No other human era has been as privy to rapid technological advancement as the 21st century. From education to healthcare to media and entertainment, the technological revolution has greatly changed the face of every industry. But there is still one sector that has retained its authenticity and remained relatively untouched by technology, namely, handmade production
Unlike commodities produced for Mass consumption by automated machines, handmade products are specially designed and crafted by skilled artisans for sale in regional provinces and districts. This article looks at five ways in which the beauty and sustainable nature of handmade products make them an excellent alternative to goods produced on scale in big industries.
1. Handmade Products Offer Novelty
The production of handmade items has its roots in traditional knowledge that indigenous artisans have perfected, mastered, and passed on to their community members over the centuries. Modelled on this knowledge, the handmade items are thus historically important. They are creative, innovative, pay homage to nature, and serve the human appetite for artistry.
2. Handmade Products Are Eco-friendly
The handmade items are made from durable, natural materials of the highest quality. Furthermore, since they are created either manually or using non-automated instruments like scissors and hooks, they have a minimal carbon footprint.
3. Handmade Products Embody Cultural Richness
Handmade items form a major chunk of any country’s cultural heritage — one that is impossible to duplicate by industrial machines. This is because the production of handicraft items is about the native population and their life stories. In India, the relationship between the indigenous people and nature is a major recurring motif. The works they create testify to the artisans’ ingenuity, artistic prowess, and the ease with which they can bring together the human and the natural world in conversation.
4. Handmade Products Sustain Local Communities
Since the production of handmade items relies upon a skilled and experienced workforce, an investment into these products helps support local workers and artisans. It protects their livelihood, networks, and resources, as well as grants them the freedom to practice their craftsmanship with pride and dignity. , As one handmade admirer eloquently puts it,“ “when we buy handmade, we are helping to ensure traditional handicrafts are kept alive and creating a demand for training in these skills.””
5. Handmade Products Allow For Personalisation
While the beauty of handiwork lies in its highly intricate designs, patterns, and even the minute imperfections, an equally remarkable facet is the scope it offers for personalisation to its buyers. This adds an intimate touch to the handmade objects and imbues them with a truly unique and special character according to the personalities and individual tastes of the buyers.To conclude, these aesthetic and sustainable qualities are what makes the handicraft items precious and worth investing in. A switch from mass-produced goods to handmade might seem a little difficult in the beginning, but in the end, it will be worth it.