Costume designer Katrina Hodge is the founder of Handcrafted Modern, a curated online store that connects artisan makers with people seeking enduring, sustainable objects for the home.
With a focus on heritage craft, natural materials and quiet beauty, the platform is shaping a new future for design – one grounded in care, community and creativity.
What inspired the creation of Handcrafted Modern?
Handcrafted Modern was born from a desire to create a space where the value of making by hand is not only preserved, but celebrated. As a costume designer, I’ve always been drawn to process – how things are constructed, the materials used and the stories they carry. In our fast-moving, convenience-driven world, I wanted to champion a different pace – one that honours care, intention and connection in the way we furnish our lives.
How do you see the role of craft evolving in a digital world?
We’re at a fascinating intersection. Our lives are increasingly digital, yet there’s a growing desire to ground ourselves through the tangible. Craft offers that grounding. It speaks to tradition, human skill and slowness.
At Handcrafted Modern, we use digital tools to share the value of craft, connecting makers with a wider audience and telling the deeper story behind each piece.
What connects the makers you choose to work with?
Our makers share a commitment to sustainability, thoughtful design and traditional techniques. We look for individuals who see their work as both functional and expressive. Pieces intended to enrich daily life, whether through utility, beauty or both. Whether it’s small-batch ceramics or locally woven wool, our focus is on work that honours natural materials and time-honoured processes.
The pieces you carry feel as much like art as they do design. How do you define beauty in an object?
To me, beauty lies in integrity. When a piece is thoughtfully made – with good materials, honest craftsmanship and a clear sense of purpose – it carries a kind of quiet powerful presence. I love when you can feel the hands of the maker in a piece; a curve shaped by hand, a glaze that catches light differently depending on the time of day.
What kind of future do you hope to help shape through Handcrafted Modern?
We see Handcrafted Modern evolving into a design studio as much as a store. We’ll continue to source and showcase beautiful work from our community of artisans, but we’re also beginning to design and develop pieces in-house which is very exciting. Collaboration is at the heart of our next chapter; working closely with makers to develop products that honour traditional methods while exploring new expressions of craft. Our hope is to build a future where design, art and sustainability aren’t separate concerns, but are deeply, beautifully intertwined in one space.
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