It's easy to forget or ignore the fact that so much of a mass produced item, like shoes, bags, and jewelry, really is "handmade." So what is handmade? How much does it cost?

I think handmade is respecting the skillsets of the designer and manufacturer and recognizing that the price point includes the skills and experiences of the artisans and workers. When the price point is low, something has been sacrificed to meet the bottom line, whether it be labor, skills, materials, or quality of design. When the price point is high, something special and unique has been offered up to make it worth that price. I can think of exceptions, but when I see a face alongside the price, I can't ignore that many people with a variety of skills have literally had a hand in practically everything I own.

This video of a Fluevog Miracle shoe being created in a family-owned factory in Peru (by one artisan from start to finish) is a good reminder of the varying price of handmade and just how much goes it producing something of quality: