The Right to Expression... Handmade Crafts

We shall have the Right to Handmade Crafts,

 those things made by human hand.

This right supports artisans around the world

who earn a living through centuries-old traditional crafts.



Murano Glass Vase

Lace-makers, glassblowers, embroiderers,

hat milliners, weavers, fabric dyers,

shoemakers, and so on.



French Alencon Lace (18th c.)  is the 5th most-valued lace in the world.



Parisian Paradox is a group that strives to

protect the haute couture artisans,

such as Jean-Francois Lesage, the last Parisian embroiderer.



Louboutin's Marie Antoinette shoe
hand-embroidered by the House of Lesage.





Embroidery done by hand.



The Right to Expression....Apparel Choice

No human being shall be denied the right to choose
which textile or adornment 

they place upon their own physical body.



D&G, Spring 2011 collection

Guys in purple and flowers.

Woman in France wearing full-face veil burqa, 2010.

France passed a law in September, 2010, taking effect in spring 2011,
which will ban this full-face covering. Women will be fined 150 Euros.
French President Sarkozy assumes the veil is not a choice
but instead imposed clothing--- he stated,
"In our country, we can't accept women prisoners behind a screen,
cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity.
That's not our idea of freedom."
But, what if it is the woman's choice?

hats, designer Philip Traecy

Some choose to wear haute couture hats .