- I just read a Seattle Times article by Jolayne Houtz and it's always encouraging to hear someone else affirm my thoughts on indie design. Here are my field notes:
- "People aren't satisfied anymore shopping at big-box stores," said Smith, 27, who sells her clothes online under the name Mama Monkey. "With handmade, there's a history. There's a story. People love that."
- "Everywhere you go, it's like a carbon-copy item. Whether you're in London or Peoria, it's the same factory-produced shirt at the Gap from somewhere in Macau. I think a lot of people my age are fed up with that," said Matthew Stinchcomb, 31, head of marketing for Etsy.com, based in New York.
- A thread of social consciousness also runs through the indie-crafting world. Crafters talk about supporting individuals rather than big corporations, about fair wages, about re-establishing the one-on-one connection between buyer and seller that existed before automation and mass production.
- "Upcycling" is a popular theme in the new crafting movement — taking something old or used and giving it a makeover with new elements that change its appearance or function.
- "I would much rather support a small venture — another stay-at-home mom — than a big corporation," Ramsay said. "Rather than wondering if some child made this in Malaysia, I love knowing someone's hands touched the thing I'm buying."
- I also love the challenge that the designer of Dottie Angel put forth in her blog:
- As a result, Katie from Texas decided to take on said challenge and during her first month she bought this redesigned dress from my etsy shop! I love the photography by Mary Beth Tait and be sure to check out Katie's blog!
It's things like these that inspire me to keep doing what I do.
