Homecrafts
brings all my thoughts together and how hand crafted items should be valued a
lot more than what we value them today. The process of making hand crafted
items is very slow which allows both our mind and skills to improve and even brings
people together from different backgrounds. The main point about handcrafts is
that it’s self-made with a lot of time and effort which deserves much more
appreciation. The product is not just a ‘thing’, but has a personal connection
to the maker which often makes us attached to the finished product in a whole
different way than if it was to be purchased from a store.
This idea is just one point of view to the
brand; the importance of making by one’s own hands. The other point of view I
discovered whilst coming back from a trip to India a few years ago when I was overwhelmed
with how happy and content Indian craftsmen and artisans were in their own village
environment. They were poor but happy to work and very delightful in nature. I
visited the place with an idea of trying to help them from over here by employing
them, not just giving them money. I really appreciate their knowledge and
skills. If anyone is interested, I’m happy to tell more stories from Maheswar.
That trip triggered not only the idea of the Worldcrafts-collection (which by
now, has already been launched) but also the thought of a
Homecrafts-collection. I thought that our artisans in the country side also
live in very humble settings and need work. And why would we only help others,
but not our own people?
As soon as
I got on the plane I started thinking about ways to establish the brand. What
do we need for that? How could we honestly say this is a local and handmade
project? Would someone actually pay for these products? I was pondering all
these questions and came to the conclusion that we need two lines and three
different collections. Those who can afford it buy the readymade products and
the ones with a lot of time but maybe a little less wealth can make their own.
Or, even if one does have some extra cash someone may prefer making the products
by themselves. That was it, the core idea of the project that allowed me to
think things further.
I myself am
a very enthusiastic interior decorator, but also very conscious about what I
buy. I want the products to be ecological and them to last from mother to
daughter, just like in the old times. I own an old cupboard that belonged to my
father and I think it is the most magnificent object in our home. It has only
just been restored even though it would have been cheaper to throw away and
just buy a new one instead.
But this is
not what happened. The story continues…
