Good things take time. Great things take even longer, which are early lessons learned from children’s stories about cocky hares and hard-working hens. In luxury goods a piece that is handmade, while time consuming, garners our splurge because it meets our standards.
Chez M’Lain works with over 200 artisans who have learned their hand skills over time.
It is hard to imagine hand loomed pieces lost as a result of a machine’s ability to replicate the production process like groceries checked from a self-scanner. That our children will only know of genuine embroidery or crafted items from paintings they learn in Art History. While the world has become clever and efficient, those who value real versus machine made are also likely attuned to vegetables being pulled from natural soil or wrinkles treated with French creams over a surgeon’s intrusion on our natural appearance. We don’t want to compromise quality whether it be something we eat, use or how we look. Such is the calling of Chez M’Lain designer Amelia Fendell.
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- Masters create their art, which takes time for quality.
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- The raw materials are of the highest standard- they must be in order to be part of the equation of quality.
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- There are machines that can produce embroidery and weaving but they do not have the splendor of the human hand.
“We are living in an interesting time,” says Amelia. “Technology has enhanced most experiences and unequivocally created a demand for immediate gratification. Whether it be quick information, a quick view of product, a quick ship item–the world has shifted into a fast gear that has created demands for fast response.”
Enjoying life at a slower pace with fine things that are handmade adds to the experience. It is these little luxuries, which make the difference between an occasion and a celebration.
In choosing pieces you want to live with, decorative items do not follow the assembly line process of making a sandwich. “Chez M’Lain does not operate at the same speed. We are in a much slower gear, a careful and conscious gear that celebrates the time honored skills of craftsmanship and quality material,” says Amelia.
Why Handmade Makes A Difference
- The cost may be higher but the value is greater. It’s a sensible purchase that will outlive trends and endure.
- There is a singular appeal to the item that adds a quality look to your home and style.
- You are contributing to the art form of handmade and keeping craftspeople at work.
The tension of a craftsperson’s draw or pull on the thread, the cloth or loom, is the unique fingerprints of the artisan. They give each piece their individuality and a uniqueness of its own.
Today’s consumers can identify dozens of logos and where to get them fast. The educated consumer is wearier to click and proceed to checkout until they truly identify with the product’s worth. “Basically, I spend on quality not quantity,” says Amelia. “I am not swayed by designer logos and brands because having worked in the industry for so many years I know the defining difference that long lasting quality comes from the designer’s choice to choose the finest materials and utilize superior craftsmanship. I know good things take time and I am prepared to wait for quality,” she says.
