When a bunch of passionate, independent artisans band together to create handmade bespoke items ranging from candles to soaps, jewellery to textile art, and everything in between, you get a totally dynamic indie craft industry.
The indie craft scene has been around a long time
One of those artisans, Sonia McManus, says the loss of the Arts Centre, literally overnight, was devastating. “While restoration is happening, getting a centralised spot for artisans to come together is still a long way off.”
The loss of the tourist dollar following the earthquakes was catastrophic for many. For artisans, it meant a total rethink of the industry, recalls Sonia. “We may think it’s great that artists and crafters can work out of, often badly damaged, garages and homes. The reality is that without people to buy…
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NZBusiness+Management (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 2015