Not everything described as handmade is actually that well made.
When you buy online, you can’t pick something up, feel the weight of it or turn it over in your hands. Therefore, it can be hard to tell the difference between a well made piece and something that's little better than tat.
So this is a straightforward guide to buying handmade in the UK, and how to spot what’s actually worth it.
Not all handmade is equal
A label of handmade isn't any guarantee of quality.
Some work is designed and made by skilled artists who’ve spent years refining what they do. Other pieces have been produced quickly to hit a price point or made by people at a hobbyist level.
Both get labelled the same way. This is where a bit of judgement is needed.
What actually sits behind a well made piece?
When a product has been properly made, you will see and feel it immediately. But if you’re buying online, it's not that simple. So here are a few things worth paying attention to:
Where has it come from?
This question isn't just about the finished product, but the materials that have gone into it. Are they chosen for a reason or simply because they’re cheap and available?
Is it genuinely artist-led and original?
There’s a difference between someone designing and making their own work and someone assembling ready-made components or copying another.
Does the finish hold up?
Can you spot attention to detail in the piece? The finer details can separate something you’ll keep from something you’ll replace.
Is there real skill involved?
Some skills and processes take years to develop and get right. You can often tell when that time and experience is present.
Will it last?
If it’s likely to end up in a drawer or the bin in six months, it’s not a good buy, however handmade it might be.
Are reproductions produced in small batches or en masse?
Many artists reproduce their designs, such as in the form of prints or greeting cards. Where this is the case, are these reproductions produced in small batches, with consideration to materials and process, or are they mass produced cheaply, simply to optimise sales and profits?
Where you can buy handmade in the UK
There are a few places that people commonly turn to to buy handmade in the UK:
Large online marketplaces
These can offer huge choice, which can be helpful, but the quality can vary. You will need to do the filtering yourself and assess what you are buying.
Social media sellers
You’ll find some brilliant artists through the power of social media, but it can take time and confidence to know what you’re looking at.
Independent shops and galleries
Many are carefully run with a clear point of view. A few are a bit more mixed.
The term curated gets used a lot, but it doesn’t always mean much on its own. The real question is what standards sit behind that curation and whether someone has actually made decisions about quality.
Where we fit in
At Just Makers, things are selected with a clear set of standards in mind.
We focus on work made by Yorkshire-based artists where the design, materials and finish are consciously determined. We choose pieces for the shop that are well made and worth keeping.
A better way to buy handmade
Buying handmade shouldn’t feel like a gamble.
Once you know what to look for, it becomes much easier to spot the difference between something that’s been made well and something that’s simply been made quickly.
And when you get it right, you end up with something you’ll keep, use and enjoy for years.
You can browse our full collection of products made by some of Yorkshire's best artists here:
