Craft’s Path to the Luxury Market: Sustaining Cultures and Communities Along the Way

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the value and place of traditional craft in the luxury market. We argue that craft embodies a unique combination of skill with a deeper expression of human values that transcend culture, time, and space. While couture designers have often used craft artisans to produce their lines, we argue that the craftsmen themselves can also have a pathway to the luxury market, thus contributing to a shorter and more sustainable footprint. If luxury is defined as something that is of high quality, limited quantity, creative, and rater—then indeed, traditional craft qualifies.