Italy’s leading luxury brand FENDI’s “hand in hand” project uses local crafts to reinterpret the Baguette designed in 1997 by artistic director Silvia Venturini Fendi. It commissions different ateliers and workshops to produce real ornaments with artistic value. In these one-of-a-kind creations, the great value of ancient handmade abilities and techniques is brought together.
A grassroots partnership project between Fendi and local artists across the globe, including the United States, Japan, China, Madagascar, and Scotland, arrived in Korea in 2024. The name “Hand in Hand” refers to the meeting of the artisans of Fendi and the hands of the artisans of each region who bring unique collaborations to life. This time, Fendi is collaborating with Kim Eun-young, a local artisan who has been making “Maedeup,” a traditional craft of making decorative knots by tying and fastening a single long string into various shapes in Korea, since 1965.
The colours and techniques give the bag a unique finish. Inspired by a cloud-shrouded sunset seen from the Munsuam Hermitage in western Goseong County in South Gyeongsang Province, the natural and unique color palette combines dyed silk threads with natural or artificial materials. The yellowish off-white color is made from acorns, and the apricot color is made from arrowroot, and its unique color is achieved after several dyeing. Ash gray is reminiscent of a traditional Korean sunset scene and is dyed gray after dyeing with arrowroot to visually harmonize without destroying the contrast with nature.
In terms of technique, it incorporates the “mangsu“, which was traditionally used to decorate the ceremonial costumes of kings and queens during the Joseon Dynasty. Certain patterns, such as straight lines, crosses, waves, and trees, perfectly emphasize the shape. It takes artisans more than 30 years to become skilled, and they use a complex combination of shiny, stretchy “sulsil” (multiple layers of twisted yarn used to decorate the edges and surroundings of clothing). With 3,432 meters of fringed yarn, the bag is enhanced by the discreet brilliance of silk braided into a traditional pattern.
The accessories that decorate the bag characterize this “baguette”. The amber hanging from the side knots is carved with peaches, symbolizing longevity, and plum blossoms which symbolize elegance, and dignity. It is also fitted with a bright red hemispherical garnet, encased in a silver-plated capsule. The front of the bag is fitted with a gold-plated metal buckle and the central insert is made entirely of Baltic amber, all handmade. The handle and various details are made of matching lizard leather, and the inner pocket is engraved with the Kim Eun-young and Fendi “Hand in Hand” logos.
“Hand in hand” is an important step for Fendi to pay tribute to the artisans who continue to carry on traditional production methods to the present day. Fendi believes in the talent and passion of artisans who are trying to preserve ancient handmade techniques on a more widespread and global scale than ever before.
About Kim Eun-young
Kim Eun-young, a South Korea-based maedeup artisan, has been acclaimed for his skills in decorative braiding for decades. Born in 1942, she majored in interior decoration at Ewha Womans University, paving her way into the world of art. After graduating, she read an article about the Maedeup craftsman in a newspaper and decided to learn the way, which was the beginning of her journey to braiding. The fact that she enrolled in graduate school in her mid-40s to study dyeing also shows her deep passion for the craft. Thirty years later, in 1995, she held her first solo exhibition, and her skills became widely known, and in 1996 she was called “the 13th master of braiding in Seoul.” Since then, she has held exhibitions at various museums around the world, including Rome, Paris, and Kyoto, and has been making braids for nearly 60 years. Maedeup requires an astonishing amount of skill and technique, but Eun-young shows through her work the potential that braiding can naturally incorporate into modern everyday life. Her passion for braiding has led to her work being seen by people around the world, and her passion continues to hone her technique. In 1984, he was appointed vice chairman of the Korea Maedeup Research Institute, and in 1997 she was appointed president of the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Center.
Images: Fendi Japan K.K.
