Nest Verified Handcrafted™
Nest recognized a distinct need and opportunity to establish a more comprehensive and systematic process for defining the term handcraft in partnership with artisans, brands, and industry leaders. Together, we created a structured model for verifying handcraft techniques and products, ensuring that claims are used consistently across the industry. Nest Verified Handcrafted™ products offer insight into the production techniques used to create each item, enabling brands to showcase their commitment to craftsmanship and highlight the increased value of each product.
A Unified Definition of Handcraft
With Nest’s model, the term “handcrafted” is distinct from terms such as handmade, artisanal, or hand-assembled. While, in practice, these terms are often used interchangeably, the intent of this model is to create distinct definitions so that they can each retain their unique value.
Handcrafted products must embody two key aspects:
Hand: the use of one's hands and the physical effort, energy, and dexterity to shape, form, or create
Crafted: the use of one’s technical skill, knowledge, and experience beyond the utilization of a predetermined guiding form
How Verification Works: Handcraft Product Supply Chains
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1. Craft Technique Indentification
Brands, retailers, vendors/suppliers identify a production process they believe is handcrafted based on Nest’s Handcraft Definition.
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2. Handcraft Production Process Validation
Using Nest’s Handcraft Validation form, validators independently conduct validation of their production process and receive confirmation of handcrafted.
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3. SKU / Product Submissions
After a production process has been validated as handcrafted, individual products / SKUs made using a validated handcraft technique are reported using Nest’s SKU submission form.
Verified Handcrafted Techniques
In addition to the overarching definition of handcraft, Nest’s model includes a definition of handcraft for each production technique, taking into account the nuances and specific nature of each technique. Below are the techniques currently defined in the model, and more will be added based on industry need.
Artificial Flowers
Basket, Furniture and Accessory Weaving
Ceramics/Pottery - Hand or Mold Formed
Decorative Finishing
Embroidery
Glass Blowing
Knitting/Crochet
Metalwork
Patchwork
Quilting
Relief (Block) Printing
Rug Weaving
Textile Weaving
Woodwork
Is there another craft technique you would like to see?
Consumer Trust
The Nest Verified Handcrafted™ designation offers consumers trust in the products they purchase. It can be applied to handcrafted and partially handcrafted finished products, building off Nest’s handcrafted validation model.
Third Party Assurance
Nest’s Verified Handcrafted™ model is backed by a robust third-party verification approach that gives brands confidence in the integrity of their product claims. Through independent review and ongoing oversight of all techniques and product information submitted through the model, Nest ensures that handcrafted claims are credible, consistent, and aligned with industry expectations. This added layer of assurance helps brands mitigate risk, strengthen transparency, and confidently communicate the authenticity and impact of their handcrafted products to consumers and stakeholders.
For brands
Nest has created the Nest Verified Handcrafted™ product claim to showcase to consumers that a product is verified handcrafted according to Nest’s model. With the increasing popularity of handcrafted products, it is important to provide consumers with a reliable way to differentiate between truly handcrafted items and those produced using industrial or mass-production methods. Brands and retailers who license the Nest Verified Handcrafted™ designation may display the logo mark across approved internal and consumer-facing placements. Nest will also support brands in their storytelling and market valuation for handcrafted products.
Reach out to our Supply Chain team to learn more.
Open Access
Curious about validating handcraft techniques in your supply chain?
Nest Verified Handcrafted™
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As part of our commitment to uplift and better the livelihoods of artisan communities, we have created a definition for handcraft and handcraft techniques to create a clear understanding across the industry, and to distinguish it from other terms and protect the skills and knowledge of craftsman globally.
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In our commitment to elevate stories of the people, places, and traditions of handcraft that bring us together, we have created a public-facing mark that can be used on validated handcrafted products to highlight their importance and elevate their value.
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In order to foster collaborative partnerships for human-centered commerce, we are building a model for brands and artisan businesses to objectively validate products as handcrafted using a replicable and consistent methodology.
Looking to make a claim for both handcrafted and ethical production? Learn more about Nest's Ethical Handcraft program here.
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