More than just Artisan: Shokunin
It has been difficult to explain Zeds Threads to people in a nutshell. The first issue is that our Hanoi store is a STARTUP. This concept is just now starting to be introduced into university curriculums to distinguish it from a traditional company. Not many people are aware of the difference.
There are many terms we can use: fairtrade, ethical clothing, handmade, handcrafted, luxury, real luxury, royal luxury, bespoke, customised, fitted and so on. None of them really capture what we do on there own and many are not common words. Bespoke is especially difficult to understand as it is not used that often.
We have found one word that encapsulates what we are and what we do but again it is not a word understood by many. It is from the Japanese language. Here is the definition from wikipedia.org:
Shokunin is a Japanese word for "artisan" or "craftsman", which also implies a pride in one's own work. In the words of shokunin Tashio Odate:
Shokunin means not only having technical skill, but also implies an attitude and social consciousness... a social obligation to work his best for the general welfare of the people, [an] obligation both material and spiritual.
It encapsulates many of the words above including FAIRTRADE.
There are many terms we can use: fairtrade, ethical clothing, handmade, handcrafted, luxury, real luxury, royal luxury, bespoke, customised, fitted and so on. None of them really capture what we do on there own and many are not common words. Bespoke is especially difficult to understand as it is not used that often.
We have found one word that encapsulates what we are and what we do but again it is not a word understood by many. It is from the Japanese language. Here is the definition from wikipedia.org:
Shokunin is a Japanese word for "artisan" or "craftsman", which also implies a pride in one's own work. In the words of shokunin Tashio Odate:
Shokunin means not only having technical skill, but also implies an attitude and social consciousness... a social obligation to work his best for the general welfare of the people, [an] obligation both material and spiritual.
It encapsulates many of the words above including FAIRTRADE.
Vietnam
Most peoples understanding of Vietnam is through the war with America and the post war refugee crisis. Not many people realise that Vietnam has one of the longest continuous artisan traditions in the world. The factories of mass production are only a recent phenomenon. While they put food on people's tables there are many negative consequences including deskilling. Shokunin is the process of reviving craft traditions, of creating a sustainable economic system, and rebuilding the social obligations that increase the welfare of our societies. This is a worldwide movement taking place in all continents. Zeds Threads is proud to be part of this move to a more sustainable and ethical economic system.
