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

[Rayban]

I have never been asked by a customer if my work is hand-stitched or done by machine. Never. Seems like the only group of people that are concerned about that are leather workers.

I read on a gun forum recently that a holster that is not hand-stitched cannot be called hand-made...and this guy went on to say that any holster maker worth his do-do shouldn't use a stitching machine and cannot be taken seriously......very silly statements of course.....he, by the way, is a holster maker hobbyist who only does hand-stitching....and not very good at it.

I average making a belt or holster a day and have found electricity to be pretty handy in the making process, including stitching, and I have absolutely no problem with my makers stamp which says "handmade by..."

[Andrew Chee]

Maybe you should market your goods as "made from start to finish by a single craftsman". I've seen people say that and it's (at least to me) as good if not better than saying hand made (which as people have noted could mean pretty much anything these days).

Truth though us that people nowadays who really care about this probably want to know more about your whole process beyond just the label of "hand made" so if you have a website or something you should include a description of your process.

Andrew

Edited February 1, 2014 by Andrew Chee

[electrathon]

The question of hand sewn verses machine sewn seems pretty silly if you relate it to any world other than leather. If you went to a seamstress and had a shirt made would you expect it to be sewn with a needle and thread instead of a machine? Would you feel that it was better quality (actually it would be worse) if it was sewn with a needle and thread?

On the other side, Nike shoes are sewn on machine, by hand. Are they hand made?

[Rayban]

Hope this doesn't turn into an analogy comparison exercise...as these discussions often do.

Not knowing anything about shoe manufacturing, I can only speak of my process...I cut a piece of leather of the side of a cow, and make something out of it, by hand.

[Spence]

Hope this doesn't turn into an analogy comparison exercise...as these discussions often do.

Not knowing anything about shoe manufacturing, I can only speak of my process...I cut a piece of leather of the side of a cow, and make something out of it, by hand.

That says it all. Kudos.

[electrathon]

Not knowing anything about shoe manufacturing, I can only speak of my process...I cut a piece of leather of the side of a cow, and make something out of it, by hand.

I too agree it is a complicated question. I used Nike as an example only because they are a huge company. My example of this is just that your desctiption of what you do is an acurate description of a Chinese factory construction if you simply remove the word "I". Some of the best seamstresses in the world work in factories. Leather is clicked for consistacy and speed, exactly like many of us do for our "handmade" items. What about the fact that the leather you used to make the item came out of a factory instead of being tanned by hand, that would make your item at least partially factory made. The thread we sew with is made in a factory too.

Sadly, much of the "factory" made items far excede the quality of many "handmade" items. I have had leather people tell me that you can not expect the quality of handmade items to be as good as factory items. I do not agree with this,but admit that it is often true. In my opinion, if my work is not better than a factory item I am wasting my time.

[JLSleather]

Sadly, much of the "factory" made items far excede the quality of many "handmade" items.... if my work is not better than a factory item I am wasting my time.

Exactly. Often, the idea of "handmade" is offered as an excuse for why it shows obvious flaws. This is ridiculous, but none the less true.

[Andrew Chee]

I think this is why it's important to describe your process to people. There are things that individuals would do that a factory usually wouldn't. For example, when I use copper rivets I set them by hand and then peen them and dome both sides. Factory set rivets don't usually don't do that. On stressed areas that I I sew by machine, I hand backtack the beginning and end stitches. This is stronger than just machine backtack. Most factories don't do that.

Let's face it, many factories make very good quality items. I think you have to sell yourself on the individuality, quality, and details of your work.

Andrew

[WyomingSlick]

Sounds to me like it is just a problem of communication. In this case it is because of an economy of words. "Handmade" by itself is too ambiguous. How about replacing it with something along the line of "HANDMADE INDIVIDUALLY BY A CRAFTSMAN" OR "ORIGINAL HANDMADE BY THE ARTIST"??

[Tex Shooter]

How about "Hand cut, hand saddle stitched and hand riveted". I tag every one of the leather sheaths that I sell like that. -- Tex