A bright new dawn for Waterford Crystal
A celebrated New York-based designer with a home in New Delhi, he said his bone-china and metal collections for Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton (WWRD) are something he would like to think can be “used and abused“.
Aram doesn’t want his Indian-inspired dinnerware to be hidden in a mahogany cabinet but to “be loved every day” and “in the dishwasher each night”. While his crystal designs might be best far from that particular household appliance, he doesn’t want people to be terrified of drinking from his wine glasses and champagne flutes.
“I wanted to make something durable and functional yet made to the highest artistic integrity,” he said.
Michael was in Waterford city earlier this week as part of the launch of the €25 million House of Waterford Crystal, where up to 90 people have been employed at a city centre facility which includes a high-end crystal manufacturing plant and a visitors’ centre, expected to prove a major draw for tourists, especially Americans.
For the people of Waterford who saw Waterford Wedgwood go into receivership 18 months ago and 480 jobs and pensions disappear down the swannee; it has been an amazing turnaround. Last Tuesday, hope returned to the south-east, according to the master craftsmen who have been employed at the city centre flagship store.
Master jug maker, John O’Neill, beams as we go over to talk to him. He’s busy at his job as teams of international executives and buyers take a tour of the House of Waterford.
He said he’s been given “a new lease of life” with his return to work after 18 months unemployed.
“Like anyone else, I found life without a job not easy. I had worked at Waterford for 38 years. This is an absolutely great day for Waterford. It’s great to see the lads back,” he smiled.
John Keane, a mould maker, said three people went for his job.
“It’s great to be back. It’s brilliant for the city and also brilliant for this part of town to see it being given a new lease of life,” he said.
Waterford City Council played a huge role with WWRD, which now owns the Waterford crystal band, in ensuring Waterford Crystal came back to Waterford, investing €8 million in the project. While the lion’s share of WWRD crystal manufacturing jobs are in Eastern Europe, the top-end craftwork is all taking place in the crystal’s hometown.
WWRD chief executive Pierre de Villemejane told guests that when they took over the brand, “it was clear that wholesale changes had to be made, but the quality of the product and our loyalty to this can never be in doubt”.
There is hope amongst WWRD senior management that if the House of Waterford is as successful as expected, the number of staff hired in high-end manufacturing and at the visitors’ centre could be doubled.
Outsourcing less highly-skilled jobs to the East can certainly help reduce the cost base but part of Waterford Crystal’s cachet is its birthplace and the finely-honed skill of the local craftsmen. To the people of Waterford it’s now clear that Waterford Crystal is nothing without Waterford.
