What's happening to the French craft industry?

According to UNESCO, products can be considered handcrafted if and only if they are "made by artisans. Either entirely by hand, or with the use of hand tools or even mechanical means, provided that the direct manual contribution of the artisan remains the most significant component of the finished product". Considering all the wine, Marseille soap, fleur de sel, as well as silk, linen, and many other treasures that France produces each year through sheer hard work, one could say the country excels in craftsmanship. The numbers also confirm this: according to the report by the Institute for French Craftsmanship, the artisanal sector in France generated a turnover of €68 billion this year, creating jobs for no fewer than half a million people. These figures even surpass those of the pharmaceutical industry, which generates €62 billion.

To delve deeper, the Institute for French Craftsmanship undertook a study quantifying the value of manual activities, surveying skilled artisans such as cabinetmakers, stonemasons, leatherworkers, weavers, glassblowers, and many others. It considered 234,000 businesses, representing 500,000 workers in France, including 280,000 employees, covering 198 crafts and 83 specialties across sectors like luxury and fashion, interior architecture and decoration, performing arts, and heritage restoration, recognized by the French government. While exports amount to €9 billion (14%), they are mainly driven by large groups. In contrast, micro, small, and medium enterprises account for nearly 90% of revenues in the sector. Regarding the geographical distribution of these businesses, eight out of ten are located outside Paris, with strong regional specialties such as leatherworking in southwestern France, glassmaking in the northeast, and ceramics in Provence.

Moreover, some findings of the report are surprising: 55% of business leaders are women, and nearly 40% of employees are under 35. "Contrary to popular belief, young people are also drawn to craftsmanship, but there is still much to be done", explains Jérémy Robiolle to WWD, adding that more training and exposure on the subject are essential. According to the report, French companies in the artisanal sector aim to recruit 50,000 to 55,000 people in 2024. The luxury sector alone seeks to fill 20,000 positions, explains Bénédicte Epinay, Director-General of the Comité Colbert. "This study is also a warning to remain vigilant, as the sector is fragile in many respects", she adds. "It will help business leaders in our sector realize their actual weight in the French economy", says Xavier Long, Deputy Director of the Institute for French Craftsmanship. "Not all are aware or sometimes underestimate their importance. They can be proud of what they do."

While the luxury sector worldwide is currently experiencing a rare crisis that has impacted key figures in French fashion and craftsmanship, studies like the one above remind us that craftsmanship is a driving force for France and its economy. In an era where 22% of packages delivered to French mailboxes come from Temu and Shein, let us not forget that there is no need to order poor-quality, health-hazardous products from Chinese websites that will be replaced next month. We live in a country teeming with " petites mains" ready to create quality products. We cannot be sure what UNESCO and its definition would say about French products, but one thing is certain: France can be proud of its artisans.