In the early 19th century, pundits marked the time of death of artisanal crafts, which for centuries had been the sole method of creating the goods we’d come to count on, like clothes and furniture. The verdict? Murder. Killed by the Industrial Revolution, smothered by the lure of new machinery, trampled by a desire for efficiency. Gone. Obsolete.
Or so they thought.
Despite the ease of mass-produced products, the demand for original, one-of-a-kind creations by craftsmen and artisans has never completely dissipated – and neither have the artisans themselves. Though apprenticeships have turned to internships and marketplaces have become web pages, these lovers of their trades have endured the test of time.
Some have stayed true to tradition, some have evolved to fit the new era, but all are doing what they can to keep their craft alive.
You just have to know where to look.