Craftsmanship Quarterly Craftsmanship Initiative

What makes people devote hours to the frustrating task of gluing together pieces so small you have to pick them up with tweezers? And does this obsessive hobby even matter anymore? To find out, a devotee of the art dives into Revell’s world of plastic models.

"Parts & Recreation" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Written by JEFF GREENWALD

Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA

Narrated by MITCH GREENBERG

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

A collection of sewing enthusiasts, dedicated to the anachronistic art of making old-fashioned clothes, stumbles onto a path that revives quality, comfort, ecological consciousness—and respect for the female form in all its varieties.

"Historical Clothing’s Comeback" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the  architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Written by BETH WINEGARNER

Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA

Narrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASAN

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

In the Basque country of Northern Spain, the Mondragon Corporation—the world’s largest co-operative business enterprise—has found ways to  weather economic crises, avoid severe income inequality, and build long-term worker loyalty. Why don’t more businesses follow “the Mondragon model”?

"Could Co-Ops Solve Income Inequality?" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos,  audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.



Written by ROBERTO LOVATO

Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA

Narrated by GÖRAN NORQUIST

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

Rebecca Burgess is the executive director of Fibershed, an internationally recognized nonprofit focused on transforming the clothing and textile system, the author of two books, and a vocationally trained weaver and natural dyer. She sat down with Craftsmanship Quarterly to talk about price and privilege when it comes to "slow fashion," why the world can no longer afford fast fashion, and what she learned from a year of only wearing clothing produced within 150 miles of her home.

This episode is part of our series “Artisan Interviews,” in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those  who write about them.

Craftsmanship Quarterly is a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Everyone in the fashion world wants to find a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way to make cotton clothes — or a benign (and comfy) alternative. Some are on the brink of succeeding. But almost no one understands these innovations’ social costs.

"The Human Cost of Recycled Cotton," written and narrated by Alden Wicker, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Editor’s note: This story was updated from the original by the author for re-release in our Fall 2021 issue.

Written by ALDEN WICKER

Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA

Narrated by ALDEN WICKER

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

This episode is part of our series “Artisan Interviews,” in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them.

Alden Wicker, award-winning journalist, sustainable fashion expert, and founder of EcoCult, talks about her disillusionment with the idea of “voting with your dollars;" why the cotton industry is in disarray; and some concerning new research around toxicity and chemicals in fashion.

Craftsmanship Quarterly is a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS