In the many years that followed, it wasconsidered uncool to make things by hand. In the meantime, knittingis even considered chic, an expression of individuality and instudent circles it’s almost like a political initiative. Knittingparties in the underground U-bahn station, “Stich’n’Bitch” forumsin the internet - even men are trying it out. There are allegedlyman groups, meeting up for beers and hotdogs to crochet bikinis fortheir girlfriends.

It is no longer out. Handmade has made comeback.Maybe we can’t comprehend everything about globalization, climatechange or other changes in our world - but making something in theevening when the day is done fills the bill of understanding howthings function and are put together. Last weekend in BadGodesberg, 7,000 visitors poured into the two-day Creative Fairwith hardly any room between the stands of the 50 differentexhibitors.

Hobby sewers waited in long lines to get their hands onwonderful fabrics. Nowadays, people want to knot their own pearlnecklaces, make their own stuffed animals, keychains andpersonalized photo albums. Marvin Ocken, fair organizer and studentof business information says, “The trend is against massproduction. People want to make their own gifts, clothing andjewelry.” He already has plans for expansion for the next fair in2018.

The handmade trend is a great business model for him. PetraMoser, one of the creative people behind Bad Godesberg’s “PMDekormanufaktur” (Decor manufacturer) has noticed that people arelooking for a break from their stressful daily routines.Psychologists like Alexandra Hildebrandt see the new do-it-yourselftrend as a way to experience an idyllic or happy world in a societyrife with risk. A self-hammered chair gives a homey feeling thatones fears may have otherwise gone missing. It’s a domesticalternative to the digital world, bringing back an almost forgottenanalog reality. Orig. text: Ebba Hagenberg-Miliu