By Tirzah Rezende

In a significant step towards recognizing and protecting the rights of artisans globally, the League of Artisans has launched a groundbreaking manifesto entitled "Dignity of the Hand: an Artisan Manifestol." This initiative, led by Carry Somers, Ritu Sethi and Sol Marinucci, all with prominent backgrounds in fields such as Fashion Revolution, Craft Revival Trust and textile design, emerged during their collaboration on the British Council-supported Artisan Voices project. Since its founding in 2022, the league has stood out as an influential force in promoting craft as a response to contemporary challenges.

The Dignity of the Hand: A Craft Manifesto, translated into Spanish, was developed in collaboration with artisans from around the world and sets out nine ethical principles aimed at ensuring a more dignified future for artisans, highlighting their crucial role in the preservation of cultural heritage. Encouraging designers, brands and policy makers to listen to the voices of artisans and prioritize their needs is the challenge that the League of Craftsmen poses to society, inviting them to recognize the vital importance of craftsmanship in today's society.

“It is from this careful dialogue that we want to weave new reflections, rethinking together how we want the future to be,” commented Sol Marinucci, Creative and Programming Director of the organization.

The manifesto received praise from industry leaders and artisans' rights advocates. Carry Somers, Director of Promotion and Programmes, emphasized the urgency of recognizing and valuing craft skills, highlighting that "the diversity of our global craft heritage is disappearing, often going unnoticed."

The manifesto's launch coincided with the celebration of World Artisan Day on April 18, a date intended to highlight artisans' essential contributions to uplifting communities and preserving culture.

The League of Artisans, in its commitment to preserving culture and defending the rights of artisans, urges people to sign and share the manifesto, which represents a powerful call to action in solidarity with those who work tirelessly to keep the artisan tradition alive and promote the dignity of the hand.

The manifesto is available for access on the League of Artisans website. It is hoped that this document will inspire greater awareness and action in support of artisans around the world, reaffirming their importance in contemporary society and their invaluable contribution to global cultural wealth.