Fast fashion has gone through a multitude of microtrends throughout the years. Clothes being bought and tossed out just one month later. One of the latest victims of this epidemic is crochet.
Crochet has been around for just over 200 years. At first it was used to make intricate lace designs. By the 19th and 20th century there was a crochet boom that turned this “grandma hobby” into a classy pastime.
Crochet was popularized in fashion and was most commonly seen in dresses, scarves, and blouses. Housewives around the world picked up this hobby and crochet became common around households. This trend slowly died out over the years, but it has slowly made its rise back to relevancy.
Crochet clothing and accessories being sold online has gained attention on social media due to the high prices. A sweater being sold for $70-$100 caused some arguments online. One side believes that crochet is overpriced and not worth it. The other side sympathizes with crocheters and understands how much time and talent crocheting takes. Making a sweater could take days or weeks to make. High prices are usually priced fairly. If you find a cheap crochet clothing piece it is probably made by underpaid workers. The amount of time it took to make an item should be shown through the price.
The reason that crochet is high in price, but knit is not, is because crochet can only be handmade. Knitwear can be easily replicated and mass produced by machines.
People turn away high priced, ethically made, crochet clothing just to buy the same item from a company that exploits their workers.
Another reason crochet is expensive is because of the amount of materials needed to craft an item. Quality yarn is pricey compared to cheap acrylic yarn. If you want a nice, soft material, you would have to drop a good amount of money on just yarn. Quality yarn is also usually sold in smaller quantities. To make a clothing piece you would need multiple skeins of costly yarn.
Although crochet can be pricey, it is not for everyone. The prices can drive people away, but if possible, it is always good to support crochet artists. Their job might not be ideal for everyone, but it is fun to share your creations with other people.
