42 - What is Handmade on Etsy?
Handmade is, first and foremost, the product of your vision and expertise. Whether you’re an individual maker running your own shop, sharing a workspace with a small team, or employing an outside manufacturer to bring your design to life, there are a number of ways to get your handmade items on Etsy and into the hands of Etsy shoppers around the world.
Because human interaction is at the heart of what makes an item on Etsy handmade, our community values everyone involved in the creation process. Personal stories are paramount. To better tell your story, we ask you to list all of the shop members who were involved in the making of your item. You can do this on your shop’s About page.
If you’re a seller who would like to hire an outside manufacturer to produce items you’ve designed, you can apply here. If approved, you’ll be required to publicly disclose the use of all outside manufacturers to buyers.
How are your items created? Who helps in their creation? How do they help? Responsibility in the production of your handmade items and transparency within the Etsy marketplace are two very important elements of handmade. Answering these questions on your about page will communicate just how special your shop is.
For photography, digital art, and certain production methods, no application is necessary.
Because resold items aren’t the product of your vision, experience, and story, reselling is not considered handmade.
