From the Ground.
A blog space dedicated to reflections on craft, materials, and the systems that shape them. It’s a place to slow down and look beyond products and trends, toward the realities that exist beneath them.
When Craft Becomes a Trend: What’s at Stake?
Fashion’s impact goes beyond carbon and waste. It can uplift communities, preserve heritage, and strengthen local economies. But when a culturally rooted craft becomes a global “trend label,” the risks often fall on the people behind the work.
In Madagascar, raffia is not just a material. It carries heritage, technical know how, and livelihoods. So what happens when the trend cools, cheaper substitutes flood the market, or value creation shifts elsewhere?
This thinkpiece explores what is at stake when craft becomes a trend, and what empowerment should look like to mitigate the risks for artisans.