Homeland Ingenuity

How do American companies maintain handcrafted detail while producing fast enough—and in large enough quantities—to satisfy profit margins and consumers accustomed to instant gratification?

Do you know how and where your own coffee table was made? If you answered, "It was handcrafted by a midsize American producer," perhaps you’ve wondered how homegrown companies compete with those offering more affordable products manufactured overseas. In most cases, it requires walking the line between custom and standardized.

Join Dwell+ to Continue

Subscribe to Dwell+ to get everything you already love about Dwell, plus exclusive home tours, video features, how-to guides, access to the Dwell archive, and more. You can cancel at any time.

Try Dwell+ for FREE

Already a Dwell+ subscriber? Sign In

Caroline Tiger
Caroline Tiger is a Philadelphia-based writer who covers design and culture. Her columns, Making It and Consumed, appear each month in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Published

Last Updated