Hand Meets Machine: Modern Approach to Bespoke Lampshade Craftsmanship

In a world where authenticity is paramount, especially surrounding the products that we buy and the services that we require, it is unsurprising that buzz-words and shorthand crop up almost everywhere in a bid to make us feel comforted and safe in our choices. “Hand-made”, “hand-crafted”, “bespoke” - these terms have become synonymous with care, quality, and individuality, yet at the same time they invoke a sense of tension and expectation amongst businesses and customers alike.

Can a company consider themselves truly handmade, truly handcrafted, if they enlist the help of machinery? Is the artistry of the traditional craft lost and diluted with the help of modern tools?

For those of us working at the intersection of heritage and innovation, we believe that the inclusion of modern machinery and techniques is not a compromise but a means to enhance the artisanal process - in short it is a help, rather than a hindrance. It allows us to uphold the standards of precision our clients expect while preserving the deeply human elements of design, construction, and creativity. 

What does ‘handmade’ mean to us?

At Iberian, we pride ourselves on being artists in lampshades. Every hand that guides our designs is dripping with a history of creativity. We believe that artistry within a business begins with artistry outside of it - crocheting, blacksmithing, painting, make-up artistry, seamstressing, each passion and interest seeping through into the work that gets created under our roof. 

When we say that our lampshades are handmade, it is not a simple marketing tactic or flourish - it is a factual description of the way that we work. Every shade we make involves hours of hand-led labour: initial design sketches, client consultations, cutting fabric, sewing and pleating and trimming and lining. The talents of our workers are at the heart of every design, and their skills lead every decision, every curve, and every seam. 

We also believe that craftsmanship does not necessitate the rejection of modern tools and machinery. Instead, we believe in choosing the right tools for the task – and that means knowing when a human hand, guided by passion and experience, is irreplaceable. 

Where do we use machinery and why?

• Computer software:- We utilise design software to create 3D templates that guide the proportions and contours of each bespoke piece. This digital planning stage helps us visualise and refine the final design before any materials are cut, ensuring a cohesive outcome that matches both aesthetic and functional requirements.

• Precision cutting machinery:- Precision cutting machines such as routers and fabric panel cutters are used to prepare structural and textile components with exactitude. These tools ensure repeatable accuracy and allow us to maintain high standards across all custom orders, especially when dealing with complex geometries or delicate fabrics.

• CNC machine (computer numerical control):- we employ CNC machinery for certain custom elements that require a higher level of structural precision. These tools are especially useful for creating intricate frame parts or unique embellishments that must meet both decorative and load-bearing criteria.

What remains unwaveringly hand-crafted?

Despite these helpful uses of machinery, the core and the soul of each Iberian lampshade remains utterly handmade. The selection of fabrics and trims is guided by visual intuition and tactile experience, often in consultation with the client, resulting in a piece that is not only functional but expressive. Pleating is performed manually, allowing for subtle refinements that respond to the fabric’s behaviour and the shade’s proportions - this nuanced manipulation of material cannot be replicated by machines, instead relying on the artisan’s constant visual assessment and subtle corrections throughout. During the final assembly, every element – from the alignment of seams to the tension of the fabric – is managed by a craftsperson whose decisions are shaped by years of practice.

What is the balance, and why does it matter?

Embracing a balance between technology and tradition shouldn’t be considered a dilution of the craft, but rather an elevation of it. Machinery, when used judiciously, provides the kind of consistency and efficiency that supports the artistic process rather than replacing it. It allows our artisans to spend less time on repetitive groundwork and more time on the parts of the process that require artistry and intuition.

This balance also safeguards the sustainability of the studio. By streamlining foundational tasks, we reduce material waste and improve working conditions, giving our team the mental and physical space to continue producing exceptional, human-centred work. It enables us to meet custom orders with greater speed and reliability without sacrificing the detail and distinction our clients seek.

Most importantly, this hybrid approach reinforces the value of transparency in contemporary craft. In our studio, we do not pretend that machinery plays no role - but we are clear and intentional about where it does and where it does not.

At Iberian Lighting, the modern and the traditional are not adversaries, but collaborators. Together, they allow us to honour the past while serving the present: creating bespoke lighting that is as technically sound as it is emotionally resonant. This is not compromise. It is evolution.