craftsmanship
Page 16
Sure footed
Bontoni shoes takes things slowly, producing just eight pairs a day. Their dedication is helping Montegranaro, Italy’s shoe town, take changes to the global footwear market in its stride.
Arte & Craft
High-definition TV is forcing a return to old-fashioned craft. Monocle visits Arte, the polished Franco-German channel that has never let its standards drop, to learn the art behind its high-quality broadcasting.
Roots finder
Provenance is key as we turn our backs on mass-produced products. Consumers want authenticity and, as many companies have found, they’re happy to pay for it.
Time is everything
In Honshu's forested mountains, Seiko's craftsmen hand-build the Grand Seiko with monastic precision, proving Japan's mechanical watchmaking rivals Switzerland's finest — one meticulous, unhurried component at a time.
Viva riva
Riva may be one of the most respected brands afloat, but in 1999 it was sinking. Now with new owners, the brand is hoping to become the Riviera’s runabout of choice.
Caillou Boats
Near Tiverton, Rhode Island, John Meikle and his team handcraft small wood and fibreglass daysailers. These boats conjure up visions of more idyllic times. We join them in their halcyon daze.
Patrizio Cappelli
In 1995, Patrizio Cappelli left his family's chemist business to found his eponymous tie-making enterprise. A discerning clientele now flocks to his Naples atelier for his seven-fold, self-tipping neckwear.
Abdel Zaher Binding
With over half a century of craftsmanship under his belt, Mohamed Abdel Zaher has transformed his family-run book-binding business into a modern enterprise, retaining all of its character and charm.
Maine Event
Portland’s annual Maine Boatbuilders Show attracts an unusual mix of salty dogs, families and wealthy customers, who fly in to inspect the artisanal sloops, schooners, kayaks and yawls on display.
World spokesmen
Across the Nippon-Nordic alliance, a clutch of companies are producing the world's highest quality two-wheelers. Monocle profiles five of the finest bike-makers, from Sweden to Japan.
