Manufacto takes place over twelve, two-hour sessions per group held during class time in participaing schools. The project is fully integrated into the curriculum and is open to all age groups, from primary through to sixth form. Overseen by a trio of professionals – a craftsperson, an assistant and a teacher – the pupils discover the gestures and skills of leatherwork, leather upholstery, carpentry and plaster moulding. At each level of the programme, students create a specific object according to a rigorous brief defined by a duo of designers.

A lamp, a stool, a wallet –  from an introduction to form to an immersion that combines technical practices with the pleasure of creating, students produce high-quality objects they can be proud of. This experience offers the whole class a different way to  engage differently with school subjects (mathematics, French, sciences, etc) through practial application. Each session also evokes the various values of craft – discipline, quality, teamwork – and boosts students’ self-confidence. Through this apprenticeship approach, Manufacto looks to change the perception of the craft field and even open up new possibilities in terms of education and training for students.