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‘Made by Hands of Britain’, an online marketplace which unites the best of Britain’s artisans and craftsmen under one virtual roof, has launched. The website aims to showcase the heritage, traditions and today’s interpretations of British art and craftsmanship.
The site features a wide range of specialist items and services including art and sculpture, interior furniture and accessories, garden structures and ornaments, food and drink, clothing, stained glass and architectural metalwork.
“British craftsmanship is one of our most important heritages and it has always been and will always be associated with excellence”, says Gillian Montegrande, founder of Made by Hands of Britain. “The website aims to champion and promote those people who have the care, passion, dedication and skill to make a product or provide a service by hand, from concept to completion, producing something that is unique in style and of the finest quality.”
The online marketplace will also cater to rising demand for ‘value-centred’ items from today’s more thoughtful and discerning consumers. Recent research by the Crafts Council (2010) reports that the British craft market now stands at 26.5 million current and potential buyers or 63% of the adult population of England.
Made by Hands of Britain has already attracted over 150 specialist artists and craftspeople who will market their products and services through the site.
Commenting on his reason for joining, Stephen Charlton, artist and sculptor said: “I often work in isolation so it’s important to me to be part of a wider community of artisans who have a shared set of values and aspirations when it comes to producing and promoting our craft to the outside world. For Made by Hands of Britain to champion British craftsmanship I feel is not only enterprising, but also as a long-term investment and commitment to artists who sometimes struggle to find a voice in what can be a very noisy environment.” (charltonsculpture.co.uk)
Sue Greenstreet, a couturier from Greater Manchester said: "I have been looking for a suitable website through which to show my work for several years now. With Made by Hands of Britain I am joining a community of artisans who are passionate about traditional workmanship and using the best raw materials.”
About Made by Hands of Britain
Made by Hands of Britain (madebyhandsofbritain.com) is an online marketplace dedicated to showcasing and championing the heritage, traditions and today’s interpretations of British craftsmanship. It aims to provide the ultimate British Art and Craft resource for those who produce things by hand and for those who value and want to browse, buy and enjoy the very best in handmade.
The site already features over 150 artists and craftspeople under categories including Rural & Heritage Crafts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Building & Conservation, Health & Beauty, Pets & Livestock, Learning & Supplies, Clothing, Accessories and Jewellery and Leisure Sports and Boatbuilding.
Made by Hands of Britain is not just about promoting existing skills and talent, it is also about finding, encouraging and nurturing future hand makers and processes by providing, through a Learning Zone, comprehensive resources and information about workshops and courses available throughout the British Isles, to ensure the perpetuation and vitality of the Handmaking Industry so that those, who as a result of redundancy or merely a desire for a change of career/lifestyle, may benefit from a knowledge share from the more skilled and experienced.
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