Nienke Hoogvliet on rethinking material value and production cycles
By
Nienke Hoogvliet
Summary
Nienke Hoogvliet's guest essay explores how historical attitudes toward materials—where textiles were so expensive they cost as much as a house in the 1800s—contrast with today's disposable culture. She argues for rethinking materiality and contemporary production cycles, advocating for a return to valuing craft, quality, reuse, and repair as both ecological and economic imperatives.
Source
Twitter / XNienke Hoogvliet on rethinking material value and production cyclesdesignboom.comKey quotes
· 3 pulled'towels, sheets, napkins, tablecloths—quality so exceptional it will last a lifetime.' The price of this set? About the same as your house.
Craft and quality were highly valued. Labor was relatively inexpensive, while materials were costly and difficult to replace.
Reuse and repair were not just sensible practices—they were economic necessities.
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