Episode 73: Hand

What are the details behind a successful hand-made shop and brand? Why do hand-made domestic items cost more than their big-factory imported counterparts? Tune in to this weeks episode of After the Jump and find out! Grace Bonney is joined by two guests who know whats what when it comes to hand-made design -- Claire Mazur, co-founder of Of a Kind and Kathryn Fortunato, principal at Lizzie Fortunato Jewels. Together, they chat about why fast-fashion is so cheap and what it really takes to make hand-made items in the design world. Just as consumers have accepted the price of organic, ethically produced food, its time they understand that the same pricing principals apply to fashion and jewelry. Listen in for a fascinating conversation on what could be called slow fashion and the inner-workings of small shops and brands. This program was sponsored by Of a Kind. A lot of young designers have success, get to a peak and fizzle out because they werent thinking about the pricing behind their pieces. Its a really hard thing to do. I think its probably harder to start pricing your pieces [higher] when you dont have any recognition but sticking with it and believing in the line and finding buyers who believe in you is an important process to go through. [07:00] --Claire Mazur of Of a Kind