The Best of the 1st Day of the Luxury Design & Craftsmanship Summit – Oporto, 20^th of June. The Craftsmanship Summit kicked off today at Pavilhão Multiusos in Gondomar, Oporto – Portugal! It’s now time for Best interior Designers to tell you all about the First Day!

The Summit started in the afternoon with Live Showcases of Several traditional Arts & Crafts of Portugal, namely Filigree, Tilling, Arraiolos, Renda de Bilros, Goldening, Jewellery Craft, Upholstery and Wood Work! These showcases promoted a strong bonding between the Audience and the Artisans and the end result was amazing!

What it followed was the Opening Session conducted by Amandio Pereira, CEO of the Covet Group. His opening words reinforced the importance of Craftsmanship to the Covet Group, but also to Portugal and the Furniture Industry. In his speech, Mr. Pereira highlighted the work that the Covet Group has been developing to maintain serval Crafts alive with the Summit being only one more tool to achieve the main goal of the Group: Elevate Design & Craftsmanship!

The opening speech was followed by a small speech by Dr. Ana Teresa Lehmann, Secretary of State for the Industry, that commended the Covet Group for the organization of the Summit and applauded the initiative of bringing together Makers and Thinkers! Dr Lehman also mentioned the “importance of educating everyone on the importance of the industry services and why should we preserve crafstmanship”. The opening ceremony was also accompanied by a speech from Dr. Carlos Bras, the Councilman of Gondomar that was here representing the Town of Gondomar.

Following the opening, we had the First Panel of the Summit entitled “The value of Craftsmanship For the luxury World”. This panel had the contribution of Amandio Pereira, CEO of the Covet Group; Nicole Segundo, Representative/ Network Developer to Portugal for the Michaelangelo Foundation; Fátima Santos, General Secretary of the AORP; Luis Onofre, entrepreneur, shoemaker and CEO of the Luis Onofre brand; and Antonio Moura, business developer.

What was the panel about? The main focus was the relation between Luxury Goods & Design and the Traditional Arts or Ancient crafts. By those we mean to say crafts traditions such as leatherwork, leaf gilding, haute couture embroidery, or glassblowing. These arts are largely revered by consumers as signs of luxury as well as the stamp of handmade by many luxury brands worldwide. These notions come from the fact that craftsmanship makes each and every product unique. So, the most prestigious brands are investing in the training of the next generation of craftsmen, understanding that these hard-earned skills are among their most important trade secrets.

The first speech belonged to the moderator Mr. Amandio Pereira that, once again, highlighted the work of the Covet Group within the luxury and design industries, followed by a short presentation of the other members of the panel and what do they can offer to the craftsmanship world. This opening speech was followed by Miss Nicole Segundo that presented to the audience the Homo Faber, a design and craftsmanship exhibition event that will take place in Venice, Italy, in September of this year! In her own words, Homo Faber “is an exciting opportunity to showcase the best of the craftsmanship values and industry“,

Like Miss Nicole, Fátima Santos, General Secretary of the AORP; Luis Onofre, entrepreneur and director of the Luis Onofre brand; and Antonio Moura, business development; also presented their respective brands and fields of business to the audience, explaining what they have to offer to the industry and what exactly they do! We have to highlight Miss Fatima Santos presentation of the work of AORP and how this association has been showcasing and highlighting the work of jewelry craftsmen for several years!

After those briefs presentations, the panel start the debate about the connexion between Luxury Design & Craftsmanship! The debate was powerful and full of design ideas and opportunities and, in the end, craftsmanship was highlighted and the discussion that resulted from this amazing debate surely forged a better path for the future for the industry! The Summit will resume tomorrow!