TALK : The future of traditional crafts - teaching craft forward

Join us for a fascinating panel discussion coinciding with ISHKAR's 10 year anniversary collection launch at Ladbroke Hall ISHKAR is delighted to host an evening of conversation at Ladbroke Hall as part of its 10 year anniversary collection launch. Traditional craft sits at the heart of cultural heritage worldwide, yet skills built up over generations are increasingly at risk of being lost. This talk brings together voices from craft preservation, British manufacturing and design to explore, through their own work and experience, what it takes to secure a craft's future: how skill is passed from one generation to the next, what's at risk when that transmission breaks down, and the role heritage craft can play in strengthening communities and economies around the world. We are delighted to be joined by Toby Ash, Commercial Director at Turquoise Mountain, and Lulu Lytle, founder of Soane Britain, chaired by Serena Fokschaner (journalist at Financial Times, World of Interiors, House & Garden, Times, Observer, etc). Attendees will be able to preview ISHKAR's 10 year anniversary collection, featuring an exclusive collection of 10 rugs by contemporary artists and designers, handmade by female weavers in Afghanistan. Exploring the theme of “Togetherness”, each rug is a celebration of connection—across borders, cultures, and creative practices, with participation from Louis Barthélemy, David/Nicolas, Farshid Moussavi, Zaha Hadid Architects, Cassi Namoda, Lulu Lytle (Soane Britain), and more. -- Toby Ash is the Commercial Director at Turquoise Mountain, a charity founded in 2006 by His Majesty King Charles III, supporting artisans and communities to protect and revitalise cultural heritage. Turquoise Mountains works directly with artisan communities in Afghanistan, Jordan, Myanmar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Toby Ash joined Turquoise Mountain as Development Director in Kabul in 2018 and became Commercial Director in 2020. Lulu Lytle is an advocate for traditional craftsmanship, which she has championed for three decades through her company, Soane Britain. Through apprenticeships, skills education and long-term investment in makers, she has worked to preserve Britain's craft heritage and secure a thriving future for endangered making skills. In 2024, Lulu was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to British Manufacturing and Craftsmanship Edmund Le Brun is the co-founder of ISHKAR. Serena Fokschaner is a graduate of Oxford university and Birkbeck, graduating in English Literature and Art History. Developing an early fascination for design, she studied 19th and 20th century decorative arts at the Sotheby’s institute. Serena enjoys digging beneath the surface to uncover the tales behind objects. She has worked at the Telegraph and has since then written for many titles including The Sunday Times, Observer, Financial Times, House & Garden and more. -- DETAILS: 📅 Date: Friday 6th of November ⏰ Time: 4:30pm - 6pm, talk starting at 5pm 🏢 Venue: Ladbroke Hall, 79 Barlby Road, Notting Hill, W10 6AZ 🎟️ Admission: £5, refreshments included -- This talk is hosted as part of ISHKAR's 10 year anniversary collection launch at Ladbroke Hall, featuring an exclusive collection of 10 rugs by contemporary artists and designers. The exhibition is open to the public on November 6th and 7th. More information can be found here.