The word "craft" is typically associated with time-honored techniques used to make pottery, weaving and woodworking.
But in recent years, the American Craft Council (ACC) has been trying to prove that craft can also be fashionable.
Its annual American Craft Council Show will showcase contemporary clothing, jewelry and accessories — as well as modern furniture and home goods — from more than 200 artisans gathered from across the United States. This year's selection of high-end wearable crafts includes everything from hand-blocked wool hats, to jewelry made from coins, to one-of-a-kind leather shoes, to handbags made from brightly dyed fur. Prices range from under $100 for select jewelry and accessories to more than $850 for a pair of hand-cobbled shoes.
Demonstrating how to incorporate these handmade pieces into attendees' wardrobes is now a key element of the event. Last year, the ACC debuted its "Style Slam" program with local stylists doling out tips on wearing handcrafted pieces for the real world.
Here are six of the most stylish vendors appearing at this year's ACC show.
Hat Make by Celina Kane
Another recent addition to the ACC show is "Hip Pop," a juried showcase of top emerging talents in the world of craft. This year's lineup includes milliner Celina Kane, whose edgy and stylish designs are inspired by geometric shapes and objects. The Minneapolis native studied in Paris and New York City under master milliners before returning to her hometown in 2015 to debut Hat Make, a collection of made-to-order, hand-finished hats. The line aims to invent new shapes and contemporize classic hat styles, such as the Quadratto, a square-shaped porkpie hat that Kane had trademarked last year. Her latest collection, "We Are Stardust," is rendered in luxe velour rabbit fur felt, trimmed with fringe, metallic studs and celestial designs embroidered in gold and silver thread. Kane said the collection is inspired by "the many ways civilizations have sought guidance and protection," including astrology, myth, healing and magic. (hatmake.com)
Artifact Bag Co. by Chris Hughes
After he lost his job as a product manager during the Great Recession, Chris Hughes realized he wanted to launch his own business. Drawing from his passion for vintage military and utilitarian designs, he founded Artifact Bag Co. with the mission of producing well-crafted, American-made goods with a lifetime guarantee. Products include tote bags, rucksacks, cross-body bags and work aprons, all made from canvas with leather detailing in Hughes' Omaha workshop. Most of Artifact Bag's products are made from domestically sourced materials, and some even incorporate dead-stock fabrics and antique hardware. But Hughes emphasizes the practicality of his designs over their vintage-inspired look. "Utility inspires my work," he said. "I want my designs to be useful and have purpose beyond aesthetic." (artifactbags.com)
Jamie Lau Designs
San Francisco-based clothing designer Jamie Lau began sewing in 2008 at the age of 25. Since then, the self-taught seamstress and pattern maker has launched her own label and co-authored a pattern-making book dedicated to vintage-modern fashions. Vintage plays a major role in Lau's playful, modern dresses, which blend 1950s- and '60s-inspired silhouettes with colorful, bold fabrics. The most distinctive aspect of Lau's designs is her fabrics, including everything from traditional Japanese prints, to luxurious brocades, to handwoven ikats from India and some of her own textile designs. (She even spent a summer living in the mountains of Kyoto, studying the art of ikat weaving.) And thanks to her easy-to-wear, flattering shapes, her vibrant fabrics easily take center stage. (jamielaudesigns.com)
