Here you can find a little background on me and why I wanted to create this project.
The seed of this idea was first planted in the fall of 2014. As a Global Media/Fashion Studies major, for my senior thesis I was required to complete a creative project and kept coming back to the idea of fashion and jewelry. Having a background in metals and jewelry gave me the idea to center my project on wearable handmade objects and I began to interview artists working in handmade craft.
I think the idea of seeing an object through from start to finish is one that many members of my generation never entertain. In terms of jewelry, it’s cynical but true that anyone can find inexpensive, mass-produced products at any major retailer in the U.S. When an entire set of rings or a shirt is selling for a few dollars at various mall giants, it makes one wonder why some people chose to seek out or create wearable handmade objects when they’re surrounded by an endless amount of commercial alternatives on a daily basis.
The purpose and goal of this project is to really get to the essence of why people make handmade craft. The argument will always be made that handmade is better or will always be around, but as a new generation brought up to seek instant gratification begins to graduate from school, what is the reason artists and artisans choose to work in the handmade? What is its relevance and viability in a world where any new product is one click away?
In making this project I hope to compile some answers to those questions by exploring different artists working in handmade jewelry and textiles. I hope that some insight into the value of handmade will begin to take shape as the artists’ backgrounds and processes are examined and can serve as a resource for others interested in wearable or handmade craft.
Wear and Why 