Let’s say you’re shopping for a gift. You scroll through a giant online store and spot a candle holder — it’s cheap, ships fast, and it kind of looks like that trendy one you saw on Pinterest. But then, you stumble upon a ceramicist’s page on Instagram. Their candle holders aren’t mass-produced — they’re wheel-thrown, glazed by hand, and each one is just a little bit different. Suddenly you’re torn: Do I go with handmade, or stick with convenient and cheap?
It’s a common dilemma. So let’s weigh it up.
The Case Against Buying Handmade.
Let’s be honest. Handmade items can be more expensive. When you’ve got bills to pay and a dozen other things on your list, that extra $20 (or $50) can feel like a dealbreaker. And then there’s the wait — handmade often means slower shipping or even made-to-order timelines.
Mass-produced goods, on the other hand, are accessible. They’re easy to find, widely available, and often — if you’re lucky — they look like the real deal. The price is usually lower because the process is optimized for speed and volume, not care and craftsmanship.
And let’s not forget consistency. A mug from a department store will likely look exactly like the one in the photo. No surprises. No wobbles. No glaze drips. That can be comforting.
The Case For Buying Handmade.
Now, imagine this: you’re sipping tea from a mug that was shaped by someone’s hands, maybe in a small studio not far from your home. You know their name, maybe even their story. Every curve, every fingerprint is a reminder that a real person made it — not a machine.
Buying handmade is about connection. It’s about supporting a real human — not a corporation. That extra $20? It’s not padding a CEO’s bonus. It’s paying for clay, for studio rent, for time, love, and years of experience.
Handmade items also tend to last longer and be more meaningful. They’re often better made, with more care and intention. That candle holder? It might become your favourite object on the shelf. The one guests ask about. The one you remember buying from that market or website or stall run by a person who was actually there.
And the uniqueness? That’s the charm. The glaze drip, the slightly off-centre handle — that’s character, not a flaw. No one else has exactly what you have. It’s personal.
Why Handmade Wins in the End.
Sure, we live in a world of convenience. And mass production has its place — it makes things more affordable and accessible. But when it comes to gifts, keepsakes, or the things you touch every day, handmade is hard to beat.
Because behind every handmade object is a maker. A story. A slower, more thoughtful world.
So next time you’re choosing between a factory-made candle holder and one thrown on a wheel by someone who learned from mistakes and muddy hands, ask yourself: Which one feels more like home?
Odds are, the handmade one will stick with you — and that, in the end, is worth every cent.