As the world turns increasingly digital, it’s no surprise that consumers have an appetite for the analog.

Across fashion, lifestyle and technology, there are brands stand out; most often, celebrating the art of handcraft comes hand-in-hand with sustainable practices, and while both can demand a higher price point, that’s not always the case. And when it is, it’s well earned. Items made by hand or in small batches carry with them an allure and a sentiment all their own; whether consumers are drawn to the story behind a product, or simply looking to escape however briefly from their screens, demand for handmade products is on the rise.

Maine-Made

Alexander Widener stocks his Wicasset Maine interiors store with a beautiful curation of items old and new; almost all of them are made by hand. “Those are the types of objects I’m drawn to,” he tells me over Zoom. “When something's handmade, the person who made it leaves a little piece of them in it, and that gives the object so much character and so much life. And then when you bring it into your home, you get a little piece of that character in life too.” Craft is something he says feels very true to the Maine spirit–just down the street, Eric McIntyre teaches spoon carving and broom making and this year Widener plans to work with a local glass blower to stock 18th and 19th century inspired glassware. “I feel like other places I've lived, there's not a glass blower that could blow glass in a way that I would like this, but in Maine, it was so easy to find him,” he says. “I think it's part of our culture here.”

So much inspires consumers to be drawn to handmade goods, he says; there’s charm of something being one of a kind, especially in a world where fashion is faster than ever–not to mention that with the ever expanding presence of AI, there’s something palpable and meaningful about picking up an object and being able to see how it was made. “ChatGPT can't make a handmade basket here in a small coastal village in Maine, but my 76-year-old friend Maré can!” he says. “And she also teaches others how to do it. And there's something so important to humanness about craft.” In addition to stocking handmade goods, Widener hosts workshops where guests can learn crafts like basket making. “Two things happen when you take a craft class,” he says. “Everyone got to learn how to weave a basket and they walked out with a basket that they can use and they can bring into their life and they made it themselves, but they also did it with a group of other people. And so now all of those people are connected through this shared experience.”

Widener also offers some critical perspective on how we value handmade goods. Something made by hand might earn a higher price or a more rarefied status, but by in large, the people making these items become rarer still. “I think the reason people don't value it is because mostly it was done by women. And I think there's deep-rooted misogyny in the way that we look at things that are handmade or homemade,” he explains. “Even the difference between handmade and homemade, there's this negative connotation with the word homemade, [which is gendered.] When we celebrate craft, we have to celebrate the history of it and the fact that it was women who were doing it.”

He also stresses that everything we see is made by someone’s hands; when items are mass produced it’s easier for consumers to depersonalize them, but humans are behind it all even if the market doesn’t hold the same reverence for them. “I think it’s important for all of us to think, ‘human hands touched this’ when we’re throwing things into our cart,” he says. “When you come into a shop like mine, it’s very clear and I hope people stop and think about what they’re buying–but I think it’s a lesson we can take into other areas of our life.”

Home Sweet Home

The home decor market is rich with unique handmade goods; small businesses utilizing platforms like Etsy sell everything from ceramics to linens; even major retailers like Tuckernuck and Anthropologie stock items that showcase a handmade touch.

“There’s a natural curiosity that emerges and they see the unpredictability involved that makes each piece so special, and a one of a kind piece of art,” Kalen Kaminski the founder of Gone, tells me. A key element to handmade goods, she says, is understanding that when things are made by hand, they may lack the perfection of something mass produced, but that’s all part of the charm. “In a culture that prioritizes speed and uniformity, handmade work offers something fundamentally different,” she says “Those irregularities aren’t flaws, they’re evidence of presence.”

Kaminski founded Gone, then called Upstate, in 2010 with an initial focus on handmade textiles. “That curiosity quickly became a practice, then a business.” Gone carries hand blown glass and light fixtures in addition to textiles; she tells me she doesn’t turn to trend to inform her inventory but instead what’s exciting her at the moment, be that a dance or theater performance, or art show. Working in a handmade discipline, she says, provides a sense of intimacy; the decision to build a collection of handmade wares was less about business and more about instinct–and it’s an ethos she maintains to this day, even as the business has grown.

Today, Gone calls a showroom and workshop in New York City’s Chinatown home; Kaminski tells me that having a physical space creates a “direct bridge between the finished object and the process behind it, which is something that often gets lost.” As all of Gone’s textiles are dyed in house, and their glass blown pieces are made in collaboration with local artisans, this visibility is critical; it enriches the customer experience by making the care and patience that goes into each item visible. Kaminski also hosts workshops in the space. “It not only creates a deeper appreciation, but also becomes a meaningful way to connect people to the work and to the values behind it,” she says.

For Kaminski, whose wares evoke the fluidity of the natural world–blown glass in unctuous pairings of green and pink, purple and blue, or earthy browns and yellows, and textiles that feel rustic and delicate all at once–Gone is both an ode to a slower way of creating, and a means of protecting the craft. “Handmade objects carry a certain weight, a quiet energy,” she says. “Preserving these traditions isn’t just about honoring the past it’s about protecting a way of making, and living, that still feels deeply relevant.”

The Finer Things in Life

In the neighboring borough of Brooklyn, you’ll find Fewer Finer, a female founded fine jewelry brand that specializes in hand engraving. Their collection of timeless pieces that include everything from classic everyday necklaces, to intricately engraved rings and charms, is, in the truest sense of the word: heirloom jewelry; designed to last not only in style, but in quality. “Fewer Finer was built on the idea that fine jewelry is best when it's worn regularly and carries meaning,” the brand’s founder, Madison Snider Podpirka tells me. “Our pieces are proudly made end-to-end in NYC's Diamond District using time-honored methods to create high-quality jewelry you can wear everyday for years and generations to come.”

The brand which is known for its range of customizable pieces provides a quality, hands on experience from the earliest stages of working with a client, offering the opportunity to personalize rings, necklaces, and more. Clients enjoy a meticulous customization process from ideation, to renderings and design, to final product that makes them feel like they’re not just getting a piece of jewelry, but a little piece of themselves reflected back to them in something beautiful and wearable. Collaboration, she tells me, is paramount to any piece they make; even pieces in their Signature collection can be tailored to create something unique to a client.

Working with natural diamonds and 14k gold, Fewer Finer puts a premium on starting with only the best materials, and this principle extends to the craftspeople they work with. “Since the business began, we have always worked directly with every single trade professional who touches our pieces and kept our production entirely local to New York,” she says. “We cast, set, polish, and source entirely from New York City's Diamond District.” This is a win-win; they’re able to support local tradespeople who have honed their craft for generations, and it’s the best quality money can by. Fewer Finer’s commitment to hand engraving is notable; it’s a trade becoming less and less common, she tells me, and yet one that really resonates with their clients–so much so that it’s become one of the fastest growing parts of their business. “In such a digital-first world, I think people are increasingly drawn to knowing more about how their goods are made, especially their luxury ones,” she says. “There’s an awareness that human hand work is a luxury.”

In The Bag

In 2021, Mulberry introduced a Made to Last initiative as part of their 50th anniversary; in it the British luxury leather goods explored the fashion industry’s often adverse impact on the environment, highlighting their own standards of production, by contrast: this included carbon neutral factories, a commitment to working and fair wages for their craftspeople–what they dubbed a ‘farm to finished product’ supply chain. The brand also launched the Mulberry exchange, a buy back program; customers can sell their pre-loved Mulberry items back to the brand, which carefully restores them to be resold; Since its launch, the program has turned more than a million pounds a year.

Now, five years later, the brand is celebrating the initiatives success and partnering with British Pasture Leather on a launch of limited edition bags. “This launch is really special for us because it brings to life a commitment we made five years ago, to move towards a circular and regenerative business model,” Rosie Wollacott, Mulberry;s Head of Group Sustainability tells me. “The collaboration with British Pasture Leather marks the first time we’re launching a fully British leather supply chain, from farm right through to finished bag.”

The initiative starts with Pasture for Life–a non-profit farming community that certifies farms where animals are raised entirely on pastures for the duration of their lives; these farms also follow strict protocols for the animal’s welfare, diets, as well as land management. From there, British Pasture Leather, an organization that connects leatherworkers to certified farms, provides hides to a traditional tannery in Bristol, and specialist finishers in Northamptonshire. Each piece is crafted at The Rookery, Mulberry’s flagship Sommerset factory, where the brand’s craftspeople uphold generations of the brand’s tradition for thoughtfully made leather goods. The collection includes four designs: a new silhouette, the Boston available in two sizes, as well as a classic Bayswater in the Vintage Ebony color way; a Darley Cosmetic Pouch and Zipped pouch round out the collection which are available starting today on the brand’s website and at their Regent Street store in London.

The timing could not be better, for the iconic brand which is experiencing a renaissance among Gen-Z content creators; with nostalgia for the 90’s and early aughts at a fever pitch, bags like the Mulberry Basywater are among the most coveted. “It’s genuinely brilliant to see, especially through platforms like TikTok,” Wollacott tells me. “Watching Gen‑Z embrace a well loved Bayswater shows that there’s a real appetite for pieces with history and character, not just something brand new. We hear so many stories of mothers handing bags down to their daughters, so seeing that mindset scale up–even when it starts as a trend–feels incredibly positive.”

It’s also perfectly on brand with Mulberry’s commitment to sustainability. “Whether or not they’re consciously thinking about circularity, they’re instinctively valuing longevity, and that’s exactly what Mulberry has always stood for,” Wollacott says. Whether it’s the brand’s craftmanship which ensures a bag is built to last, or their buy back program, Mulberry excels at delivering on the human touch. “For us, longevity isn’t a response to fast fashion–longevity has always been central to Mulberry and our products. Our bags are designed to be loved for years. When products last, they reduce waste, honor the craftsmanship and materials behind them and encourage people to build a more meaningful relationship with what they own.”

The Clothes on Your Back

Enthusiasm for handmade goods is prevalent through the ready to wear and accessories market as well. Many of the most coveted brands in womenswear produce clothing that is both handmade and ethically made; retailers like Donni and Frank & Eileen champion pieces made domestically. Donni, a female founded Los Angeles brand utilizes natural fibers in their range of refined basics which are all made in Los Angeles from locally sourced or milled fabrics and in with primarily female-owned partners like vendors and pattern makers. Frank & Eileen is a female owned, certified B Corp which produces their clothing in California from traceable fibers. Even across luxury retailers, like Bottega Veneta and Tod’s–a commitment to sustainability and handmade manufacturing naturally align.

“In an increasingly digitized and automated world, there’s a renewed interest and focus on quality craftsmanship,” Gabriel Openshaw, the President of Overland tells me. The brand specializes in sheepskin and leather goods from iconic jackets to gloves and he says their clients revel in the tactile nature of their product. “Making a coat from sheepskin requires a human touch,” he says. “In an age of fast fashion and mass-produced goods, handcrafted products stand out even more for their personality, presence, and relevance. Customers love it.” He stresses that with production, two choices always exist: present consumers with the lowest price, or the highest quality–Overland has chosen the latter. “In our industry that means honoring and supporting the elite craft necessary to make a truly superior product.”

For shoe brand, Patricia Green, the values are similar; the company’s shoes are handcrafted by artisans in Spain and Brazil using techniques that have been passed down generation to generation. “It is truly a work of art seeing each pair passed through the hands of twenty plus artisans from start to finish,” Austin, the brand’s Head of Brand & eCommerce tells me. “The leathers are all hand-cut, and stitched by hand. Each step reflects a level of care and human touch that cannot be replicated by mass production.”

For the epitome of handmade goods, it’s hard to beat Morgenthal Frederics: the storied optical company was founded in 1913 as Frederics Opticians before it was renamed Morgenthal Frederics in 1986. Today the brand carries a wide selection of beautifully crafted frames; of note is the ultra luxurious horn selection. “The beauty of horn is that, because it’s a natural material, each piece is unique unto itself, [they’re] a one-of-a-kind, beautifully unique, and exceptionally light and comfortable,” Jessica Kaczor, the brand’s Chief Retail Officer tells me.

The process of creating a pair of horn glasses is demanding and exacting; the result is a pair of frames that clients hail as delivering unparalleled comfort.

“The entire process is as eco conscious as possible,” Kaczor tells me. “First, the horn is sourced from the Asian water buffalo only after the completion of the animal’s natural lifecycle. The material is then taken to our wind-and water-powered factory in Germany where it’s pressed to very thin layers and then built, layer by layer, into unique designs.” A single frame is made of up to twenty layers of horn painstakingly pressed and polished, each step done by hand by expert artisans. A single pair of frames can take months to complete–Kaczor tells me it’s a true labor of love, adding “There are no shortcuts or expediting.”

The care put into each pair is felt in the client relationship, too. “Now more than ever, consumers are paying more attention to the time-honored brands and products,” she says. “Trust, integrity and quality offer immeasurable value. And Morgenthal Frederics’ vision is unwavering.”

Say Cheese!

Mike Gianattasio, Leica’s president of North America says they are seeing an apparent shift in the demand for the handmade; the analog. “Frankly, it’s a natural response to where the world has gone,” he tells me. “Over the past decade, everything has accelerated with automation, convenience, and scale. Technology has made it easier than ever to produce and consume, but in many ways, it’s also created distance. The connection between the person and the experience has been diluted.”

Much like Kaminski, he says a more hands-on user experience changes the relationship between the user and their medium and it’s something they’re seeing across both their digital and analog markets. “[Our cameras] require discipline, patience, and intention–and that’s exactly what many people feel is missing elsewhere.” The legendary company has been making cameras, lenses, and sports optics products for over 150 years; a favorite of camera wonks and storied photographers alike, the brand has remained steadfast in their commitment to precise manufacturing; it’s about conviction, he tells me. “We’ve been very clear, for over a century, about what Leica stands for,” he says. “Craftsmanship, precision, and a deep respect for the photographic process are not trends for us, they’re principles. And those principles don’t change based on market cycles or short-term demand.”

In addition to the brand’s brick and mortar locations around the world, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Leica Galleries which expand the reach of the company’s commitment to craftsmanship from consumers of the brand to a broader demographic of photography lovers. It’s no secret that a Leica camera–like so many handmade goods–comes with a hefty price tag, but the brand doesn’t believe your bank account should determine your access to the photography Leica cameras inspire. Leica’s galleries have no admission fee; they showcase notable and new photographers and the artwork can be purchased on site. “Through our galleries, and our global community, customers engage with photography as a craft and as a form of cultural expression,” he tells me.