Artisan Economics

Something’s not right, and we know it. Our current economic practices contribute to environmental damage, social injustice, and a decline in public trust. The answer may be hiding in plain sight — in the world’s oldest profession: the artisan.

In Artisan Economics, I propose a shift toward an artisan-centric model that prioritizes creativity, dignity, and community connection over profit at all costs. Drawing on stories and research from around the world — from jewelry makers in Ethiopia, to survivors of trafficking sewing handbags in India, to women in Chile stitching resistance into tapestries — the book outlines eight core principles that define this alternative economic framework.

It also introduces the HFI Taproot Model of Systems Change™, a living framework built by women across continents through the Handmade Futures Initiative: a new way to grow change from the roots, where our foundational values and mental models are formed.

The artisan economy is a way to reconnect consumers with makers, foster sustainable growth, and create a more equitable and human-focused global economy. In it, we don’t just ask what something costs. We ask what it carries.

Artisan Economics is an open invitation to changemakers, educators, conscious consumers, and anyone interested in the creative economy to lean into this grassroots global community — and help drive systems change.