What’s in the future of crafting?
While everyone was making dalgona coffee and baking bread during the pandemic, there was also a rise in the number of people trying their hand at various creative pursuits, including arts and crafts. It’s not surprising since all of us were just trying to stay sane (and alive) during lockdown. Several studies (including this) have already found what most of those who craft have known all along, arts and crafts and other creative activities are good for our mental health and can help alleviate stress.
Even as the world opened up, arts and crafts were not abandoned. They still remained significant and thriving in this post-pandemic new normal where many priorities have shifted to consider what matters most. In light of this, here are a few of the emerging trends we’re seeing.
Sustainable crafting
As most of us become more aware of the environmental impact of our choices—from which brands to support to how we shop—even the way we create or make things get a second look with less rose-colored glasses and a more realistic perspective. What materials we use, how we package our work, and the practices we integrate into our craft—how do they all make an impact on our planet?
Common Room partners such as Cut the Scrap, which makes clever wooden crafts and home accessories, makes use of wooden scraps discarded by big furniture manufacturers. Krete Manila, specializing in home decor made from concrete, saw the waste they were generating during production that they aimed for a zero waste initiative. This gave rise to their colorful Confetti Concrete Coaster Set. Riotaso Clothing which aims to level up “the eco-conscious fashion scene one patch at a time” makes bags from 100% scrap fabric. They also have upcycled shoes and clothing.
Making use of materials that would otherwise be discarded has also made thrifting for secondhand clothes and furniture more mainstream. Jodee Aguillon of Glorious Dias has shown us how to thrift like a pro in a little street market. Common Room has been thrifting and repurposing old furniture since its very first branch and majority of the furnishings in Mess Studio are all secondhand. Beyond getting them in established ukay and secondhand spots like Bangkal or Quiapo, we see more thrift and vintage shops opening in aesthetic or artsy spaces.
Homemade or reusable
Closely connected with sustainable crafting is the movement towards repairing and repurposing vs buying something new. There’s a rising trend to move away from mindless consumerism to a more thoughtful way of living, preferring reusable and durable to disposable.
Expect to see more workshops and activities aimed at reworking and repairing old clothes (whether thrifted or your own) like the one we held last month, “Darn Good Time.” According to Martha Stewart, in terms of arts and crafts, homemade clothes or DIY fashion is a trend that’s been growing in recent years and we should see more of it in our feeds. Instead of shopping hauls, check out the sewists and tailors making clothes and showing us you can truly make something all your own.
Mindful crafting
With the mental health benefits gained when engaging in creative activities, it’s no wonder that people still continue to seek activities such as arts and crafts as a way to unwind and be mindful. To be fully present to what’s in front of you and to be aware of what you’re creating in relation to the world around you have made mindful crafting a more common practice.
For grown-ups who seek to reduce stress and find the time to focus and create something tangible or even for kids (and their parents) who need an alternative to screen time, crafting has become one way to nurture one’s mental well-being. Instead of worrying over everything stressing you out or being caught in a time suck of doom scrolling, mindful crafting is a conscious effort to step away from all that, even if it’s just for a few hours.
When Common Room created Mess Studio, we wanted a space where both kids and grown-ups can craft with everything they need. Creating spaces such as these also allows for more crafting workshops that can promote mindful practices for our own mental well-being.
Crafting and connecting
The power of community among those who craft is strong. The shared passion and experience of creating with its familiar ups and downs build communities. Art and crafting workshops, fairs, pop-ups and collaborations among artists, crafters, artisans and entrepreneurs continue to rise.
Common Room partners from Woven and Habi, both social enterprises, work with weaving communities and women artisans respectively to bring their handicrafts to more people and be paid fairly for them. We ourselves have partnered with Green Trident to recycle plastic packaging wastes (shopping mailers, bubble wraps, plastic shopping bags) to be turned into plyboards. We’ve started Mess Fest talks to make it easier for our makers and Roomies to connect with each other.
When it comes to workshops, other groups that run art and crafts and wellbeing workshops (like this one) find that more and more people are coming together in little groups—friends, couples, mothers and kids. Instead of sitting together over a meal but with eyes glued on our screens, sitting together to craft enables us to focus on creating and nurturing connections.