As humans, I believe it is common for us to often strive for perfection. Wanting things to be just the way they are supposed to be. This has been augmented by Henry Ford with the establishment of the assembly line, and with it a sense of perfection in uniformity.
However, embracing imperfection leads to type of beauty that is seldom appreciated even though it has the power to truly set things apart.
This becomes especially true when it comes to handmade clothing. Not to say that industrial clothing is perfect, not even close. But there is something truly special about handmade stuff that cannot be replicated by machines. In this post, we will explore the beauty of imperfection and the significance of embracing handmade clothing.
Beauty of Embracing Imperfection
Part of embracing handmade clothing means accepting imperfections as part of the piece’s beauty.
All handmade garments are unique, and their small imperfections add nothing but character. In contrast, industrial clothing can often lack personality and individuality. That is why in Ametou, we pride ourselves in the originality of our products.
More often than not, handmade clothing is made with love and care, giving each piece its own story to tell. One technique for creating such pieces, and also one of the most popular, is knitting.
Knitting is an ancient craft that has been passed down for generations. Who hasn’t had their mother or grandmother knit something for them?
It is in this that handmade clothing makes its most significant contribution. As the results are beautiful garments that can last for years and it’s impossible to find anywhere else.
However, there is no doubt that knitting does not produce perfect results. But this is precisely the point, when you wear a scarf knitted by your grandmother, you are not looking for a flawless design. It is much more about the personal significance of the piece rather than how it looks by itself.
Industrial vs Handmade Clothing
But like with most things, this all lies within a spectrum, from the quality of materials used to the look of the final result. Nevertheless, all techniques involve a maker or artisan who is responsible for giving the piece a sense of originality. On the contrary, industrial manufacturing delegates this responsibility to a machine. One that is designed to replicate a design over and over to satisfy masses of consumers, finally depriving them from getting a unique sense of identity.
And again, we come to the source of the matter. A good example would be how we integrate a handmade piece into your style. It is not necessary to wear knitted pants and shirts to embrace handmade clothing. Enough would be to wear a single piece to give off that sense. Similarly, you don’t need an obviously handmade garment full of holes to embrace the beauty of handmade stuff. As it is in the little things that one can really appreciate its wonders.
Embracing the human touch
Image via Mona Ramsenthaler
We can confidently say each piece from our collection is done with extreme care, and a big part of this is the human touch, which I have mentioned before. Included in the creative process is that these “flaws” come into appearance. And appreciating them makes us more capable of enjoying the creative process in and of itself.
As we become more tolerant of the peculiarities of handmade clothing, we also become more accepting of different cultures. And by consequence we get to enjoy the results of their crafts with more enthusiasm. Not only that but we have a constant reminder of the hard work that went into the look we put out to the world.
So, by letting go of the idea of perfection as a fixed standard that we have to meet. We become more embracing of a different type of beauty that nowadays is on the rise.
Embracing imperfection in handmade clothing can also have a positive impact on our mindset and how we perceive imperfections in other areas of life.
By accepting and appreciating the unique imperfections in our clothing, we can begin to extend this same acceptance and appreciation to the imperfections in ourselves and others, facilitating a world where different cultures and styles are more accepted.
The Beauty in Ametou
Whether we are talking of knitting, embroidery, or Ikat weaving, which is what Ametou focuses on. Handmaking clothes is an art and we as a brand try to embrace that.
If you acquire one of the pieces in our line, you will rapidly realize what differentiates Ametou from a brand like H&M.
The name Ikat is given to this type of clothing because of the “blurriness” in the patterns of the fabric. This is what gives a sense of artisanship to our products, and at the same time is what differentiates us from other brands. These unique patterns give our pieces a true sense of identity and originality when you look at them
Of course, our brand is more than just blurry patterns. While other brands share our values of sustainability and women empowerment. It is the uniqueness of our line that gives us a true competitive advantage in the industry.
Conclusion
Overall, one of the key differentiating factors of handmade clothing is that of imperfection. But, as discussed, this is not meant as a disadvantage when compared to industrial manufacturing. On the contrary, this is part of what gives handmade pieces their value and, more specifically, their distinguished sense of identity.
So, instead of picking on handmade pieces for what they lack. We should celebrate and embrace the fact that such types of textiles are still being used in our contemporary times. And not necessarily because they are better for the environment, which they are. But because they represent a whole culture and community behind them that allowed them to be on shelves or on the websites we can now all visit.
Even though handmade pieces can be on the upper end of prices and will take longer to produce, the end result is always a one-of-a-kind item that is full of character.
Made with incredible care and attention to detail, Ametou pieces truly provide a unique experience when it comes to embracing handmade clothing and the beauty of imperfection.
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