If you ever wonder how your custom shoes or jewelry are made, you might be able to find an answer tomorrow at Taipei’s A.C.I.D. Lab (岸汐職人聚落).
The handcraft collective, whose roster includes shoemaking, leatherwork, silversmithing and clothesmaking professionals, is opening its doors so the public can personally interact with the artisans, who will also share their expertise if visitors want to try their hand at a certain skill.
“We want to let people see our space, but we also want people to interact and participate,” says EJ So (蘇義傑), a shoemaker and the collective’s founder.
Photo courtesy of A.C.I.D. Lab
Even though the event is called a marketplace, there will not be much for sale from A.C.I.D., as So says most of them focus on custom work. However, they are partnering with Eyexgirls (單眼皮女孩), a youthful female-oriented lifestyle brand for an outdoor market in the studio’s garden.
Located in a former noodle factory hidden behind a narrow alley, the studio even contains a coffee shop and bar, and a DJ will be providing beats during the event. So started this space in late February after returning home from several years in Osaka and London, and A.C.I.D. stands for the partners he wants to attract — Artists, Craftsmen, Innovators and Designers.
So hopes that A.C.I.D. serves as more than just a workspace — there are also handcraft classes, lectures, exhibitions and other events. They hosted their first open house in June, and plan to make it a monthly party, mixing things up by partnering with different groups and featuring guest artisans such as soap or eyewear makers.
“The point of the event is to promote hand-making,” So says. “To let people know that they can create many things using their hands and tools.”
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