Paying Homage

.Here is a cry to the white makers, shakers, the small and local businesses + artisans. We have a duty to showcase and uphold the traditional krafts from our ancestors and those before us. 

In my search for a well rounded and diverse line up of brands and makers for the shop I was blindsided by the lack of resources to do so. You really have to dig through the many artisan platforms to find just one, if any that are within the Black, Indigenous and POC community.

This is a serious issue. The krafts we all hold near and dear to continue to pursue in this modern age were first created and produced by indigenous people. If it were not for these communities, we would not have the privilege to be working so hard pursuing these passions of ours. Which led me to question why is there such a shortage of availability to find these makers and small businesses? Is it simply that they don’t hold the same numbers as the white maker community? Are our markets and artisan platforms not accepting these artists? Are we not sharing, supporting and uplifting them also? Are resources not available in order for the BIPOC community to thrive in this community?

What can we do to support these very communities in which our own krafts originated in?

Do you even care?

Are you even educated in the history and traditions of your kraft and how it all began?

The questions could go on and on, but I’m not here for that. I simply want to bring awareness to the situation and raise question. 

Personally, I’m a huge advocate for shopping small + local and being able to support individuals rather than corporations. I am so proud to be part of this community, but we have a lot of work to do. We must open our eyes – just like what is happening in society and allow individuals to thrive and succeed. Open our platforms to all and uplift those who are unlikely to be seen. Give back to the those of which our krafts began. Because without them, we wouldn’t be.