ebooks Creative Thursday: Everyday inspiration to grow your creative practice by Marisa Anne Cummings in Arts-Photography

Description

In todayrsquo;s world of fast fashion; is there a place for a handcrafted $50;000 coat? When journalist Meg Lukens Noonan learned of an unthinkably expensive; entirely handcrafted overcoat that a fourth-generation tailor had made for one of his longtime clients; she set off on an adventure to understand its provenance; and from that impulse unspooled rich and colorful stories about its components; the centuries-old bespoke industry and its traditions; and the master craftsmen whose trade is an art form. In The Coat Route; Noonan pieces together the creation of the coat in question; tracing its elements to their far-flung sources; from the remote mountains of Peru; where villagers shear vicunasmdash;whose soft fleece is more coveted and rare than the finest cashmeremdash;to the fabulous Florentine headquarters of Stefano Ricci; the worldrsquo;s greatest silk designer; from the family-owned French fabric house Dormeuil; founded in 1842; which drapes kings; presidents; and movie stars to the 150-year-old English button-making firm that creates the ne plus ultra of fasteners out of Indian water-buffalo horn and the workshop of the master hand engraver who makes the eighteen-karat gold plaque that hangs inside the coatrsquo;s collar. We meet the dapper son-in-law of an Australian wine baron who commissions the coatrsquo;s creation; and we come to know John Cutler; one of the top bespoke tailors in the world; who works his magic with scissors and thread out of his Sydney shop; redolent of cedar and English wool. Featuring a cast of offbeat; obsessed; and wildly entertaining characters; The Coat Route presents a rich tapestry of local masters; individual artisans; and family-owned companies that have stood against the tide of mass consumerism. As Noonan comes to realize; these craftsmen; some of whom find themselves on the brink of retirement with no obvious successors; have increasing reason to believe that their way is the best waymdash;best for their customers; best for the environment; and best for the quality of life of all involved. The Coat Route is a love song to things of lasting value.Praise for The Coat Route ldquo;A spirited tour of fashion history . . . The Coat Route compels us to remember that behind every garment is a deep history and a pair of human handsmdash;whether those hands stitched the dressrsquo;s hem or pulled a lever that stringed together that $30 must-have jacket.rdquo;mdash;The Wall Street Journal ldquo;Delightful . . . The Coat Route celebrates those who work with their hands; creating something beautiful and lasting.rdquo;mdash;The Seattle Times ldquo;[Meg Lukens Noonanrsquo;s] exploration of the business of fashion is fascinating and thorough; and her examination of bespoke goods redefines the words luxury and obsession.rdquo;mdash;The Daily Beast ldquo;Traditions of bespoke tailoring (and other related crafts) are skirting the edge of extinction. Noonanrsquo;s delightful story makes us hope they endure.rdquo;mdash;Publishers Weeklyldquo;A fabulous story; brilliantly told . . . I couldnrsquo;t have enjoyed it more.rdquo;mdash;Bill Bryson ldquo;As captivating as any mystery or thriller; The Coat Route demystifies the rarefied universe of bespoke tailoring and provides a lens into the culture that covets it. It educates and inspires. I couldnrsquo;t put it down!rdquo;mdash;Tim GunnFrom the Hardcover edition.