I’m not a big shopper in general, but I’ve recently found stellar handmade gifts at specialty online stores like Etsy and Supermarket HQ, that may make me a convert.  And it seems I’m not alone, considering the new trend of “micromanufacturing” is inspiring millions of people to buy from these places, even despite the struggling economy.  These sites provide a venue for artists, designers and everyday crafty people(some of whom are my friends), to sell their brilliant creations directly to you.  You can buy clothes, toys, art, jewelery, and more, knowing that your money is directly supporting the creator, and my favorite part is that you can choose to support local artists who are using recycled and sustainable materials.  I love giving and receiving homemade gifts, but sometimes my imagination reaches a little beyond my skill level or time constraints, and now I can tap into the creativity that’s all around us.  And better still, I can avoid shopping at bland, box stores that give nothing back to the community.

In many cases the artists will also design items to your specifications, too.  Wired sees this as the brave new future of manufacturing:

Indeed, as this market evolves, the physical world is going to be increasingly customized—built to your specs by craftspeople. Etsy now runs a service that lets you describe something you want—a pair of pants, a shoulder bag, a table—and how much you’ll pay, then artisans can offer to make it for you. (Ponoko.com has a similar setup.) And as high-end atom-hacking tools like 3-D milling and laser cutting become cheaper, those folks on Etsy will be able to quickly deliver you customized versions of a huge array of personal products: Laptops, bicycles, even robots. The Age of Bespoke Everything, as it were.

takepart by signing the Handmade Pledge and commit to buying sustainable, quality gifts.