Ettinger, Floris, Edward Green, Johnstons of Elgin and Jack Barclay Bentley are hosting "Craft Behind British Luxury" Open Day at Chelsea Barracks during London Craft Week 2021.
Five British luxury brands - Ettinger leather accessories and bags, Floris perfumers, Edward Green shoes, Johnston's of Elgin cashmere and fine woollens and Jack Barclay Bentley, the oldest Bentley dealership - are taking part in this year's London Craft Week (4-10th October) with an Open Day on Wednesday 6th October as part of the Luxury British Craftmanship Pavilion at Chelsea Barracks*.
The development, which already champions creative excellence internally and externally, is celebrating outstanding British and international creativity throughout the week by becoming a destination for a series of events, thought provoking discussions and panel talks.
The joint brand day, called "Craft Behind British Luxury", will include each brand's craftspeople demonstrating specific and individual skills. The guests will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with each brand's products and ask questions about the making process. The event is free and there is no need to book to see demonstrations by the five brands, you are welcome to simply visit during the opening times.
The Q&A Panel Talk starts at 4pm. Each brand's representatives will be discussing British craftsmanship and manufacturing, and the talk will be moderated by the British brand expert, David Evans, aka The Grey Fox Blog. The Panel Talk is free, but due to limited places we ask you to book your tickets using the link below.
When: Wednesday 6th October, 09:30 - 17:45 (Panel Talk 16:00-17:00)
Where: The Luxury British Craftsmanship Pavilion, The Garrison Suite, Chelsea Barracks, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8BG
Fees: The event is free. Please book complimentary tickets for the Panel Talk.
Established by Gerry Ettinger in London in 1934, Ettinger designs and manufactures a wide range of accessories and bags at its factory in Walsall. During the Open Day, Ettinger will be showcasing a variety of their most popular accessories and their newest Capra Ecru Collection. An Ettinger craftsperson will be demonstrating how the newest Capra Ecru nine compartment Stud & Jewellery Box is made from beginning to end. They will also be personalising their popular Bridle Hide leather bookmarks with initials for guests to take away as a complimentary gift. At 4pm Robert Ettinger, CEO of Ettinger, will be discussing craftsmanship in Britain during the Panel Talk alongside Floris, Edward Green, Johnstons of Elgin and Jack Barclay Bentley. Robert entered the family business in 1980 and took over the reins from his father, Gerry Ettinger 26 years ago in 1995.
Floris was founded in 1730 by Minorquian Juan Famenias Floris in the elegant quarter of London’s St. James‘s and today offers a range of fragrances which are the cornerstone of British perfumery through history. With roots in scent creation, Floris the collection includes a wide range of men’s, women’s, bath and body, grooming and home fragrance. All made in Britain combining exquisite ingredients sourced from around the world. The original Floris shop was opened at 89 Jermyn Street and remains the heart of the business and is still run by descendants today, including Edward Bodenham who is Perfumery Director at Floris and 9th generation family member. After spending several years studying the outside world of perfumery, Edward followed in the steps of his forefathers and joined his father at Floris, where for over 25 years he has assisted in running the business and has helped creating fragrances for a new generation of Floris customers.
Scottish brand Johnstons of Elgin has designed and manufactured beautiful cashmere and fine woollen products for over 220 years with sustainability at the heart of everything they do. During the day Creative Director, Alan Scott will be talking through the AW collection showcasing how Johnstons of Elgin blend generations of craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology to produce exquisite product, designed to last a lifetime. We will also be showcasing the new Highgrove scarf designed for HRH Prince Charles, combining the Prince of Wales check and an original Shepherds check from our archives. Alan Scott will be joining the panel discussion to talk about the generations of craftsmanship that Johnstons have nurtured, whilst investing in cutting-edge technology, to remain at the forefront of textile manufacturing.
Jack Barclay Bentley, operated by the H.R. Owen Group was established in 1927, and has occupied an iconic location on Mayfair’s Berkeley Square ever since. Jack Barclay Bentley and members of the Bentley Motors team will be showcasing the meticulous craft that goes into creating some of the fastest and most luxurious vehicles in the world. Each Bentley steering wheel, for example, is stitched by hand, using 10 metres of thread and 620 separate stitches, while all woodwork is cured for 72 hours, then sanded and lacquered five separate times. Finding wood of a high enough quality in the first place will see a Bentley Wood Specialist examining 25,000 sq/m of veneer before settling on a suitable example.
Edward Green established his shoe-making workshop in Northampton in 1890 with a commitment to ‘making the finest shoes, without compromise.’ Today we stay true to our craft tradition, making shoes, which exemplify quality and quintessentially English style. Alongside iconic dress shoes, we will be showcasing new styles created for an age when the boundaries of formal and informal, work and home are increasingly blurred. Boots and shoes cut from our newly introduced waxed suede have a clean understated utilitarian style. Our signature hand-sewn Dover lends itself well to the current trend of artfully mixing blazers and trousers. A cordwainer will be with us at the Barracks, demonstrating the art of hand-sewing with a boar bristle, an ancient technique used in the making of the Dover and other split-toe styles.
Out of public reach for over 150 years, Chelsea Barracks is situated on a 12.8-acre site. Today, the land is being transformed into one of the world’s most desirable addresses. The new development will be an entirely new and prestigious neighbourhood in London, that connects seamlessly with the surrounding streets of Belgravia. Developed by Qatari Diar Europe, Chelsea Barracks will comprise a rare collection of apartments, penthouses, mews and townhouses as well as an unparalleled array of amenities including: restaurants, shops, sports facilities, state-of-the-art health club and spa. Five acres (40%) of previously concealed land will be opened up to create beautifully landscaped public green space, with seven traditional garden squares. Chelsea Barracks will partake in this year's London Craft Week (4 – 10 October 2021) by becoming a destination for a series of events, thought provoking discussions and panels hosted by the industry's tastemakers within its Luxury British Craftsmanship Pavilion. The development which already champions creative excellence internally and externally through working with the most esteemed British architects, landscape artists and interior designers, will celebrate outstanding British and international creativity throughout the week. More information on Chelsea Barracks: www.chelseabarracks.com
If you would like to attend or have any questions, please email us at info@ettinger.co.uk