We live in a mass-produced world. With the ascendancy of chain store culture, individual style has become harder and harder to achieve. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture.

In days gone by, most everyone possessed a craft by which to live by. However, when the industrial revolution steamed by in the early eighteen-hundreds, the call for individual craft was replaced by the driving force of mechanized production.

But now, when we as a society rely most on mass-production, the time of the artisan is on the rise again. A concept previously associated with poorly-knitted sweaters from grandma, handcrafted products have made a resounding appearance on the fashion market once more.

The movement is still fresh off the line, but already there has been a boom in popularity for handcrafted accessories. Bags, jewelry, hats, and scarves are just a few examples of items so popular that their creators hardly have time to complete the last stitch.

And it's no wonder, considering the benefits. A handcrafted item is not only one of a kind, but often much better quality than something one would find in your local department store. It possesses a human attention to detail that a machine cannot affect.

When you buy handcrafted, it has much broader positive effect in that you're supporting local and small businesses. By paying artists and craftspeople for their goods, you are supporting them and your own local economy. Also, the accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil, so you would be doing your part for the environment as well in buying handcrafted.

Pioneers of the handcrafted movement include the website, Etsy.com, Nashelle, Maya Moon, Susan Shaw, oSo Accessories, and Lavish. Each of these companies promotes handcrafted, quality items that are easily accessible to the everyday consumer.

Etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handcrafted. In offering viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, Etsy encourages consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases. Etsy was conceived by Rob Kalin in early 2005. Etsy now has 870,000 registered users, 160,000 of whom are individual artists selling more than 1.5 million of their handcrafted creations.

Other companies offer more specialized services in not just vending the handcrafted items, but designing and creating them. Maya Moon Designs offers handbags that are personally handcrafted with the quality leather and unique textiles. With a focus on durability and uniqueness, coupled with a passion for funky and adventurous fashion, Maya Moon bags are intended to reflect your personal fashion statement for years forward. Maya also gets it that function is essential in a handbag. Sturdy inside and outside pockets, high quality zippers and notions, and pattern design are all chosen for the marriage of functionality and flair.

Handcrafted jewelry is especially popular due to the available variety of design and materials that may be used. Nashelle Jewelry is an intimate company based in Bend, Oregon. Each piece created at Nashelle's is hand-made to order with the guarantee to never mass-produce or outsource.

Another handcrafted jewelry contributor is Susan Shaw Accessories. Susan Shaw designs the latest fashion trends with carefully selected glass beads and a growing collection of sterling silver, pewter and semi-precious stones. She then combines these to create her beautiful jewelry collections. Susan is also proud of her "Give-Back Program", whereby the company donates a portion of its proceeds to selected charities. The company plans on continuously expanding its "Give-Back" collections.

oSo Accessories is yet another budding company that specializes in hand-crafted jewelry. Their unique selection of semi-precious stones and luminous metals combine for a vibrant style of jewelry. Lavish Designs are similar to oSo Accessories in their use of fine wirework in their designs with not a single item mass-produced.

While the prices of handcrafted pieces may be slightly higher than that of their mass-produced cousins, take into consideration that you're paying for a quality and singular style unheard of in most commercial venues. It's going to last longer, and twenty-thousand other people won't have it. So the next time you set out to search for that perfect handbag, consider the benefits of buying handcrafted.

Sponsored by: Dating and Attract Women like Don Juan

PhotoCredit: http://www.cottrillsretail.com

Related Post:

• Top 10 Miami Beach Salon
• Perfume for that special someone as a gift
• How to care for your leather clothing
• Fashion Icon - Fashion attracts attention and more so if in good taste
  

Author: Sara Metz

Back to Basics - The Return of the Artisan