“Craft” might seem like it’s for the amateurs, and “fashion” for the auteurs. Yet we live in an age where creativity and innovation are increasingly found in collaborations between makers and users, crafters and designers, designers and manufacturers, and in the loosening of the boundaries between them. – MAKESHIFT 2012

The MAKESHIFT conversation began last year to discover where and how various creative industries can work together as one. The discussion continued last Thursday evening at The Standard, addressing the intersection of industries on the artisan level, where the interchanges occur, and how we can transform those intersections through innovation and collaboration for the greater good.

Several designers, filmmakers, authors, musicians, and makers joined us, alongside friends and panelists, Cathy Bailey of Heath Ceramics, singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, Andrew Wagner of Krrb, Kristen Wentrcek of Wintercheck Factory, Natalie Jordi of People’s Pops, and singer/songwriter Tift Merritt. While we shared ideas, touching on subjects like the importance of maintaining authenticity when scaling a small business, we crafted our thoughts and experiences surrounding these issues onto 100% organic cotton Alabama Chanin totes. The results are beautiful, provocative, and insightful.

Collaboration and innovation begin with conversation, and we were able to capture some of the night’s most poignant thoughts, shared below.

“I love to do something that eliminates words and music, so that when I go back to music, it feels fresh.” – Rosanne Cash on creativity

“I’m someone who makes sense of my life by making things.” – Tift Merritt on creativity

“Handmade objects are all about things that retain a story…it’s all about the story.” – Father Andrew

“We’ve moved closer into the heart of things, making closer to where people are, not away from people, on a scale that feels like the craft and balance are still there.” – Cathy Bailey on scaling Heath Ceramics and their new factory in San Francisco

“The making is integral.” – Cathy Bailey

“You make things because something is imbedded in you, something that you miss. Why do people make? Do you need to make, or want to make?” – Jill Andresevic on creativity

“As long as you don’t sacrifice on [quality] ingredients then there aren’t that many factors negatively affected by machine.” – Natalie Jordi on scaling manufacturing

P.S.: Thank you to Cole Haan for providing the beautiful leather for crafting on our totes.