Fashion Archives 

Carla Hamieh (9B)

   

Title	Fashion Archives
Characters	·       Major: writer ·       Minor: my family
Setting	·       Place: Lebanon/ a store in Beirut ·       Time: Summer morning
Major Events	·       learning various types of handicrafts ·       being amazed by their beauty and history ·       buying a unique piece that froze me from its magnificence
Goal	·       Showing the greatness of the Lebanese culture and the extinction of its handicrafts
Conclusion	Handicrafts are being underrated and not practiced enough but instead they’re being replaced by technology as to the people who aren’t taking action.

Fashion Archives

    “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” This quote asserts that all kinds of art, including handicrafts, are the basis of one’s culture. They have the ability to tell a story where they once were the needs of families and the heart of a diversity of cultures, but changed to this historical, ancient scar that will forever be present with one and lure him or her into this magical land of creativity and inventiveness having the privilege either to be related to that culture where smartness ruled or be the person who is captivated by the artistic and productive pieces people back then used to construct and design not only to live but to pass it on to the next generation. Now, one can notice the difference in each handicraft, be it pottery, woodcraft, jewelry, glass crafts, bookbinding, that makes each one more unique than the other. And I had the honor to take part in this trip to a store where the artistry of people lies within as I discovered the various type of handicrafts that people long ago used to stay night and day to construct a practical object that can be used by all citizens in the Lebanese culture.

  

    It all started when my family made up their mind on a Summer morning to take a road trip to a store in Beirut where its motto is “Keep Lebanon in your mind” and, as we understood from previous visitors, it contained handicrafts that can take one’s breath away not only by their beauty and antique looks but also by the stories they hold. It felt like a long, confusing maze as we began this trip trying to find our destination, taking four rights, two lefts, trying to abide by the commands of the robotic voice as we activated our cars’ Global Positioning System (GPS). No one even tried to hide their excitement and glee as laughter took over the non-existent silence and songs could’ve been heard from car to car as we passed by them, for they were so loud and after a while of confusion and anticipation, we finally found the way to the place as we were aided by multiple people along the way who knew the place pretty well until we lastly arrived at the place that gathered all the family together. Now all that separates us from that the place was a door, and as we set foot inside the store, jaws were dropped as we felt like time was frozen, for its charm hypnotized us and its beauty enchanted us.

     Even though the place was medium size and crowded, but I was able to witness most of the art that was created long ago as to read the setting and story of each object. The first thing that enticed me to learn about were these solid, colorful vases with 4 colors each, with an unbelievable pattern in which I could imagine the effort that was put into it; it was a blown glass which was the oldest technique that was used among the handicrafts where the glassmaker blows air into the hot molten glass and the art of transformation into these attractive shapes begins. Not only does it include forming the shape of vases, but also candlesticks, water pitchers and glasses, and beer mugs. And as interesting as that, the dusty archaic table clothes that were stretched out on a wide table half folded, as to the jackets and abayas that were hung on this tall wooden hanger. And I realized that I just entered the world of weaving, as to the ones who were weaving with colored threads that expand and retract in a space that seems lost in time, I can imagine their nimble fingers working while a certain peaceful silence hovers above encompassing them in their work. Weaving, an art that has forever been installed in the fabric of the crafts of this land, is a memorable act which my grandma used to practice as a hobby and what’s more interesting is that we still have the device she used to weave cloth and tapestry which is called a loom.

    At this point, all my focus and energy were released into trying to understand how people were so accurate in fabricating these artistic and mind-blowing pieces. The last part of the store was filled with all different kinds of jewelry. There is a section for the earrings, various different sizes and carves, some of them were made from gold, other from silver, but both had this special and astonishing touch that was put into them and will always remain a mystery in our generation. Another section was for the necklaces and bracelets that were made from remarkable rocks and shells and different objects that were portrayed as animals and other forms that were too little to comprehend well from its complication and careful modeling. Unfortunately, it was time to leave. We were forced to activate time again and return to this real world of modern technology and basicness. But what is fortunate is I get to buy one object, the object that glued me to the ground as I saw it. It was this wooden music box that contained the most soothing and relaxing symphony I have ever heard as it was magic for the ears, too worthy to be true, such an underrated piece, and such a loss that handicrafts are being less practiced every day. This experience might be the best one yet that I want to forever remember as to lock it in a box in my head so that it stays carved and floating between my thoughts.

    Handicrafts are what defines a person, his or her culture, and the history that makes one proud and honored to be part of it. Yet in this decade, it is being underrated and unpracticed, but instead, technology have ruled and dominated one’s planet. People are not seeing the benefits of handicrafts; they are building negative rumors around handicrafts that people easily believe in just to stay on their phones literally doing nothing useful. Handicrafts are the fashion archives that will forever be stuck in the past with no one to reactivate it, and if one doesn’t encourage himself or herself to learn to fabricate them, then no one will ever revive handicrafts and give them the rights they deserve.