by Blake Herzog
We’re living in a time when startups and corporate giants are inventing new ways of manufacturing everything from semiconductors to spaceships with as little human labor as possible.
Automation is coming for our assembly lines, which are already calibrated to generate identical products lacking any individual stamps or signatures from the people who put their time and brawn into them.
So, what holds the most value today, monetarily and otherwise? It’s the craftsmanship and inimitable charm of human-made objects, either handmade (without the use of tools) or hand-crafted (made with some tools or small machines, such as a saw or a sewing machine).
The qualities borne by these wares that lead to them being so prized above mass-produced things are numerous, but here are a few:
Quality and durability
These items are usually created by artists or artisans who prioritize selecting sturdy, dependable materials for whatever they make; if they’re going to put so much of their blood and sweat into a product, they want to make sure it endures. Purchasing one of them is an investment in its use by yourself, your heirs and possibly through its resale.
Personal touch
Owning something created one at a time by a human being captures a moment in time. The maker’s skills, the raw materials used, the light coming through the window will never be exactly the same, and they all influence the final product. What you have will not be replicated. This is the exclusivity that drives value, especially in the world of luxury.
Attention to detail
Related to the above are the small details someone fully engaged with their work will add to their piece. That extra row of stitching on the dress and the tiny figure etched onto the surface of a table are signatures of a craftsperson. They can also channel their skill into customizing their object to your specifications, whether it’s for sizing, design or accessibility.
Sustainability
Handmade and handcrafted items are produced on a smaller, more environmentally friendly scale and typically with sustainable, biodegradable materials that won’t add to the global crisis of waste and its disposal. They’re less likely to be made of toxic ingredients and have a much smaller carbon footprint than mass-producing entities.
Emotional connection
Purchasing a product from an artisan or artist is a transaction that brings you more than a one-of-a-kind, expertly constructed possession that will last well beyond this season or the next. You buy into the producer’s story and become part of it, as will anyone you choose to gift it to.
The traditions that fueled the quality of what these craftspeople produce is key to the power of the work and what makes it a hallmark of luxury and longevity.
