The Paris Apprenticeship Show was held in early February. It was a huge success. It appeared that the current most attractive crafts are patisserie and leathercraft. Anyone surprised? The attraction for the first might have something to do with the cooking TV shows and their handsome chefs. The attraction for the second is the proof that people want to have their say in the fashion world without having to master all its difficult know-how. To make accessories seems to be easier, funnier and more quickly rewarding.

The media also speak about how ceramics went from being a cheesy hippie activity to being cherished by celebrities and how a lot of women – there are still very few men – find in this craft much more than a means of expression. They see it as a genuine connection with realness. The holy grail of our time… Almost a therapy. On Instagram, the #Ceramics hashtag has received more than 4 million posts.

These new interests are not just hobbies but potential future businesses for those who carry them out. Crafters also expect self-fulfillment. A symbolic compensation, a necessary balance to “the social network”, its virtual relationships and fake news. Hand-making also means rediscovering the lost pleasure of « making ». It’s claiming a piece of the world at a time of growing standardization. It’s an ode to difference as each production carries its own character. It’s also a way of responding to the obsessive question of traceability. And finally, it’s experiencing a new perception of time. Time for apprenticeship and patience – in order to evolve. Time for drying and baking – to get the desired result. Time for history, too – as it gives the feeling of being connected to traditions and yesterday’s know-how and gestures.

Some will say the Maker Movement is the expression of a desire for truth. Indeed, it’s impossible to cheat, to pretend that everything’s all right when it’s not, because the slightest mistake, an inaccurate dosing or a lack of precision will always show. At the end. Patience and modesty are back.