Why Knowing the Difference Matters
There’s something timeless and soulful about a handmade craft — whether it’s a handwoven saree, a block-printed table runner, or a brass figurine made using ancient casting techniques. But in a market flooded with lookalikes, it’s getting harder for shoppers to tell what’s truly handcrafted and what’s simply mass-produced to look “artisan.”
There’s something timeless and soulful about a handmade craft — whether it’s a handwoven saree, a block-printed table runner, or a brass figurine made using ancient casting techniques. But in a market flooded with lookalikes, it’s getting harder for shoppers to tell what’s truly handcrafted and what’s simply mass-produced to look “artisan.”
Look for the Beautiful Imperfections
One of the simplest ways to tell a handmade item apart is to notice its tiny irregularities — the ones that make it unique. A handwoven fabric may have slight variations in thread tension. A block-printed cushion might have overlapping edges or a faded spot where the artisan lifted the block.
Machine-made products aim for perfect uniformity, but handmade crafts celebrate human touch. Those quirks aren’t flaws — they’re a signature of authenticity.
Check the Reverse Side
The backside often reveals what the front tries to hide. For example, in hand embroidery, you’ll see loose threads, knots, or uneven stitching on the reverse. A machine-embroidered piece will have a neat, consistent back with little to no thread tails.
Similarly, the back of a block-printed fabric may show slight bleeding of natural dyes, while screen-printed or digital prints tend to look flat and even.