Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it is luxurious. As someone who has always appreciated the quality and craftsmanship of a product, along with the exceptional service it comes with, I have started questioning the meaning of modern world luxury.
At one point in time, luxury meant creating something beautiful and it relied on limitations of production and the value of rarity and scarcity. Unfortunately, the true essence of luxury is {almost} lost in the modern world. The globalization of luxury means that even the so-called luxury brands have cut down the quality and started overproducing goods in a race to boost profit. The ubiquitous luxury goods, which were once a true piece of art have been reduced to machine-made items, often made in China, with no focus on craftsmanship. You’re paying more for something that’s not exclusive (for example the current trending luxury bag’s ubiquity is almost sickening to me sometimes), is inferior quality and often not sustainably produced.
So essentially, when you’re buying something from a luxury brand, instead of quality and workmanship, all you’re really paying for is the brand’s logo. That makes no sense.
In contrast, traditional artisanship is entirely authentic. I would like to call it the “true luxury” because it focuses on craftsmanship not status symbol, it believes in exclusivity not mass-production, and it embodies ethics not exploitation.
A beautifully made handcrafted piece offers something special, in the same way as haute couture, where garments are considered as investments on an economic and emotional level, inherently extending the product lifetime. It’s beautiful, rare and sustainable – unlike most luxury goods we spend our hard-earned money on in today’s times.
Fortunately, while in a world where a lot of emphases is placed on fancy labels, a new breed of niche brands are making a mark in the fashion world that is raising the bar on luxury with their focus on quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
Meet the bag brand that is proving its social and ethical credentials through supporting artisan communities in South America, reviving traditional artisan techniques, and using sustainable cruelty-free materials for beautiful designs – No Name Just People (NNJP). Founded by Hanna Lee and Athina Gallego, NNJP is a social project where fashion, culture and art intersect.
The brand empowers the artisan community by working directly with them and innovating their techniques. In fact, even the profits from each collection are redirected to these communities for their upliftment and for the betterment of their craft. Fashion that’s ethical, exquisite and noble!
While all the bags in their collection are gorgeous, I particularly love the Kamoni style – the pyramid-shaped bag that is a symbol of the sun (worshipped by artisans’ ancestors). The designer dedicated the design to honor their culture and traditions and to keep them alive through these bags.
Each of these beautiful bags is exquisitely crafted by artisans in a small town of Usiacuri in Columbia. This pyramid bag, just like the brand’s whole collection, brings together two culture and is made with a natural palm called Iraza. The bag mixes artisanal and contemporary design and each piece takes 4 entire days to be created.
Now, that’s what I call true luxury. I think these bags are a little piece of art as they require so much technique and skills to come to life.
The beauty, heritage, and craftsmanship of this bag cannot be compared to the mass-produced goods that’s marketed in the name of luxury. The later is no match for these ethically crafted pieces of art. There are many niche brands like NNJP, that are bringing the focusing on creating exquisite pieces.
Fortunately, many designers are also collaborating with artisans with an aim to create something truly unique, while also focusing on the development of these communities as part of their CSR initiative or ethical values. Brands like Edun and Urban Zen (by Donna Karan) are good examples of this.
The good news is, through brands like No Name Just People and growing sophistication in taste from more educated and mindful consumers, true luxury is catching up again. This luxury is about having a good taste, as opposed to wearing a status label. It’s about appreciating the craftsmanship and acknowledging the value of something that’s truly exquisite while making this world a better place!
Next time you reach out for an (omnipresent) luxury handbag (or any other luxury goods), think about – (a) how it was made, (b) who made it and were they paid fairly, (c) where was it produced (in a factory or handcrafted), and most importantly (d) what materials were used in the making of that bag {or any other piece of luxury good you’re purchasing}. Then objectively decide for yourself if this piece truly a luxury item or just an inferior produced well-marketed for me to get lured and spend my dough on.
Let’s re-evaluate our fashion choices, and redefine the meaning of luxury that goes beyond any status label yet emanates “luxury” through its story and craftsmanship.
