Craftivists

Craftivism is the practice of using crafts and craft-based practices to advocate for social or political change. It combines handmade objects and skills such as knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, and quilting with activism, often through public projects, workshops, and displays. Craftivists aim to raise awareness, invite dialogue, and build community around specific causes while promoting nonviolent, participatory engagement.

The term craftivism was popularized in the early 2000s by Betsy Greer, who described it as the use of craft for social change. Textile-based protest has historical roots in banners, quilts, and other handmade objects used in various movements, but craftivism as a defined practice gained visibility through contemporary DIY and feminist art communities. Projects frequently blend aesthetic appeal with political messages, turning ordinary materials into portable statements and creating spaces for discussion, education, and solidarity.

Practices vary widely and may include public embroidery campaigns, yarn bombing or guerrilla knitting, political sewing circles, and community quilt or banner projects. Craftivism is frequently connected to issues such as gender equality, refugee rights, environmental concerns, and local community empowerment, though practitioners work across a broad range of causes. The emphasis is often on inclusive participation, skill-sharing, and the creation of tangible artifacts that carry memory and meaning beyond the moment of display.

Reception of craftivism is mixed. Supporters praise its democratization of activism, its ability to engage diverse participants, and its capacity to fundraise or preserve protest artifacts. Critics challenge potential performativity, the risk of elitism, or messages that overlook structural change without accompanying action. Overall, craftivism is viewed as a distinct form of bottom-up, hands-on activism embedded in community life.