Rediscover craftsmanship to save the environment

July 12, 2023

Craftsmanship is a work activity that involves the purely manual production of decorative and functional objects of any shape and material.

Although the artisan tradition has very ancient origins , in recent decades it has been slowly disappearing, eclipsed by the mass production of industrial systems.

In this article we will see how the market economy has changed over time, and why now more than ever , from an environmental point of view, it is so important to rediscover the world of traditional craftsmanship .

The origins of craftsmanship

Craftsmanship is an ancient activity : since prehistoric times man has learned to shape the elements he found in nature to create tools useful for his survival.

In the Paleolithic he learned to work clay - a particular type of earth located along the courses of rivers - by mixing it with water and subsequently drying it in the sun. In the Neolithic he discovered that clay, if subjected to a heat source, became resistant and waterproof, transforming into ceramic. The first craftsmen thus began to make amphorae, bowls and vases useful for preserving food.

In the meantime, women realized that the wool obtained from sheep shearing could be twisted around a spindle to create fabrics : thus the spinning technique began.

Craft activities in prehistory (especially metalworking) were so important for society that they gave their names to the main historical eras : the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages.

Since then the world of craftsmanship has progressively spread throughout the planet , exploiting the skills of many artists, who have transformed their creativity into true timeless masterpieces .

The decline of the artisan tradition

The industrial revolutions and subsequent technological innovations of recent decades have caused a slow decline in the artisan world .

Industrial products are produced in less time and in larger quantities , and the benefit for the customer is represented by much lower prices .

Thanks to automated systems it has become possible to mass-produce precise, safe and economical products . On the contrary , in craftsmanship production is slow (because the materials must be found and worked by hand), sometimes imprecise and often expensive .

It is therefore easy to understand why serial products have invaded the market economy , determining the tastes and choices of consumers even before purchasing: if the craftsman produced what was requested, the industry decides and produces what then will be purchased.

The rediscovery of craftsmanship: a sustainable choice

Fortunately, consumers are realizing how much the capitalist trend of our times is damaging our planet : mass production is synonymous with compulsive consumption, which represents the main cause of pollution .

Environmental sustainability is a widespread theme that is leading people to oppose consumerism and rediscover values such as product quality and attention to detail .

This is how artisan activities, friendly to the environment and to people themselves, are being reborn from a global problem.

The choice of natural recyclable materials involved in the circular economy , the preference for local 0 km products, the manual processing treatments, the care and attention put into every single step... are all reasons why it is worth rediscovering beauty of artisanal products .

The artisanal creations signed by Amarzo

We at Amarzo have the issue of environmental sustainability very close to our hearts , and our aim is to restore Italian craftsmanship to its original value .

This is why we create handmade design products starting from the recovery of former glass bottles .

Through manual processing treatments in our laboratory in Colle Val D'Elsa, we give life to numerous design objects useful for furnishing your home or setting your table in an ecological and original way.

Ours is a minimalist approach aimed at creating artisanal products that are practical, functional, refined and above all sustainable .