How It's Made

The programme investigates the manufacturing methods used for winter jackets, animation, mushrooms and gold rings, covering both traditional techniques and modern innovations. It also examines how advances in technology have transformed these production processes over the years, significantly for industry and consumers.

The programme titled Winter Jackets/Animation/Mushrooms/Gold Rings is presented as a single episode that investigates how a range of everyday items are made. It brings together seemingly unrelated subjects – outerwear, visual media, fungi and jewellery – to give viewers a clear picture of the manufacturing steps behind each one. In the core of the episode, the production processes for winter jackets, animation, mushrooms and gold rings are laid out in detail. The narrative walks through the traditional techniques that have long been used, then shows how modern technology has reshaped those methods over the years. By comparing past and present practices, the show highlights the ways in which innovation has altered the speed, efficiency and quality of each craft. The segment on winter jackets and animation focuses on how material selection, design and assembly have evolved. For outerwear, advances such as synthetic fibres and computer‑aided pattern making are contrasted with older, hand‑sewn approaches. In animation, the shift from hand‑drawn cells to digital rendering tools is explained, illustrating how technology has streamlined the creative workflow while opening up new visual possibilities. The final part turns to mushrooms and gold rings, outlining how cultivation and metalworking have been transformed. Modern mushroom farms now rely on controlled environments and automated harvesting, a stark change from manual foraging. Likewise, gold‑ring production benefits from precision casting and computer‑controlled engraving, replacing many of the labour‑intensive steps once required. Throughout, the episode underscores technology’s lasting impact on how these diverse products are created.