Handmade In Singapore: Meet The Artisans Keeping Traditional Crafts Alive | Singapore Hour

Key Concepts:

• Bespoke craftsmanship
• Wood reclamation (Khaya, Raintree, Angsana)
• Traditional bookbinding
• Letterpress printing
• Ceramics production (wedging, throwing, glaze mixing, firing)
• Preservation of traditional crafts
• Local materials and production
• Handmade vs. mass-produced

Roger&Sons: Bespoke Woodworking

• Background: Roger&Sons started as a carpentry business specializing in system furniture for homes and offices, founded by Roger. His sons, including Ryan, took over after his passing in 2014 and rebranded it, focusing on bespoke furniture.
• Focus on Local Materials: The business shifted to crafting furniture from reclaimed trees sourced from Singapore's parks and streets. Approximately 90% of their items are made from local tree material.
• Wood Types and Applications:
  • Khaya: Used for outdoor furniture due to its resilience against the weather.
  • Angsana: Used for indoor furniture due to its natural termite resistance.
  • Raintree: Also used.
• Crafting Process:
  1. Cutting and Squaring: Ensuring the material is straight, square, and right-angled.
  2. Gluing: Planks are glued together if needed.
  3. Assembly: The glued or cut pieces are assembled.
  4. Sanding: Smoothing the surfaces.
  5. Finishing: Using a food-grade finish, especially for tables that come into contact with food.
• Attention to Detail: Emphasis on the quality of screws and joinery to ensure structural integrity and a high level of professionalism.
• Evolution: The business has evolved from system furniture to custom builds, maintaining a focus on craftsmanship and personalization.

Bynd Artisan: Bookbinding and Letterpress

• Family Legacy: Winnie and her husband James revived her family's bookbinding craft, which started in the 1940s with her grandfather's bookbindery.
• Traditional Bookbinding: The process involves stitching pages into a cover, requiring methodical, slow, repetitive, and precise work.
  • Understanding paper direction
  • Folding
  • Aligning papers
  • Punching holes
  • Sewing with bookbinding thread
• Innovation and Design: Balancing the preservation of tradition with embracing change through design to create meaningful products for customers.
• Letterpress Printing: Utilizing one of the oldest printing techniques, involving careful temperature settings and spacing for different materials to achieve beautifully aligned final products.
• Creating Experiences: Bynd Artisan aims to create experiences and deliver emotions through their products, focusing on bringing joy to customers.
• Quote: "We are actually creating experiences and delivering emotions." - Winnie

Ceramics Studio: Clay Shaping and Glazing

• Historical Context: Singapore used to be a hub for ceramics production with many dragon kilns producing flower pots and crockery for export.
• Mission: Michelle and Seok Har aim to revive Singapore's ceramics legacy and fill restaurants, kitchens, and homes with handmade ceramics from Singaporean potters.
• Ceramics Process:
  1. Clay Preparation (Wedging): Removing air bubbles from the clay.
  2. Throwing: Shaping the clay on a spinning wheel.
  3. Drying: Allowing the shaped clay to dry.
  4. Trimming: Refining the shape after initial drying.
  5. First Firing (Bisque Firing): Turning the clay into ceramic.
  6. Glaze Mixing: Creating custom glazes with specific colors and textures.
     • Components: Glass former (Silica), Flux, Stabilizer.
     • Silica: Provides sheen.
     • Flux: Lowers the melting point.
     • Stabilizers: Prevent slipping during firing.
  7. Second Firing (Glaze Firing): Firing at high temperatures (around 1280 degrees Celsius) to close the pores and melt the glaze into glass.
• Material Connection: Michelle emphasizes the immediate touch and sculpting ability with clay, contrasting it with other materials that require tools.
• Open Studio: The studio opens its doors to the public annually, allowing people to see the process and ask questions about the designs and inspirations.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video showcases three distinct crafts in Singapore – woodworking, bookbinding, and ceramics – highlighting the dedication to preserving traditional techniques while innovating and adapting to modern needs. Each business emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the use of local materials where possible. They also focus on creating meaningful experiences for their customers, whether through bespoke furniture, personalized books, or handmade ceramics. The common thread is a commitment to slowing down the pace of production and creating objects with intention and care.