What does handmade really mean?
What Does Handmade Really Mean?
I think this is an important conversation, now more than ever.
"Handmade" is a word we see everywhere, but the reality is that it can mean very different things depending on who you ask.
In the jewellery world especially, there are often strong opinions about what does and doesn't qualify as handmade. One person's definition may be completely different from another's, and that can make things confusing for customers trying to make informed choices.
The truth is that "handmade" is a broad term. It covers a huge variety of techniques, processes and ways of working. In my opinion, the word itself isn't wrong; it's just not always transparent enough.
Most people naturally assume that if something is described as handmade, every part of it has been made entirely by hand. So when they discover that isn't always the case, they can feel disappointed or even misled. That's not the experience any maker wants their customers to have, especially small independent businesses built on trust and craftsmanship.
That's why I believe clarity matters.
The more transparent we can be about how something is made, the easier it is for customers to understand what they are buying and the value behind it.
There are many different ways jewellery can be handmade. You may come across terms such as hand-assembled, hand-finished, hand-strung, hand-knotted, hand-forged, hand-fabricated, lost-wax cast, designed by hand, or designed using CAD software.
These are all valid methods of creating jewellery. They are simply different approaches, each requiring their own skills, tools and expertise. In my view, they all involve a human maker and all have a place within the handmade world.
No single technique has a monopoly on being "truly handmade". What matters is understanding the process behind the piece and being honest about how it was created.
So where does Streets Craft Creations fit into all of this?
Every piece of jewellery I create begins with an idea and is brought to life at my workbench. Depending on the design, I may use hand fabrication techniques (cutting, filing and soldering using sheet and wire), hand forging (melting and recycling metal into usable sheet and wire), lost wax casting (carving from wax and casting in silver or gold), hand engraving, stone setting, or a combination of several traditional jewellery-making methods.
I work with precious metals and gemstones, carrying out the design, making, finishing and polishing myself. Some pieces begin as sheet metal and wire that I cut, shape and solder by hand. Others may start as a wax carving that I sculpt before it is cast into precious metal. Each method requires different skills, but both involve the same careful attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Every piece is made in small batches or as an individual piece, rather than being mass-produced, allowing me to focus on quality and the finer details that make handmade jewellery special.
The only components I don't personally manufacture are small findings such as bolt ring clasps, earring scrolls, and super-fine chain. These are specialist components produced by dedicated manufacturers and are an accepted part of modern jewellery making, even amongst traditional goldsmiths.
What matters to me is being open about that.
When I say my jewellery is handmade, I mean that the design, making, finishing and craftsmanship all happen in my workshop. No mass production lines, no factory output, and no anonymous manufacturing process. Just precious metals, traditional jewellery-making skills, and many hours spent at the bench creating pieces designed to be worn, loved and passed down.
Perhaps the real question isn't whether something is handmade enough.
Perhaps it's understanding how it was made, who made it, and the care that went into creating it.
Because behind every piece of handmade jewellery is a maker, a process, and a story worth telling.
And for me, that's what handmade has always been about: creating future heirlooms with my own hands, one piece at a time.
If you'd like to see these techniques brought to life, you can explore my latest handmade jewellery collection below.
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