London’s little, big & fancy luxuries, London Craft Week. With London Craft Week takes place in May delivering its luxurious niceties, exhibitions, workshops and uncovering the lid on the finer sides of luxury existence we thought it would be a good occasion to delve into the emotional side of what living as a gentleman and a lady brings one.
The niceties of society, of social etiquette may seem very nostalgic but actually if you truly want to engage your senses and emotions this is exactly what needs to happen.
We see a lot written about the excesses of the luxury world but if you have all the money or all the power in the world what is really important apart from noble acts of kindness to society, being a loving parent or husband is to appreciate our senses. Sometimes we can have multiple senses enlightened at the same time such as the sight and smell of beautiful cuisine or the touch and look of some beautiful bedding, something I find divine.
Whichever of our senses are enriched by these beautiful aspects to luxury living they do require things to be done properly by people who know what they are doing and care for not only their craft but understand that interacting with you the recipient, in some ways to educate but mainly to create an experience, a bespoke journey that makes this yours and truly unique to you.
The cut of your cloth whether this is a napkin, a curtain, a suit or a piece of exquisite lingerie is all the same conversation, its about adding and enriching your life, letting you appreciate the niceties of precision. When you go to Claridges you feel wonderful and there is a reason why you do. It’s not about the bling bling fashion but it is about an esteemed group of people carrying on the traditions whilst moving with the times. You feel the luxuries of your surroundings that the way the table is laid, positioned, how the tea is poured, its temperature, the way the staff our dressed and how you are spoken to. Personally I feel love, passion and being looked after. My stress levels reduce, I am warm, comfortable and I can talk with my friend without having to shout and I am served by a person who has been trained and cares. This is one example but if the aesthetics of your life are important then the luxury crafts should be a good place to visit and certainly London Craft Week has some “little beauties” to coin a phrase worth a guinea or two.
Your home, your clothes, your inner wellbeing are skills and traditions that London still excels in and over the last 20 years the renaissance of luxury craft skills has also seen a commercial success. It was just last week I was reading about how Lancashire, the home of British textiles is having a significant revival in its cloth making factories with jobs and investment, something that even to me came as a surprise but a welcome one.
We have listed Gentlemans Butler runners and riders. We hope you enjoy a roaring hoot and are invigorated by the luxury creativities on offer.
Alfred Dunhill – Bespoke Leather and Tailoring at Alfred Dunhill, Bourdon House – Demos on 4th, 5th, 6th Alfred Dunhill with the last mansion in Mayfair has a perfect location for what I think is one of London’s most famous and certainly filmic tailors, part of the reason why they are so popular with the Japanese.
William & Son – Still a London business with 20 or so employees in their East London Factory
Royal School of Needlework Open Studio at Philip Colbert –
I was lucky enough to meet these ladies last year and was seriously impressed.
How to Sleep: Making Savoir Beds at The Savoy Hotel
Discover Italian Craftsmanship with Frette Bespoke
Behind the Scenes: The Art of the Vivienne Westwood Corset
Vivienne Westwood’s is such an iconic designer but more importantly as a garment the corset for ladies and gentlemen throughout the ages tells us so much about style and fashion and importantly humanity.
