Handmade in Hong Kong
The brainchild of DAWN Jewellery founder Yve Chan, Sunsmith is a new workshop dedicated to fostering appreciation for local craft in Hong Kong through a hands-on approach
With intangible heritage dating back thousands of years, the art of traditional crafting plays a significant role in shaping contemporary culture. Helping to keep these traditions alive in Hong Kong is Sunsmith, a new workshop-driven hub in Causeway Bay that teaches would-be makers — novices and intermediates — to craft objects and jewellery by hand under the guidance of skilled craftspeople and metalsmiths. The project is spearheaded by DAWN Jewellery founder Yve Chan, who was himself born into a family involved in the jade industry.
Nurturing some of the city’s time-honoured craft techniques, the courses on offer, which vary from making gold or platinum wedding rings to tin or copper tea ware, involve manual processes like carving, hammering, shaping and polishing — all in the name of its ‘Made in Hong Kong’ ethos.
Hidden in a nondescript building and designed by local creative agency House of Forme, the spacious, open-plan workshop overlooks the bustling Yun Ping Road below. The space, which took just three months to realise from ideation to execution, is outfitted predominantly in metal and wood, with natural light coming in from all angles. The workstations, for demonstrations and making, take centre stage, while the scaffolding-inspired shelves, filled with intriguing displays, pay tribute to the city’s ubiquitous bamboo construction method. In keeping with its ethos, every detail maximises local resources. ‘We used furniture made by Hong Kong woodworkers, signage and renovation done by local craftsmen and the entire team involved in the project is from Hong Kong,’ says Chan.
With courses ranging from three to four hours, Sunsmith encourages students to practice patience, but most of all it fosters a shared respect for craft. ‘People will have to learn the nature of raw materials, to learn the different steps and tools involved in making,’ he explains. ‘By finishing a product, people can learn to appreciate it.’
Besides its roster of year-round programmes (due to start in late May 2022), Sunsmith also houses its DAWN Jewellery flagship retail gallery and showroom. Here, collectors can marvel at exquisite Japanese antiques from the Meiji period and the team’s most prized handmade pieces.
Chan hopes that his project will inspire more people to experience the joy of making craft objects and to honour local heritage at its finest. As he says, ‘This is our way to celebrate what Hong Kong has to offer.’
Text / Faye Bradley
Images / Courtesy of Sunsmith
