Why is it that now, more than ever, it seems like there is a thirst and appreciation for handmade pieces?  To stand back and take in a handmade piece is to appreciate the 10,000 hours of practice that was put in before this piece was even made.  It’s to take curiosity in the hands behind the piece and feel pride that you are now carrying on their story. It’s to simply appreciate the beauty of something that can’t be replicated by a machine.   Finally, it’s to appreciate the time, thought and love that went into each stitch, brush stroke or chisel that you now get to call your own. 

In a world of mass production, homogenous fashion, fast paced lives and automated customer service, there seems to be a movement towards feeling more human connection and finding inspiration. “Slow Fashion” is a movement that embraces skill over speed, quality over mass production and details over homogenous fashion. Additionally, small batch & handmade put less strain on the environment.

At By Many Hands, we have established relationships with amazing artisans in Nepal.  These female artisans have been practicing their knitting skills since childhood from a learned craft that is passed on through generations.  Through our partnership, they are able to earn income in their spare time, thereby granting them a stronger voice in their household.  Additionally, guaranteed year round work allows them to commit to growing with us as a team. 

Our goal is to help prove that fashion and pricing do not have to be sacrificed by using traditional techniques.  By working with American artists, we are able to design pieces that have modern colors and styles.  Additionally, by using New Zealand wool, instead of cashmere or other higher end wools, we are able to achieve the same craftsmanship and knitting techniques we desire, without incredibly high prices.

We hope to continue to offer opportunities to our amazing partners in Nepal and we hope that our pieces continue to garner appreciation here.  Our goal is to keep getting better at finding ways to create fashion differently and, what we consider, better for our environment, our partners and for you.

We thank you for joining this journey with us!

- Marissa & Michael