Enoughness, Buy Less, Buy Better, Make It Last
Is it really the culture shift of the Century?
This topic has been a recurring theme when chatting with customers at Christmas Artisan Fairs this year. Bearing in mind these are groups of people specifically seeking out handmade gifts and home decor, on the face of it, the answer appears to be a resounding yes.
I did notice that most customers were gleefully producing their own cotton fold up shopping bags when asked if they required a paper carrier bag. This is a seismic and welcome change for me as a Maker Vendor.
My luxury handwoven homewares are generally considered investment pieces. It’s been a wonderful experience hearing how the table linen and interior accessories made by me will be treasured and used. During these conversations, however, it is evident that the decision to buy beautiful items from high quality materials is an extension of a well-established sense of make do and mend, and natural frugality. Perhaps then this sense of what is enough is only just beginning to filter through society from a more mature demographic?
Certainly the gossip amongst the Artisans themselves was the thrill of showing wonderfully diverse and fabulously put together outfits, almost entirely sourced second hand or sewn themselves. It’s something I’ve been working hard on myself all of this year. My wardrobe has been culled and sold or donated, and I’ve vowed that every new piece I buy will be handmade by small British independent makers. Naturally this is a slow process, as buying clothes with good materials and having them sewn slowly with traditional methods has a higher labour cost than I’ve been used to. It is also strangely liberating to have less choice but to only own those garments that fit me perfectly, and are my ultimate choice in colour and style. I’m really enjoying the process.
I have definitely decided to adjust my lifestyle to consider, when adding new possessions, how and where they will fit into long term usage or how I can adapt and repurpose these things as time goes by. For me it is no longer a new challenge but a refreshing habit. How about you?
