When Is It Hand-Made, As Opposed To Machine-Made?

[Ian1783]

I'd like to market what I produce as "hand made", but wondered if there is a fairly distinct line between hand-made and machine-made.

If I use a clicker to cut out pieces and a sewing machine to assemble, is that then machine made? If mine is a home-based business where I design and assemble (make) leather goods, essentially by hand, but not hand-sewn, can I say my wares are hand made?

In that vein, if I clicker-cut and machine-sew products (in this case, small bags and purses) using leather from who knows where and hardware (buckles, conchos, etc.) from Tandy, say (almost assuredly made outside the USA), can I market my finished products as "Made in USA"? Or would I be constrained by the possible overseas source of my materials to "Assemble in USA", or (worse) "Assembled in USA with Parts made in China" (for instance)?

I'm hoping some of you on this forum have considered these things and might provide direction, as I have no idea how this works. Thanks!

Ian

SF Bay Area

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/

[TXAG]

On the items I sell that are made of all US-sourced materials, I state this for exactly this reason -- I believe in supporting the US economy anytime I can, so will buy US-manufactured materials, when possible. On the items I can do this, I state such so I can set myself apart from others that either omit that information or state they use imported materials.

...but that's just me...

As for "hand made" vs. "machine made", I guess that's up for debate...in my case, if I hand-sew my items, I will make sure to state that in my listings so that folks know I made every stitch manually, by hand and without a machine...again, to set myself apart from the "others". I'm not saying there's anything wrong with using a sewing machine...I use one on the tactical gear I make. But some folks prefer hand-sewn items so if it's something like that and I've hand-sewn it, I am going to make dang sure my customers know that and know the difference.

But to answer your question, if you are performing all the work yourself (even with the use of tools/machines), I think you could still call it "hand made" if you wanted to...

Edited January 7, 2014 by TXAG

[shooter55]

Ian....here is my view on your question. If the product is made individually by a living, breathing person, using any resource other than a "put in here, push the button, and it comes out there" , and not an automated production line system, I think you are warranted in calling it hand-made. just an opinion.

Tim

[Tex Shooter]

I label all of my leather products except my clicker products, hand cut and hand stitched. I still get ask if I am doing them on a machine. For anybody that has been around leather very long it is pretty easy to tell hand stitching from machine sewing. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with a machine sewn product. It is just not what most of my ranch stores and customers want. It is just a little nitch of mine that I have been selling to for quite a while. -- Tex

[Ian1783]

Thank you all for your responses. As I prepared my reply, it dawned on me that when my wife ever made articles of clothing, whether skirt, shirt, blouse or napkin, she certainly considered it hand-made - always on a sewing machine - no matter that the fabric was store bought. I think, as Tim pointed out, that our process fits the description of what most would regard hand-made, as opposed to a "push-button" process.

Our leather bags are not of the hand-stitched variety, nor is that our goal. In fact, the stitching is quite secondary, or even more removed from our first intent to produce simple, hand-made, leather bags, pouches, workshop aprons, etc. We're hoping to have fun with a new hobby, while possibly making a few bucks to help pay for the venture.

Thanks again. Great forums. I'm glad I ventured here.

Ian

SF Bay Area

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/

[SLudlow]

As the others have said, hand sewn/stitched is similar yet different from hand made.

Personally, in the interest of transparency, I find that my most preferred manufacturers post videos of their production process in full. For the customer, knowing who/how a product was made is so much of the reason for purchasing from you vs. Generic manufacturer #5.

Then again, your business is your own. The only rules available should be your own that you feel comfortable with. In my personal opinion, if you make your products, or you make your products locally without outsourcing the assembly, they should be able to be called hand-made.

[Denise]

A major saddle production company recently ran ads in a major magazine promoting their "hands made" (plural) saddles, with a picture of one of the 46 workers whose hands made their saddles... Production line stuff, obviously, but since it can't pop out the end of a machine as a finished product, they felt they could advertise it as "hands made". I guess they felt comfortable calling them that... I don't think there are any regulations or standards in North America as to what you can or should call your work. Your own standards (and integrity) are what are important and what will eventually come through to your customers.

[oltoot]

IMHO, If you don't use a clicker and you handsew horn and cantle, then a saddle is still hand made if what can be sewn on a machine is the saddle is still handmade. If you don't have a sewing machine, the stuff you make won't be better than it would just be handsewn.

[TXAG]

If you don't have a sewing machine, the stuff you make won't be better than it would just be handsewn.

That's a matter of opinion -- not fact.

[Denise]

IMHO, If you don't use a clicker and you handsew horn and cantle, then a saddle is still hand made if what can be sewn on a machine is the saddle is still handmade.

I'm quite sure production saddles are clickered out, but even if they weren't I still don't think that pieces of leather stapled to the tree with an air gun by a series of production line workers compares to a saddle made by a single craftsman... Different techniques, different price level, different markets. But I guess marketing is marketing...

(Note: I'm not saying all "hand made" saddles are necessarily better than all production ones. I've seen some pretty rough "hand made" saddles. But overall, there is no comparison.)