Handicraft Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 15

Investigative stories 15 genuinely hand crafted? developed by hand, but ambiguity. Simon explains, for other items it is “Top-end car harder to tell.” manufacturers also play the Professor Simon game to some extent, such as BurtonshawRolls Royce, Bentley etc., Gunn PhD, but really only some parts Head of are actually handmade, Division: such as stitching on Business, seats or the specialist Leadership wood working, and whilst the rest is A handmade skirt created by Abi Jackson Finance still manufactured of Northampton Business School using machinery (in part to allow at the University of Northampton, replacements otherwise the cost of an commented: “I think that there is accident will be even higher as body probably not a definition of what panels will have to be specially made constitutes handmade, as this may to fit).” vary between products and, although Sarah Peters and Sharon some companies may use this to their Morgan, managers at a local advantage, they must also be aware of Northampton craft shop, Made trade description legislation, which in Northamptonshire, believe in the main would prevent wild that companies that incorporate a accusations of goods being termed handmade visage when the products handmade when they were not.” they sell are actually manufactured, Thus, products can’t be casually devalue other shops that sell labeled as handcrafted when it is handmade items. obvious they are not. Sarah commented: “It takes away Simon gives examples of from other shops, like ours, that handcrafted products that do not support a non-profit social enterprise tend to cause confusion on the (Action Support) market: “The term ‘handmade’ is which tries to often used to suggest a bespoke or get disabled special quality product, the most people back obvious is handmade jewellery into work which needs specialist skills and, as by giving such, cannot really be anything else them work than handmade. Also, expensive experience shotguns and, at the cheaper end but still using the term ‘handmade’ as a sign of quality are, chocolate manufacturers where some are sold is smalls specialist outlets and others in premier London stores, such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason.” And so, Abi’s handcrafted clothes wouldn’t normally make people question the products’ provenance. However, other market sectors offer more Handmade items in Made in Northamptonshire opportunities” Sharon added: “The quality of a product is lost when it is mass produced. When an item is handmade, a lot more time and care is invested in it.” This is all changing and people are being more careful about the products they buy, due to more online shops being created. Sharon explains: “There is more variety out there in shopping, the expansion of this means that the public are more careful when buying a product that is marketed as handmade.” Left to Right: Sarah Peters and Sharon Morgan