Why buy handmade when the high street is cheaper?

I walked into a big shop recently and saw shelves of beautiful things at prices I could never match. I get it. When money is tight, price matters.

So why buy from a small maker?

When I make something for GAVIR, the price reflects more than the finished product. There are materials to choose, small batches to make, details to check, photos to take and orders to pack. There is also the website: a place where I can explain what I’ve made and where you can ask me a question directly.

A large shop can buy and sell at a scale I can’t. That doesn’t make its products bad. It means we offer different experiences.

You don’t need to buy everything handmade. But when you choose a small maker, you’re choosing something with a person, a process and a story behind it. And you’re helping that person keep making.

— Virginia, GAVIR