Why Should We Support Our Artisans?

In Colombia in the early 1990s, President Cesar Gaviria's government declared Economic Opening as a way to modernize the country and make it more competitive. This decision benefited some sectors, primarily large industries and commerce, which ushered in a new era of imports in Colombia. However, it also severely impacted other sectors, including small-scale crafts, manufacturing, small and medium-sized enterprises, and agriculture, among others. From the 90s onwards the country changed its business creation habits, we became easygoing, the so-called Dutch disease arrived due to the oil boom, for a merchant things were very easy, go to China and bring in one or two cheap containers to quickly flood the market, thus our shoe artisans, leather goods, small textile industries were wiped out, there was no longer any interest in creating a factory as an enterprise because imported shoes took over the market, to such an extent that today in the minds of consumers there are only international brands that have taken root, almost staying for life in our purchasing intention.

But why should we support handmade products? Why should we buy from our artisans? Why should we believe that in this country we make things on par with major global brands, and even better? This year, 2020, in particular, has taught us great lessons, and one of them is finding ourselves in great economic difficulties. I think this happened in all sectors, and at some point we found ourselves alone and powerless, but we immediately began to reflect that if we don't join forces, the country won't move forward soon, and its recovery will be very slow. For example, to take a vacation, what better way than to get to know our city, our country, and take a greater interest in our own things. This is how we support so many ventures that are hurt by this harsh recession due to the pandemic. Likewise, we should take an interest in buying products made in Colombia before thinking about an internationally recognized brand. If we buy our products, we support our country's internal infrastructure, and thus we will see fewer unemployed people, more people starting factories and workshops, generating employment and supplying commerce, resulting in a more stable economic balance for our country. For every pair of handmade shoes purchased in Colombia, we help motivate more people to continue buying domestic products. For this reason, we must invite all potential buyers to experience buying handmade, artisanal, and manufactured products in Colombia. Let's support our own, believe in ourselves, and cultivate what we want.