Artisanal Treasures

Modern manufacturing processes are good at churning out one identical product after another. But shoppers in search of a little more character are increasingly drawn to objects handmade by artisans around the world.

In recent years, the handicraft movement has grown, with the involvement of designers like Stephen Burks, who runs the Brooklyn studio Readymade Projects and regularly collaborates with artisans in far-flung locales.

“Having that immediacy of making, and that direct connection to people and community groups is amazing,” Mr. Burks said, noting that it helps to build “a bridge from the developing world to the first world.”