Can we talk about the 'artisan' label at craft fairs

I heard a guy at the Springfield market say 'if it holds an edge, it's a tool, not art,' which made me think about whether we're pricing simple forged items too high just for the story.

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_lane992mo ago

That guy at the market has a point. A lot of basic forged bottle openers or simple knives get called artisan when they're just decent tools. The price should match the work and skill, not just a buzzword. It feels like some sellers are banking on the story to make up for a lack of real craft. At a certain point you're just paying extra for a word on a tag.

amy_foster792mo ago

Ugh, YES. It's the "handmade" bread problem all over again. That word used to mean a real person kneaded it for ages. Now a factory machine with a wooden paddle gets called "artisan". Same with those basic leather bracelets. If you're just stamping a premade strip and adding a clasp, you're not a craftsman, you're doing a craft project. The word loses all meaning.

max4152mo ago

Check the process, not the label. Ask how many hands touched the thing before it was finished. Real craft takes time and leaves marks, not just on the product but on the person who made it. If they can't explain the steps beyond buying parts and putting them together, you're just funding a hobby. The good stuff usually comes from people who are a little tired of talking about it because they'd rather be making more.