Hmm… a little critique of the ‘Buy Handmade’ movement has been posted over here…. by a (guilt-stricken) Etsy Loving Blogger.
I wonder what you all think – is the ‘Buy Handmade’ movement just another way to consume? Or is it a wonderful alternative? I’m all for a bit of healthy debate.
Personally, i feel that a thrifty, use-what-you-have approach is a great way to go about making things. Re-cycling and re-purposing are important elements in the creative process for me. I’m certain other crafters share my view – either through necessity or philosophy. But I personally like to use new materials when i make stuff as well.
I don’t think that the value of making something by hand is in anyway diluted by using new materials (or lots of stitches). I think we appreciate things more, when we have put time and love into them, chosen the materials carefully and made them by hand. In making things, we make a choice to consume consciously. Same deal if we buy handmade.
Sometimes you need to get stuff. I endeavour to choose the handmade option as often as possible.
What do you think? Is buying handmade just another form of consumerism?
xx mikes
Hmmm, we all love stuff, so why not love stuff that hasn’t been made in a sweat shop? THIS is a major factor for me, there is no such thing as an ethical sweat shop.
I didn’t read the other article that you linked to, but I think about this topic sometimes. If you can buy handmade AND recycled, that’s fantastic. But if you can buy handmade rather than new from a big department store then that’s pretty good too. I think we can’t always do the absolute best thing. It’s like when we go to the supermarket, we can’t buy organic, fair trade, australian made, genetically unmodified, recycled packaged products all in one item, but if we’re getting one or some of those things in a product then it’s better than nothing.
That’s my two cents.
….and what lara said 🙂
It’s me again. I just received the lastest edition of Glimmer (http://supernaturale.com/glimmer.html), and there is related stuff in it, about the Buy Handmade pledge, and Etsy accepting a $27 million investment.
But you should really answer this call-out for crafty types who work with charity – they need you! http://supernaturale.com/glimmer.html?id=999#g999
i prefer to buy handmade because I know that a lot of effort, time and passion has gone into making something…
i can see where she’s coming from but ilove Etsy! ive bought so many cool things – so much talent! i also love that unique one of a kind feel to the goods!
I actually think the Buy Handmade movement is like the Green movement and consumer driven. There is an exhibition listing on the Craft Qld site for an exhibition exploring this issue.
http://www.craftqld.com.au Follow the links to exhibitions. I think consumers can assume that the artisan is more informed and aware about what goes into their product. They can, sometimes wrongly, assume that say a piece of jewellery is better to buy from a local artisan because it’s not made by some person earning less than $2 a day and where the silver or gems have been mined by people working in poor conditions. Their is an element of the personal in buying handmade. There is some sense of participating in a community to buy from the maker.
I have strong feelings about this one.
When I buy handmade, I have to like the item. I don’t buy stuff just because it’s handmade. That said, if I’m working on a special project, I’d rather buy fabric from Lara, for example – because I’ve read her blog and she lives in my city – than get fabric from Spotlight. It’s more fun that way, too.
When I make stuff myself, I always try to use what I have and get inspiration that way, but I often have to buy new supplies like embroidery floss. But if I’m *selling* stuff, it has to be mostly recycled because I really don’t want to put more stuff out into the world.
That’s why I offered the discount with my hot water bottle covers, for people who brought in their own old jumper and/or hottie for me to work with. That way I’m improving upon something they already have – not just creating a product for purchase. Even though I could buy extra jumpers at op shops, I still have issues with the fact that they are otherwise wearable. So I only use the ones with really big holes or stains and work around them, so I can add another step to their life cycle.
I also like the fact that I’m having a sort of anonymous conversation with the buyer. Custom orders are the most fun for me, and I guess it goes back to feeling like you sort of know the person or have some sort of connection with them. That’s why I will happily take orders again this year for the hottie covers!
And, just to add to this debate, does anyone else have issues with the mail-order aspect of handmade? I am often more reluctant to buy something online rather than from a shop because I don’t want more packaging (especially the non-recyclable kind). I’d love to offer reused packaging for my etsy orders but don’t know if it’s just me and the rest of the world wants pristine padded mailers.
I commented over at the source too, and here’s what I said:
I agree with Jason’s comment to a degree. There are certain elements within the “hand made movement” that are all about recycling and refashioning, however I don’t think it universally covers the ethos of all crafters / Etsy sellers.
I personally buy handmade for the reasons stated by Jason – having something unique that has been made by someone who loves what they do.
I try to buy from small “cottage” (for want of a better term) suppliers for my own crafting wherever possible. It may be another form of consumerism and I may be somewhat idealistic in doing so, but I like to think that “small” means anti corporate and fair traded product.
Thanks for the link to this Pip – very thought provoking.
I love the fact that the at least conversation about whether to buy or not to buy is being had, especially by the people who are making stuff to sell! I buy both handmade and mass produced stuff, but I am trying to ask myself every time I buy something – why do I NEED it? This is not just about me any more either, as I have become quite conscious about how my consuming habits will influence my children’s in the future.
I can completely see her point in that yes, buying handmade is not necessarily being anti-consumerism but is in fact consumption any way you look at it – after all the “Buy” in “Buy Handmade” is an act of consumption! I also understand that the history of craft has been one of “use what you have to make what you need” and therefore re-cycling and reusing is very much a part of the act of crafting – perhaps more important now given the increasing awareness of impacts of over-consumption on the environment.
However, the “Buy Handmade” movement itself in my understanding was more about supporting your independent and local artisan who is actually involved in the whole creative process from conception to finished item, and who has put the item together with a lot of thought and care because they simply love to create. I also thought it was about spreading the virtues of handmade goods to counteract much of the mainstream view that handmade goods are inferior to goods produced by large companies. Instead of being a stand against consumption and consumerism, I think the “Buy Handmade” movement is was more a stand against the mass production of goods by unethical means (which lets face it is not just confined to China but occurs in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, etc).
Given this, I think it is also important as crafters and artisans to be aware (as much as is possible) of where our materials have come from and buy from the suppliers that we know we can trust.
for me, buying handmade is about so much more than consuming. it is a way to support artisans and crafters all over the globe and give a one of a kind gift to someone you love. the community is so inclusive, there is endless variety in terms of materials (and taste-levels). if one is looking for recycled/environment-friendly products, they’re out there!
I left this comment over at the critque but thought I would post it here too.
I think the handmade movement is all about inspiring people to be creative.To allow them freedom to express themselves and continue crafts and techniques that were beginning to be lost.It fights back at people like my daughters textile teacher who told her that if someone asks you whether you made something then that is an insult! That if something looks handmade it means it is shoddy and inferior to factory made products! I think the the handmade movement is much more that a moral stance it is a cultural and heritage stance too.We need to show our future crafters and artists the importance of their creativity to our society.
I left my comment where it all began.
http://lauratorres.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/a-critique-on-the-buy-handmade-movement/#comment-2016
I prefer to buy handmade purely to support the artisan who laboured to create a one off piece. It’s similar to the concept of buying produce at a farmers market (buying directly from the person who grew the produce). I’m not necessarily thinking about the materials used to make it.
If I am going to buy a gift anyway, why not buy handmade over mass produced?
Oh and, most importantly, buying handmade is about leveling the playing field and supporting local artisans and crafters. It allows everyone to get their wares out there to the world! To me THAT is the most important part of the handmade revolution.
Mmm yeah interesting one. I see less of a connection between recycling/thrift & handmade as I do between uniqueness & handmade. I buy handmade because I want something that’s one of a kind, rather than because it’s environmentally friendly or morally superior.
However inherent in that uniqueness is the knowledge that there’s no mass production & wastage going on, which feels nice to be a part of 🙂
As for new materials, pretty obvious where I stand on that one given that I’m one of the peeps _producing_ new materials which get used for craft 🙂
Yeah, it’s a tricky issue. When I heard about the ‘Buy Handmade’ campaign I wondered what it’s ultimate purpose was. My original thought was that it was to encourage buying local, steering away from commercial enterprises that use cheap labour… But then I realised that all the crafty stuff is made from purchased products anyway – fabrics, buttons, thread etc. Which, like the critique mentioned are most likely made in China anyway!
I’m all for buying local, Australian made and recycled. I love handmade too – but I do agree it is probably just another form of consumerism that sneakily makes you feel that bit better about your purchases! I’m unsure if it is more economic / environment friendly