1.Handmade products are often better quality and more durable. Each product is meticulously handcrafted and personally inspected. Machine production is driven by quantity, and quality is often compromised as a result.

2.Time, care and creative energy is put into the making of handmade products, and each item is alive with the spirit of the individual who makes them.

3.Buying handmade products made by actual human beings supports and strengthens local communities, keeping corporate giants from putting small, local shops out of business.

4.Handmade products are often one-of-kind, unique designs inspired by the artists or craftsmen who make them, making each individual product a work of art.

5.Handmade products are more sustainable, making them better for the environment. They are often made using local materials rather than those imported from across the world; handmade products consume less energy to manufacture than machine-made products; and handmade products are often more durable so they hold up longer, resulting in less waste.

6.Handmade accessories preserve local arts and handicrafts, many of which have been passed down from generations to generations. Women in Thailand and Laos have been weaving silk shawls and scarves for thousands of years, passing down their skills from mother to daughter for centuries. Each handmade product tells a story of the land, people and cultural traditions.

7.Buying handmade connects us to a simpler time when life was a bit slower-paced. People took pride in their creations because each product was a reflection of their time, energy and workmanship.

8.When something is handmade, no two items are exactly the same. Even two silk shawls or scarves, woven with the same silk thread by the same weaver, will vary somewhat. This grants the wearer with a unique sense of style and individuality, which is difficult to find in a typical department store.

9.Handmade products are reminiscent of that warm, familiar feeling when someone prepares something especially for you with love and caring; like grandmother making her famous homemade gingerbread cookies or knitting you a colorful silk scarf or wool sweater.

10.Like radiant silk shawls and scarves, reflecting magnificent shades of color in the light, handmade items honor peoples’ individual differences, unique cultures and local traditions; they keep our planet alive with contrast and diversity, reminding us that we all have beautiful talents and gifts to share.

Make a difference and pledge to buy handmade at http://www.buyhandmade.org this holiday season.