Fendi continues to honour handmade, traditional crafts across the world, landing in Korea and Australia this year for its ‘hand in hand’ initiative
Two unique interpretations of the beauty of sunsets come alive in the latest collaborations under Fendi’s ’hand in hand’ project. The initiative, aimed at profiling artisans who are keeping traditional production methods alive, arrives in Korea and Australia this year.
Korean artisan Kim Eun-young specialises in the traditional art of Maedeup – the craft of using a single long string to form ornamental knots in different shapes – since 1965. She translates the depth and extent of her craft into a unique rendition of the Fendi Baguette reminiscent of the sunset amongst clouds at Munsuam Hermitage in western Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do.
At first glance, what catches the eye is the colour palette – harmoniously balanced with the natural scene it depicts. Silk threads are dyed in yellowish off-white hues using acorns; the shade of apricot colour is obtained with arrowroot dye then re-dyed again in orange; ash grey is achieved by applying grey dye over the arrowroot dye.
What makes this edition stand out are the intricacies of the techniques used: mangsu is traditionally used on royal ceremonial attire in the Joseon Dynasty. Straight, cross, wave, and tree patterns are used to emphasise the mangsu shape while glossy and elastic sulsil (multiple twisted threads used as decoration at the end or around the circumference of clothing) are masterfully intertwined – a skill built up over decades of practice. This particular design uses 3,432m of fringe yarn to complete, fully showcasing the lustre of the silk threads and the resulting sturdiness from the patterned twist technique.
The finishing touches that complete the masterpiece include the peaches and plum blossoms hung from the sides, that are crafted from amber and encased in silver, then embellished with a garnet. The artisan’s mark ‘Kim Eun-Young’ and the FENDI ‘hand in hand’ logo emblazon the inside pocket.
Across the Asia-Pacific, in East Kangaloon, another collaboration honours the art of handmade with Australian textile artist Natalie Miller. Based in the Southern Highlands, Miller uses hand-dyed local Merino wool to create – without tools – vibrant tapestries inspired by the Australian landscape. She mastered the artform by spending two years at Australia’s oldest design institution, Sturt Gallery & Studios, where she learned the continuous rya knot – the technique she used in her version of the Fendi Baguette.
Here, the Australian Merino wool used was sourced from a Tasmanian farm known for its soft, luxurious texture. The wool is then processed at Nundle Woollen Mill in New South Wales, one of few mills left in Australia that mills its own wool with machines running since the early 1900s, an exemplification of the time-honoured local tradition of producing contemporary yarns using historic techniques.
Unlike Miller’s typical artworks – grand in scale and vivid in colour – a soft, muted colour palette of the Baguette was chosen to reflect the patchwork fields and golden sunsets of the Southern Highlands. The gentle shades of wool are hand-dyed over an open flame, with organic pigments found in local flora as well as the leaves and bark of the scribbly gum tree native to Australia’s east coast. The dyed wool is then left to dry over days before being set upon a swift and hand-wound into a ball. Finally, the threads are woven on the loom using a mix of traditional techniques such as tabby weaving and continuous rya knots to tassels. This edition features a buttery beige leather handle with a painted leather buckle, and silver palladium accents.
Since 2020, artisans, ateliers and workshops from Italy to USA, Japan, China, Madagascar and Scotland, have come together with the brand to give their unique take on the iconic Fendi Baguette bag. By applying local craft and techniques to its traditional handbag construction, each creation becomes a one-of-a-kind objet d’art. The initiative lives on in this year’s Korea and Australia editions, honoring time-treasured crafts and the mastery of handmade traditions.
Images courtesy of Fendi, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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