Made in Belgium by a Romanian by Andreea Cojocaru

Ring / Conceptual

After seeing too many Made in Romania labels on garments, my response was to create Made in Belgium by a Romanian. Would this make a difference in the quality of the product? Probably not, but it surely would make a difference in the quality of life of the maker. The concept took shape around the idea of one’s value, specifically about the value of labor and craftsmanship. My work comments on the conditions under which products are being manufactured, more precisely the work comments about the fair compensation of labor. The pieces communicate about craftsmanship through the absence or excess of essential parts. In some cases, I emphasize the value of the making process using a particular technique to reveal usually unnoticeable signs of labor. In doing so, my work highlights that apart from the precious materials, what is also essential is the preciousness of craftsmanship and the value of labor.