Why Handmade is Better: The Value of Traditional Craftsmanship

I love the environment; I love the sustainable way of living, and that’s why I always buy handmade. You might ask how handmade is better. 

Why is craftsmanship valuable? 

Why buy an expensive handmade metal craft for gifting? 

Why not buy something made from plastic at a supermarket? Precisely, something produced in bulk and available in great quantities? 

To answer all these questions, I decided to research and find out why I must buy handmade.

 

How is Handmade Sustainable?

Usually, sustainability comes at the end. But this time, let’s begin with it.

At DivineHandicrafts, we work with native artisans closely and directly. These artisans use eco-friendly and natural materials. Take our Chindi rugs, for instance. They comprise recycled cotton, rugs from natural materials like jute or Sisal. These plant based natural fibres and using recycling mechanism have positive impact on the environment. On the other hand, our Dhokra products contain durable metal that doesn’t need replacement.

Handmade items are produced in small-scale industries. Hence, these do not require as much energy as big factories. Besides, they generate minimal waste. The artisans with whom we work hail from a poor background. Therefore, buying handmade items they make provides them with an opportunity to earn a living. Purchasing from and supporting them consistently can also help enhance their living standards.

Why is Traditional Craftsmanship So Special?

Traditional craftsmanship is unique in many ways. Imagine an animal figurine that an artisan makes using a 4000-year-old technique that dates back to the Indus civilisation. The artisans don’t acquire these skills in a day or two. Instead, they acquire them through generations of hard work and perfection.

Each sculpture has a story behind it. So, when you buy handmade, it conserves the tradition and keeps it alive. Particularly, in the world of machines, something someone crafts by hand tells a distinct tale of cultural heritage. It signifies the painstaking efforts these artisans continue to make to keep the ancient legacy alive.

Perhaps, as buyers and lovers of handicrafts, all we can do is buy the sculptures they’ve made and encourage them to preserve their art.

Why Celebrate Handmade?

Amidst the fast-paced world, handmade may appear a little slow. We are all used to mass production these days, aren’t we? But some things go beyond numbers. You cannot determine their value by the quantity they are produced. Instead, you need a distinct artistic perspective to experience its story, legacy, and heritage.

Handmade items aren’t mass-produced. They aren’t factory-made products that yield from an assembly line. Instead, they are made with love and crafted with perfection. While making them, the artisan thinks about the various elements, including the craft’s colour, its shape, balance, and beauty. Thus, they personalise the craft to every possible extent. You can feel the thoughtfulness the artisan has invested in the craft when you hold the finished piece.

Remember, handmade isn’t necessarily about perfection. A factory-made product is perfect in every sense, including its shape, colour, texture, etc. But is it unique? Not really. Once programmed, any machine can make it. However, that’s not the case with handmade items. They may not be perfectly shaped. But they are surely unique. A slight variation in the colour, a little asymmetry in the shape – these aren’t flaws. Instead, they signify authenticity and evidence that these are handcrafted.

Now, ask yourself, can machines replicate an artisan’s authenticity?

At least I don’t think so! Handmade items are more than just a product. They are a memory and a story you can take forward and pass on to your generations.

Final Thoughts!

I may be a little bit biased. But in this machine-driven world, where people get carried away by numbers and value them more than everything else, I value the sustainable way of living. I love something made with care, attention, and passion. 

Sometimes, I feel a little upset when I see how mass-produced rules the roost. Be it the fashion industry or plastics, everything is machine-made.

However, amidst the fast-paced world, you can make the conscious decision of choosing what is better for the earth and for the future generation. 

Remember, there is always going to be a difference between a jam bought from a supermarket and a handmade jam by granny!

I value that difference and support what’s handmade.

If you too do and love handicrafts, choose DivineHandicrafts.

Our range of handcrafted items will leave you spellbound. 

Besides, we don’t just sell items but connect artisans with the global market that values handcrafted items and unique artistry.

Join us and help to make a sustainable living.