Presence of Hand
In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, the Arts & Crafts movement sprung up around the shared value of “presence of hand,” the literal or metaphorical marks of the humans involved in hand-made goods. We’re reminded of this as fast fashion has become one of Earth’s biggest polluters while the slow fashion movement — from small-batch and vintage brands like those we carry, to individuals trying to be more thoughtful about the contents of their wardrobes — has embraced visible mending, dyeing, embroidery and other techniques to give each article of clothing its own unique personality, in many cases also extending its lifecycle in the process. Here we’re featuring some of our favorite makers and pieces that feature presence of hand.
FEATURED MAKERS AND ASSORTED GEMS
Margo New York
Margo uses painting and eco-printing techniques (the transferring of pigment from plant material to fabric) to hand-dye garments and accessories, so no two pieces are ever alike.
Melke
Melke sources embroidered patches from Ukrainian artisans and hand-appliques them onto her small-batch garments
Greene County Wool
Reclaimed painter’s pants, lovingly patched, mended and embroidered, sometimes with a few Cracker Jack charms stitched on? Yes, please.
Namai
Vintage Kantha quilts — Indian patchwork, meticulously hand-quilted with running stitch — get new lives as fully reversible tote bags and jackets that show off all that heritage handwork.
La Vie Apres L’Amour
Not only does Kaitlyn refashion her vintage finds, she adds her own little touches such as her embroidered logo, pearl studs, signature raw edges and various other details.
Krop Jeans
KC sources quality vintage denim apparel and tie-dyes it, so each formerly mass produced item becomes a one-of-a-kind piece to treasure for years to come.
