Within the framework of Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti, Category 2 – Inspiring Artisanship and Innovation through Collaboration seeks to encourage local artisans to share ideas and work together to bring in innovation to the sector, thereby enabling them to tap into markets that were previously unexploited whilst at the same time ensuring certain artisan skills are adapted to the realities of today’s world.
The winners for the Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2022 – Category 2 were:
Project: Weaving the Unwoven
Artisans: Charlene Joan Sant and Antoine Vella
Charlene Joan Sant, who designs and produces swimwear through her brand Churpina, has teamed up with Antoine Vella to launch a new swimwear collection produced with recycled spandex threads and cotton weaved together on a traditional loom.
Fabric used for swimming garments needs to stretch, as otherwise the swimsuit would not contour well around the wearer’s body. Such materials are normally purchased from factories abroad, and this was the first time in Malta that spandex materials were used in artisanal weaving. Materials were gathered from fabric straps that would otherwise have been discarded, adding a very important element of sustainability to the project.
By making the product relevant to today’s market, this collaboration aims to increase interest in local weaving, which – like all traditional crafts – is threatened by industrialisation, as well as to reinforce the current trend where people are being drawn to handmade products.
Project: Reawakening a Handwoven Heritage
Artisans: Alda Bugeja, Josline Camilleri, and Maurice Sultana
Josline Camilleri and Maurice Sultana, founders of Jos The Artisan, have collaborated with master artisan Alda Bugeja to produce a novel collection of products from sustainable hand-woven fabric, consisting of a turban headband, a scarf, matching earrings, and a poncho.
Besides producing a traditional scarf and poncho, Alda Bugeja has also used her traditional looms and weaving techniques to create a fashionable twill fabric using eco-friendly thread. Josline Camilleri, a self-taught fashion designer, then designed and handcrafted a turban headband from the twill material to complement the other products. Additionally, a pair of earrings have also been created using wire hand wrapping techniques and natural stones, to complete the collection. On his part, Maurice Sultana was responsible for coordinating and innovating the project’s visual presentation.
Eco-friendly, sustainably sourced materials were used, with the fabric being available in a range of monochrome, chequered, and other similar patterns inspired by modern fashion trends and timeless hues.
Project: Is-Sapuna Domestika
Artisans: Esther Judith Schembri, Kevin Attard, and Emmanuel Sammut
Esther Judith Schembri, Kevin Attard, and Emmanuel Sammut are three artisans who are attempting to bring back the sapuna taċ-ċavetta, a soap that used to be commonly found in Maltese homes. While their product stays true to the original size and smell, it is being relaunched with a modern twist.
The idea dawned upon Esther at an artisan market, when a gentleman commented that one of her soaps reminded him of the smell of the sapuna taċ-ċavetta. She thus started to gather information about this soap, which was used for almost any purpose, from personal hygiene, to washing of clothes and even pets. Esther even managed to find an original bar still in its packaging, from which she got the dimensions, weight, and recipe.
The soap is being produced in various versions, the most basic of which is the soap on its own with just a key and the brand name stamped on it. In order to add an innovative aspect to the product, Esther is collaborating with Kevin and Emmanuel to create complementary elements. The latter are respectively producing a decorative element made from Maltese filigree, and a jewel box from recycled wood to package the bar as a gift.