Best and Brightest at Christchurch’s Craft 2.0 Debut

22 August 2008

The best and brightest of New Zealand’s Crafters’ scene will make their Christchurch debut at Our City O-Tautahi on Saturday.

Craft 2.0, an indie craft fair, has harnessed the opportunities of new approaches to Craft and online business models, while providing vibrant exciting product and workshops during one-day-events in Lower Hutt and now, for the first time in Christchurch.

Christchurch based graphic design and website entrepreneur Lucy Arnold, who is curating the event with Craft 2.0 founder Sue Tyler, said she anticipated the Christchurch event, which has drawn thousands from the Wellington region to its other host-venue at TheNewDowse, would develop a strong local following.  

“Our research indicated that people are searching for everything Craft 2.0 has to offer. Everything sold at Craft 2.0 is 100% New Zealand made, is made by the person selling it, and most items are unique one-off or limited edition creations.”

Our City O-Tautahi Business Manager, Christchurch City Council, Sarah Kelly said she had been impressed when presented with an extensive Craft 2.0 business proposal.

“Sue and Lucy demonstrated to us that there are many people in Christchurch and New Zealand who are building a new dynamic craft and consumer demographic. These are people who are searching for handmade goods which are developed in-line with sustainable business philosophies, are design-smart, internet savvy people who connect with Craft 2.0 as a social outlet and an opportunity to engage in the exciting world of high-end craft.

“Our City O-Tautahi is about connecting with our community and exploring who we are as Christchurch locals, and also how we express our identity within New Zealand and to the world. It’s a place where ideas and creativity in our city often come to light and get a chance to grow. Craft 2.0’s vision fits extremely well with that. We are very much looking forward to helping to launch the event on Saturday.”

The free event featuring 30 crafter stalls also includes a treat for the first 50 adults and 50 kids who arrive at the fair at 11 am, with beautiful Craft 2.0 gift bags. The gift bags are made from recycled materials and are themselves 100% recyclable and biodegradable, said Ms Tyler.

“Plastic gift bags are kind of depressing and not nice for the environment. Many of our crafters use vintage fabrics and create wonderful things from recycled items like soda can tab cuffs, the insides of computers, old teaspoons and other quirky objects that often end up at the rubbish dump, so it's really nice to embrace this environmentally aware theme with our bags.”

Craft 2.0 opens at Our City O-Tautahi, corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Boulevard Saturday 23 August, 11 am – 3 pm, visit: www.craft2.org.

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