"Throwaway Nation"

America invented planned obsolescence—and shopping as a national pastime. Now the U.S. has the largest waste stream in the world. What can be done? Welcome to our new issue on "The Art of Repair."

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to the Craftsmanship newsletter. During our late-summer publishing hiatus, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, getting ready to bring you a new issue focused on an important and timely topic: “The Art of Repair.”

Our first feature sets the stage by delving into the history of “planned obsolescence”—the Made-in-America practice of designing consumer goods that don’t last, and can’t be repaired, simply to spur more buying. Why do we keep feeding this destructive cycle by buying more stuff? Could we join the growing number of countries that are forging smarter paths? In “Throwaway Nation,” journalist and New York Times bestselling author Julia Scheeres digs into this subject like no one has before. I hope you’ll find he story as thought-provoking as I did.

“The Art of Repair” issue will continue through mid-November, thanks in part to our sponsor for this issue, the Culture of Repair. Each Friday through mid-November, 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 support our ad-free, independent journalism, please consider a paid subscription here on Substack.

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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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Love audio stories? So do we…

You’ll find dozens of choices on the free Craftsmanship Podcast, including Jeff Greenwald’s recent recording of his story on custom batons, which Substack featured as a Weekly Read in July. You can play or download these offerings directly from our site, or wherever you like to get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify.