses on both makers and theorists, many of whom have been finalists in the Loewe Craft Prize."
Coincidentally, London Craft Week takes place at a similar time to Craft Week in Korea. London Craft Week explains that the "Korea Association of Art and Design hopes that a stronger bond between the two cultures and the two craft weeks can be established through this initiative.”
When?
5 October 2021, 11:00 - 13:00
Where?
How much?
£0.00
10. TOAST Presents Stories Through Stitches
What?
If you prefer a more tactile, hands on approach to craft, join lifestyle brand TOAST and artist Rosalind Wyatt to explore the concept of rewilding and contribute to a communal mixed-media collage. TOAST wants to encourage "a slower and more thoughtful way of life" and believes in "supporting and sustaining traditional textile techniques and craftsmanship".
Artist Rosalind Wyatt, who has worked with calligraphy and textiles for over 20 years, helps participants to create their own unique piece for the collage, "employing poetry, words, texture, colour and pattern inspired by the natural world around them". Whatever the individual contribution and it's medium, be that paper or fabric, painted, stitched or drawn it will become part of the final piece to be exhibited at the end of London Craft Week.
When?
Exhibition – 4th-9th October, 10:00 - 18:00 and 10th October, 11:00 - 17:00
Workshop: 4th,5th and 8th October, 12:00 - 17:00 and 6th-7th October, 14:00 - 19:00
Where?
TOAST, 25–26 Dering Street, W1S 1AT
How much?
£0.00 - Booking not necessary
Final Words...
You can discover plenty more events, demonstrations and talks on the London Craft Week site.
Also, remember to join us on the 4th of October at 7pm on Instagram Live for our Craft-Along workshop event!
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