Elvira’s story is a great example of how varied the background of trainees can be within a professional training program around haute couture craftsmanship.

With a Hungarian mother, and a degree in Hungarian language and literature, you don’t expect to find Elvira in an embroidery class just like that.

Yet Elvira entered Dutch Couture Academy’s studio in the spring of 2022 with a burning desire. 

She wanted her creativity to have a new place in her life. She wondered if she had it in her to grow in craftsmanship skills and develop her own signature in them.

In a few months, this process got off to a wonderful start-with stunning results. I am curious to see what Elvira will put down with this, and to discover how the Hungarian (embroidery) culture will be expressed in this. 

Couture Craftsmanship something for me …?

You may be wondering: is couture craftsmanship something for me? Even when I have a totally different background? How do I get started? Which couture craft is interesting (to me)? How do I fit it into my life? Does everything have to be shaken up then? Or can I combine it with something I’m already doing?

These and a host of other questions may just play through your mind. 

So recognizable! And so real! 

And maybe it feels like it’s only something for people who have spent their lives with needle and thread. Or you think: I’m too old to start something new. Or this one then: where do I find a job with this?

Couture Craft the Traditional Way

Over the past deccenia, couture craftsmanship has held a special place. The ability to add ultra-luxurious details to clothing by hand has been the distinguishing feature of fashion’s highest tier: haute couture. 

Although the impact of haute couture is still high, significantly fewer people are actually buying haute couture in this day and age. And so the jobs for this are not there for the taking. The couture houses work with a handful of permanent employees, outsource a lot to cheap countries and have a pool of freelancers for the weeks just before a show (seasonal labor). Very few can get a full-time job with this.

In the heyday of Parisian couture houses in the early twentieth century, things were different. Countless ateliers, and thousands of workers were at work in Paris fulfilling orders for couture garments.

Utility of Couture Craftsmanship a thing from the Past? 

Now you might think that this makes practicing couture crafts an end of the road. No work, no need. 

That is not the impression I get.

There are a lot of reasons to put couture crafts right back in the spotlight.

First of all, to ensure that special crafts are not lost, but the knowledge remains available. 

In addition, practicing it is a fine activity in addition to work you do at a computer, or especially with your intellect. Working with your hands is for many people the perfect balance for this. The fact that you also have a tangible and beautiful result makes it very satisfying.

Not the least, however, practicing remains interesting as an opportunity to invent new ways of application. There are many ways in which the sophistication of broderie d’Art, for example, can be a fantastic addition for art, for special projects or as therapy. 

Source of Existence

Reasons enough to cherish these crafts. To discover. To be practiced. And to find a form for it with which it can even become your source of existence.

This topic of making money with couture craft has proven to be a tricky one for many people. It was the same for me, fifteen years ago. Applying for a job after age 40 can be tricky. And especially without a completed education. All your experience and all the courses you carry are then of little value in today’s society. 

So how can you still create a form of income around your passion for couture craftsmanship? Even if you have a TOTALLY DIFFERENT background?

The format of a blog post is too short to really go into this.

For whom is couture craftsmanship a prime opportunity?

If after this story you marvel and wonder, and if you ask yourself: for whom is couture craft a prime opportunity in this day and age? Then come to the free webinar “Live your Passion for Craftsmanship” on Feb. 8. In it, I will elaborate on this topic.

Webinar Feb. 8, 7 p.m. CET

In this webinar, I’ll tell you my secret to making a living from your passion for craftsmanship. Be there!

Sign up HERE (webinar in English) 

There will be a Webinar in Dutch on Feb. 9.