Wabi-sabi is a Japanese term, derived from Buddhist philosophy, that encompasses an aesthetic of beauty which values the incomplete, impermanent, and imperfect. This philosophy acknowledges a reality that “nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect”. It is the acceptance of the passage of time, simplicity, and authenticity. Perhaps, the absence of wabi-sabi explains our society's melancholic embrace of the past and fever-pitched restlessness with each algorithmic breakthrough in technology. We romanticize the era of the Jetson but fear the loss of our humanity.
In this issue, Handmade, we evoke wabi-sabi with the celebration of meticulous, human handcrafted apothecary goods, adornments, wood, clay, paper and fiber wares, and delights that may not be fully completed, finished, or perfect. The purposeful void of mass-production, outsourcing and automation breathes life and beauty unparalleled.
We are proud to share our handmade maker community.
