Craftsmanship

In November, 2017, the doors closed on North Carolina’s White Oak plant — one of the first, and (almost) the last, big textile mill in the  U.S. to make true, vintage-style denim. Our correspondent tracks down the secret to classic jeans, and their unexpected future. "The Secret to Vintage Jeans" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans...

What makes people devote hours to the frustrating task of gluing together pieces so small you have to pick them up with tweezers? And does this obsessive hobby even matter anymore? To find out, a devotee of the art dives into Revell’s world of plastic models. "Parts & Recreation" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators,...

A collection of sewing enthusiasts, dedicated to the anachronistic art of making old-fashioned clothes, stumbles onto a path that revives quality, comfort, ecological consciousness—and respect for the female form in all its varieties. "Historical Clothing’s Comeback" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  archite...

In the Basque country of Northern Spain, the Mondragon Corporation—the world’s largest co-operative business enterprise—has found ways to  weather economic crises, avoid severe income inequality, and build long-term worker loyalty. Why don’t more businesses follow “the Mondragon model”? "Could Co-Ops Solve Income Inequality?" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia...

Rebecca Burgess is the executive director of Fibershed , an internationally recognized nonprofit focused on transforming the clothing and textile system, the author of two books, and a vocationally trained weaver and natural dyer. She sat down with Craftsmanship Quarterly to talk about price and privilege when it comes to "slow fashion," why the world can no longer afford fast fashion, a...

Everyone in the fashion world wants to find a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way to make cotton clothes — or a benign (and comfy) alternative. Some are on the brink of succeeding. But almost no one understands these innovations’ social costs. "The Human Cost of Recycled Cotton," written and narrated by Alden Wicker, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedi...

This episode is part of our series “Artisan Interviews,” in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them. Alden Wicker, award-winning journalist, sustainable fashion expert, and founder of EcoCult , talks about her disillusionment with the idea of “voting with your dollars;" why the cotton industry is in disarray; and some concerni...

If you want an unusually cozy scarf or sweater made of natural fiber, merino wool or alpaca are the usual choices. But what about the guanaco, the alpaca’s little-known cousin, which grows even finer fleece? For Adriana Marina, the guanaco’s time has come to be South America’s finest source for sustainable textiles. "Argentina’s Textile Crusader" written and narrated by Alden Wicker, ori...

Fountain pens have always served as the quintessential combination of beauty, tradition, and dexterity. But did you know they’re also tools of  environmental consciousness? Join our tour of the fountain pen’s  history, infinite varieties, and remarkable powers. With tips for shopping and maintenance. "The Perfect Pen" written by Tim Redmond, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly...

As interest in hunting with a bow and arrow has risen, much of the gear has gone high-tech. Meanwhile, a small band of purists like Gabriel Miossi have turned to a traditional Native American weapon: the stick bow. "The Lost Art of Traditional Bow Hunting" written by David Munro, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and...

As the economy’s reliance on innovation grows, the offering of toys for  girls remains–well, somewhat less than innovative. Fortunately, a few smart women are starting to solve this problem by reviving the time-honored principles of tinkering, this time for girls. "Let Tinkerbell Tinker" written by David Munro, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine...

In a growing number of artisanal shops dotted around the globe, small-scale perfume artists are bottling a world of scents left untapped  by commercial fragrance houses. "Led by the Nose" written by Barbara Tannenbaum, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more st...

An American woodworker’s love affair with “the best” (and perhaps least  well-known) sculpture museum in Paris – and what the affair taught him. "The Soul of French Invention" written by Gary Rogowski, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, au...

A writer searches Istanbul's cafes and alleys for the king of the ney, an enigmatic — and at times, endangered — flute that has long been a mainstay of Muslim musical traditions. "The Reed Artist," written by Rollo Romig, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many...

Go-go music is a rhythm-heavy blend of funk, soul, and blues that is at the very heart of Washington, D.C.'s Black community. And while the style has been influencing Top 40 hits for decades, it's little known outside the District. In this episode of Craftsmanship Quarterly 's Artisan Interviews, two key artists in the go-go scene, Shorty Corleone and Roy Battle, discuss go-go'...

Nand Kishore Chaudhary built Jaipur Rugs into a runaway success by  working closely with India’s poorest citizens, and by developing an  apprenticeship system around India’s chronic battles with child labor.  How do such difficult pieces fit into India’s social and economic  puzzle? "India's Rug Saint," written by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterl...

While prosperous countries like the U.S. have struggled to keep their honeybees alive, Greece continues to produce what many consider the  world’s finest honey. What’s the Greeks’ secret? And why can’t everyone else keep up? "Greece’s Secret to Perfect Honey," written by Robert Lovato, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovator...

Against all odds, and despite the best efforts of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, old-fashioned, analog, motion-picture film is suddenly making a comeback. What’s the magic in this old medium that digital technology can’t seem to match? Real Film Strikes Back , written by David Munro, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the ar...

You’ve probably never heard the term “acequia,” but it describes one of  the oldest methods of irrigation on the planet. Too bad American  ranchers have largely ignored it. "The Hydraulic Genius of Shari’ah Law," written by Robert Lovato, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly ,  a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  architecture of excellence. You&apo...

As today’s motorcycles become more high-tech, the simplicity of a vintage bike becomes more appealing. Among the simplest are Japanese  models from the 1970s, particularly the Hondas. That’s why people visit Dave Stefani, whose San Francisco shop looks like a mechanical surgery  ward. "The Wizard of Old Wheels" , written by Todd Oppenheimer, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly...

One man’s quiet fight to save your face, your bank account, and the environment from an endless case of shaving rash. " Occupy Your Bathroom ", written by Todd Oppenheimer, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly ,  a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio  recordings, and other...

On a funky old pier along San Francisco’s waterfront, Autodesk, a world  leader in digital tools for makers, runs a futuristic prototype shop  that may be redefining the meaning of craftsmanship. " Is Digital Craftsmanship an Oxymoron? ", written by Todd Oppenheimer , originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly ,  a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  archi...

Eddie Muller has dedicated his life to finding, restoring, and  re-releasing lost films of the great Film Noir era of the 1940s and  ’50s. His goal: the preservation of our cinematic history, well beyond  film noir. "The Celluloid Gumshoe" , written by Barbara Tannenbaum , originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly , a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the ar...

In Venice, Italy, a city built for endless walking, a determined young woman named Daniela Ghezzo has mastered the rare art of simultaneously beautifying and comforting the human foot. "The Soul of the Italian Shoe" , written by Erla Zwingle , originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly ,  a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  architecture of excellence. Yo...

With only a quick glance at today’s overheated political climate—the balkanized geography between red and blue states, the bombastic former president, the strident social media culture, all culminating in the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol—you get an unmistakable message: We don’t know how to talk with each other anymore, let alone build common ground. An expert in linguistics explores our new...