The Craftsman versus the Industrial Complex

[DWFII]

How are the 'old ways' working out?

Hard to say...they seem to be dismissed and supplanted by an absolute fixation with "all things bright and beautiful."

You keep referring to the "brave new world". Remember that EVERYTHING was invented / discovered at some point... even fire. Your 'old ways' were once new ways.

True and I'm not against new things or even progress...I use a computer, drive a car, etc., etc.. But we don't think through the cost...the real cost...of progress and technology. For example, have you given any thought to the fact that Poly-viscose is petro-chemical based? (I don't know if you are using PV.. For the purposes of this discussion, I really don't want to know...I'm just offering an example)
Is the price of environmental degradation? health defects, etc., factored into the price of a PV kilt?

And that doesn't say anything about the alienation, from each other from our material environment, that is created by slogging through a day in an oppressive environment doing work that you have no vested interest in.

Und so weiter.

I would suggest that we need to redefine craftsman in a modern age. There are those who are better at making things with sewing machines (read as 'technology') than those who sew by hand. I've seen machine sewn kilts that rival the best hand sewn kilts. I've also seen very POOR examples of handsewn kilts sewn by 'professionals'.

My idea of Craftsmen and Craftsmanship never excluded a judicious use of machines. Machines are just elaborate tools. I use sewing machines in my business.

I am sure at least one of my kilts is machine sewn.