Here’s the article: Handmade 2.0

Uh-uh. that’s what I thought, reading 2 pages into the article, talking about the crafts movement starting around 2004. This is 2008 (soon to be). While I don’t think the Crafts/DIY movement in the likes of Etsy , Ikea Hackers, part of Instructables and also which is driving demand at sites like Threadless; is about to self-destruct, somehow I feel in my bones this is part of a movement that will eventually taper and snuff out.

There’s countless examples: the Arts & Crafts Movement in early 20th century, the nostalgic movement in the 1950s and perhaps, more recently the 2000s, which has seen bohemia, retro threads and a keen interest in all things last century, so much it seems we haven’t moved much away from it.

However, the article states: “But the new wave of crafters infused uncool-sounding domestic skills like knitting and sewing with a postpunk attitude that revolved partly around mall-rejecting self-sufficiency.” citing instances of ‘ iPod Cocoons’ and embroidered shirts that said ‘will fuck for shoes’.

While I do feel that the movement will taper after a few years of gratifying interest in handmade crafts, furry little toys and pretty metal jewelry, Etsy’s Robert Kalin believes the appeal will outlast the faddish aspects. As quoted in the article- ‘In 25 years, he said, Etsy would be both worldwide and personal, a global-local marketplace, a Web version of the Athenian agora’.

I admit he makes a pertinent point when he says, ““When you get an item from Etsy, there’s this whole history behind it. There’s a person behind it.” There’s more in the article which I have not mentioned, i’ll leave it to you to deciper: Handmade 2.0