Prompt: Automation has made it possible to produce so many objects — from bread to shoes — without the intervention of human hands (assuming that pressing a button doesn’t count). What things do you still prefer in their traditional, handmade version?

Furniture. There’s something about handcrafted furniture that never fails to draw me into antique and specialty stores. I’ve already told my partner that when the time comes I want to replace our dressers with solid wood ones from a local store. I’ve also told them I want an Alaskan King mattress, but I think that’s going to be a harder sell.

Plates, bowls, and the like. Specifically stoneware products. I know traditional methods lead to less ‘quality control’ and more room for ‘error’ in things not being perfect, but I don’t mind. It’s human.

Strangely, even when I watch old episodes of Unwrapped I’m always more interested when companies use the old-school methods even if I don’t like the product itself.

Photo by Diana Light on Unsplash