"Cuba’s Madres (y Padres) of Invention"

As maker culture, zero-waste, and "right to repair" movements experience a revival here in the U.S., there's a lot we could learn from the longstanding ingenuity of our Caribbean neighbors.

photo by Rob Waters

Dear Friends,

Here in the U.S., disposability has sadly become the norm, while poorer nations have, by necessity, mastered the craft of breathing new life into old things—often for generations. Cuba presents what might be the most graphic example.

While the socioeconomic landscape of this unusual country has created generations of obstacles and privations for its citizens, it has also spawned a culture where the act of fixing, repurposing, and reinventing is a way of life. This week’s story, which first appeared in our pages in 2016, introduces some of the country’s unsung heroes of inventos culture. That culture is now being put to the test like never before, as Cuba’s economy takes one of the steepest downturns in its history.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading, “Cuba’s Madres (y Padres) of Invention,” written, photographed, and now updated for our Fall issue by Rob Waters. And don’t miss the author’s new sidebar: “After a Glimpse at Free Trade, Cuba Spirals Downward.”

Share your Repair Rants & Raves with us in our new reader survey. Is there some item you’ve owned and loved forever because it’s still useful—and repairable? What wasteful purchase do you most regret? It only takes a few minutes, and we’ll share the best stories throughout this issue. (More details can be found on the survey itself, and below.)

“The Art of Repair” will continue through November, thanks in part to our issue sponsor, the Culture of Repair. Each week, we’ll release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission—to “create a world built to last.” So please, stay tuned.

In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause as you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.

Sincerely,

Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine

Craftsmanship is a reader-supported publication. To help sustain our ad-free, independent journalism, please consider a paid subscription here on Substack.

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photo by Andrew Sullivan

Fall 2023: The Art of Repair

In a culture addicted to novelty and fast profits, the humble art of repair has declined almost to the point of extinction. But it’s not too late: In this issue, we’ll delve into the history of planned obsolescence, and the reemerging ethos of restoration. From the patient hands of watchmakers, piano restoration experts, and veteran appliance repairmen to the story of a young French woman who got her country to ban planned obsolescence, we’ll explore what it really means to create, maintain—and truly value—a world built to last.

This issue is supported in part by a grant from the Culture of Repair.

Interested in sponsoring an upcoming theme or project? Contact us at publisher@craftsmanship.net.

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Our Readers Share Their “Repair Rants & Raves”

RAVE: "I have a Mission-style rocker that I bought almost 30 years ago. It's an antique and was in bad repair. We have now repaired it a number of times, most recently this past summer. It has dings and we've totally replaced the seat springs. I adore this rocker."

RANT: "Oh, the list is long! Most of them are t-shirts. One or two washes and they lose all shape. Horrid. They've gone straight into the trash. Won't even work as rags."

- Jaye S. (Walsenburg, CO)

This issue is all about "The Art of Repair," and we want to hear about the belongings you love most for their usefulness, beauty, and longevity—and those you love to hate. We'll share the best entries throughout the issue. Submit your entry here.

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Love audio stories? So do we…

Follow the Craftsmanship podcast for informative, entertaining audio versions of our most popular stories, along with special interviews with master artisans and other experts in craft. You can play or download these offerings directly from our website or BuzzSprout, on popular streaming services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify—and now, on YouTube. We have a fun new audio interview series in the works, too, coming soon.