How long does it take to make a calligraphy brush?

Artisans like Yoshiyuki Hata spend 20 years making a single calligraphy brush, dedicating their lives to mastering their craft.

What is the process of making Zellige tiles?

Artisans in Morocco spend decades mastering the skill of making Zellige tiles, which involves molding clay into tiles, glazing and firing them, and hand-chiseling and assembling them to create unique designs.

What is the process of making Tyrian purple dye?

To make Tyrian purple dye, Ghassen must extract the pigment from the murex snail's hypobranchial gland through a complex process that involves macerating the glands, separating the dye, drying and purifying it multiple times.

How are Damascus knives made?

Damascus knives are made by meticulously forging and folding layers of steel to create intricate patterns, with the number of layers and complexity determining the price and time required for each knife.

Mastering 12 Lifelong Jobs: Insider Business Insights

Name: Mastering 12 Lifelong Jobs: Insider Business Insights
Uploaded: 2023-06-17 06:01:47
Description: Traditional crafts and artisanal products require immense skill, time, and attention to detail, but face challenges such as declining demand, lack of skilled workers, knockoff versions, and high production costs.

This article is a summary of a YouTube video "12 Jobs That Take A Lifetime To Master | So Expensive | Insider Business" by Insider Business

TLDR Traditional crafts and artisanal products require immense skill, time, and attention to detail, but face challenges such as declining demand, lack of skilled workers, knockoff versions, and high production costs.

Traditional Crafts and Artisans

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Artisans in Fez, Morocco, pass down their decades of knowledge and skills in making Zellige tiles, preserving a centuries-old tradition in the city.
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The process of creating Zellige tiles involves precision and expertise, as each tile is hand-chiseled and no two tiles will look exactly the same.
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The art of making Tyrian purple dye, which was once reserved for royalty, is being revived by a craftsman in Tunisia through a painstaking process of trial and error.
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Hisao Manabe in Japan takes one to two months to dye threads a deep indigo blue, using real indigo instead of synthetic dyes, resulting in rich and long-lasting colors.
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Quality Damascus knives are known for being hard yet flexible, allowing them to maintain a sharp edge, showcasing the craftsmanship required to create them.
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Working with Damascus steel requires precision and skill, as a single mistake or forging the steel when it's too cold can ruin the pattern and require starting over, potentially losing weeks' worth of work.

Meticulous and Delicate Processes

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Selecting high-quality hair for calligraphy brushes, such as the sought-after Type III goat hair, is a skill that requires meticulous attention to detail and can cost thousands of dollars per kilogram.
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The process of brushmaking is a time-consuming and delicate craft that requires experience and instinct, resulting in brushes that can cost 100 times more than mass-produced ones.
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The drying of the pigment mixture is done under the sun on a sheet of glass to ensure that none of the valuable pigment is absorbed, highlighting the meticulousness and attention to detail required in the process.
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Heat treatment and quenching are critical processes in knife-making, determining the metallurgy and performance of the finished product.
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The skill and precision required in the grinding operation of creating a Damascus knife drives up its cost, as a single slip can ruin the piece in an instant.

Unique and Valuable Products

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Japanese denim, particularly selvage denim, is known for its attention to detail and quality, making it highly sought after in the fashion industry.
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Momotaro's kintin jeans, dyed by hand with extra effort and skill, are worth over $2,000, reflecting the high price associated with the meticulous dyeing process.
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Japanese denim has become renowned worldwide, highlighting the global impact and recognition of the artisans' skill in Kojima.
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The longer raising time and high cost of feed make olive wagyu beef a rare and sought-after delicacy, favored by chefs despite its limited supply.

Commitment to Tradition and Quality

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The design of these kettles is considered wabi-sabi, emphasizing the appreciation of imperfection and adding a unique and artistic touch to the product.
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By increasing the production time and price of his product, Eduardo Sousa demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a longstanding family tradition that dates back to 1812, highlighting the value of heritage and quality in his craft.
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Masaki Ishii dedicated decades to developing a new variety of wagyu steak by feeding the cows a special feed made from olives, showcasing the importance of experimentation and perseverance in creating unique culinary experiences.
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Despite facing setbacks such as foot-and-mouth disease and natural disasters, Masaki led the charge in strengthening his prefecture's beef production by working with local olive farmers, resulting in the creation of olive-fed wagyu cattle.

Q&A

What challenges do traditional crafts and artisanal products face?

— Traditional crafts and artisanal products face challenges such as declining demand, lack of skilled workers, knockoff versions, and high production costs.
How long does it take to make a calligraphy brush?

— Artisans like Yoshiyuki Hata spend 20 years making a single calligraphy brush, dedicating their lives to mastering their craft.
What is the process of making Zellige tiles?

— Artisans in Morocco spend decades mastering the skill of making Zellige tiles, which involves molding clay into tiles, glazing and firing them, and hand-chiseling and assembling them to create unique designs.
What is the process of making Tyrian purple dye?

— To make Tyrian purple dye, Ghassen must extract the pigment from the murex snail's hypobranchial gland through a complex process that involves macerating the glands, separating the dye, drying and purifying it multiple times.
How are Damascus knives made?

— Damascus knives are made by meticulously forging and folding layers of steel to create intricate patterns, with the number of layers and complexity determining the price and time required for each knife.

Timestamped Summary

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00:00
Artisans around the world dedicate their lives to mastering crafts like calligraphy brush making and Zellige tile making, but declining demand and a lack of skilled workers pose challenges to these traditional crafts.
🎨

18:14
Preserving ancient crafts like Tyrian purple dye and Zellige requires decades of learning and patience, with Ghassen reviving the dye in Tunisia and Hisao Manabe expertly dyeing threads in Japan using real indigo.
👖

30:25
Japanese denim, specifically selvage denim, is meticulously hand-dyed with natural indigo, resulting in premium products worth over $2,000, and Momotaro jeans from Kojima, Japan are highly sought after for their artisanal craftsmanship and quality.
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40:49
A master knife maker meticulously forges and folds layers of steel to create visually striking and exceptionally sharp Damascus knives, while a kettle maker in Japan spends years designing and creating unique and rust-resistant iron kettles that subtly alter the taste of boiled water.
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55:52
Master craftsmen in Japan and Korea create lacquered kettles and hand-forged bronzeware, respectively, facing challenges from knockoff versions and the need for precision in their intricate processes.
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1:09:31
Custom globes by Bellerby & Co. require meticulous attention to detail, customization, and a lengthy production process, resulting in high prices.
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1:18:28
Jintaro Yamamoto expertly grows ceremonial-grade matcha in Uji, Japan, while only 60 families produce it, and farmers in Miyazaki Prefecture spend a year growing exclusive mangoes called Taiyo no Tamago.
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1:38:30
Eduardo Sousa produces "ethical" foie gras by allowing geese to naturally feed on grass, acorns, olives, figs, and seeds, increasing production time and price; Masaki Ishii developed expensive olive wagyu beef by feeding cows a special feed made from olives, resulting in a highly sought-after product.