How much does craft insurance cost for handcrafting trend-setters?

Redingote or fontange, drum farthingale or stomacher? I beg your pardon. The question we ask ourselves each morning “What shall I wear today?” has been repeated through millennia, with innumerable answers and combinations. While we no longer have to endure the inconvenience of wide skirts held up by a farthingale or the need for a highly tailored redingote for horse riding, we are still influenced by fashion. What is it then that influences fashion itself? Is it simply the popular vote and good marketing, or are there other factors which hold sway? Looking at the last hundred years of fashion, are there some timeless items that have endured the test of time? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of fashion!

From woollen tunics worn by Saxon women to the short nylon skirts of the 1960s, fashion has travelled seamlessly through the ages and provided us with a rich insight into the lives and times of the people of our nation. Amongst the many factors which have influenced fashion are the textiles available. Our consistently high levels of rainfall have given rise to the green and pleasant lands of Great Britain, ideal for sheep farming. Thus wool has been a staple textile for our clothing for centuries, arguably reaching its peak in the Middle Ages when the wealth of numerous towns was built upon the wool trade. Linen was a staple textile in France; the Bayeux tapestry was created from it. Despite our cooler climate, flax was grown here too and both wool and flax were woven on home looms. The increased availability of cotton during the eighteenth century, followed by the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century, resulted in huge changes both in fashion and in the widespread availability of new clothes. No longer was each item painstakingly hand stitched, but factories manufactured the cloth and sewing machines produced the garments.

Maybe the next seismic shift in textile production came post the Second World War with the explosion of man-made textiles. We have, in some ways, come full circle now with our growing awareness of the impact on our environment of never-ending consumerism and the high energy costs of man-made textiles. Thus there is a growing demand for clothing made from natural fibres which are both durable and have a low environmental cost.

Fashion trends are also influenced by national and global events, and we can trace this throughout the twentieth century. Amidst the horror of the First World War, the “war to end all wars” women took on many of the tasks which had until then mainly been carried out by men. With the tragic loss of life of so many young men, women continued to work in these roles as both individual families and the nation endeavoured to recover. Skirts were shortened, a utilitarian look became popular and trousers were worn. In the 1920s, as the economy began to stabilise and women had won the right to vote, skirts became shorter, corsets were discarded and comfort became the goal in design.

Through the Second World War and yet another generation of young men lost; women took on many uniformed jobs and worked as land girls with the iconic khaki trousers and bright red lipstick. Siren suits became popular, the forerunner of the jumpsuit. Clothing rations continued for years after the war, and women learned to “make do and mend”. Skirts were A line to used minimal fabric and gloves, hats and strings of pearls became must-have accessories.

With the arrival of the fifties and sixties, man-made fabrics such as polyester and nylon had a huge influence on fashion, with the advent of feminine wide swirling skirts in the fifties and the mini skirt making its debut in the sixties. The hippie style influenced the 1970s with crocheted tops and eye-catching jewellery. The 1980s through to the 1990s saw experiments with bold colour and man-made fabrics, although denim was also popular.

As crafters, what can we draw from this brief look at fashion through the ages? Are there any timeless classics we can recreate with a twenty-first-century twist? Well-made and well-cut garments will endure through decades, as will classic knitted jumpers. A string of freshwater pearls alongside pearl earrings can be worn on just about any occasion, and beautifully crafted hats, gloves and scarves are needed every winter.

There are plenty of opportunities to sell timeless items of hand-crafted clothing, so if you are a stitcher, yarn whizz or jewellery designer, why not collate your stock? With the warmer weather finally approaching you will be able to choose from a wide variety of fairs and markets, as well as selling online. Once you have done this, one question you will need answered before selling is, “How much does craft insurance cost?”. This is a good question and one for which we are ideally placed to answer. It will depend on many factors, so the best thing to do is to drop us a line or pick up the phone. With knowledge of your unique business needs, we will be able to give you a quote and answer “How much does craft insurance cost?” both clearly and concisely. As a family-run business with several decades of experience in insuring crafters, we are committed to providing a personalised and prompt service. No bots here…you will get to communicate with either Naomi or Sam, thus making the whole process of purchasing the correct insurance straightforward and hopefully stress-free. We look forward to hearing a little about your amazing business and allaying any fears you might have about how much craft insurance costs.

Tomorrow morning, when you ask yourself what you will wear, spare a thought for those women who struggled into tight corsets or uncomfortable ruffs each day! We have a wonderful freedom to develop our individual styles, wearing what feels comfortable and best reflects our unique personality. So step out with confidence and enjoy being you!