“Hello and welcome to the Citizens of Craft Podcast, where we discuss the objects we love, the reasons we love them, and the people who bring them to life.”

And so begins the second season, which premiered last week on citizensofcraft.ca/podcast. Hosted by CCF/FCMA Director, Maegen Black, this first episode features Studio Magazine editor, Leopold Kowolik, and Indigenous fashion designer, Sage Paul, exploring one of the ten Citizens of Craft manifesto statements: One size should not fit all… You prefer objects that mirror your individual taste, rather than fit some monster demographic.

“Our individual taste, and our individual expression, and our individual identity is so precious and important, but not at the cost of the community”, Leopold responded, referring to mass-consumption and its impact on makers in our immediate communities, as well as marginalized groups of people and developing countries.

“I agree that one size should not fit all, and one size does not fit all – that’s just a reality”, said Sage, following Leopold’s response. “This idea of individualism, that everyone should have something unique, it’s two-handed. On one side, it’s empowering to many different groups of people, but on the other side, when we’re talking about ‘individualism’ from huge corporations that exploit community, then they are [just] creating more stuff. And so, when I think of not exploiting at the expense of community, then I think about the idea of ‘one size should not fit all’ as a collaborative approach, as a community approach, to make sure that we are working together and providing what we need… As opposed to seeing it mass-produced.”

The response to the manifesto statement naturally transitions to a discussion about the “evils of fast fashion” and craft as the antidote, the social, economic, and cultural impacts that are a result of our buying habits, and sustainable craft practices. Many of these themes will reoccur throughout our second season as we explore other manifesto statements such as “You are not automated, manufactured, or cloned” and “You believe in 10-digit technology”.

Listeners are also treated to a new special segment mid-way through each episode this season – The Topic At Hand. Episode One features a mini-interview with author Leanne Prain, discussing her perspectives on the perceived roles of craft in society.

“The future is unclear, but one thing is for sure: The human race can do amazing things when it puts its mind to it… We need to be paying attention at all levels because global issues affect our lives and our communities and our planet, and we – you and I – all of us need to play a role in making positive change; for the environmental, economic, social, and emotional health of everyone. Craft can play a really big role in that.” – Maegen Black, Host

Tune in next Wednesday, June 12, for the release of Episode 2, “Cookie Cutter Doesn’t Cut It” featuring Melanie Egan of Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and Brigitte Clavette, jewellery artist and instructor at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Available on citizensofcraft.ca/podcast or wherever podcasts are streamed.

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