I thought I would share this question here as well as on Facebook to sound out the maximum quantity of opinions. At the risk of creating a dispute and sort of on the back of another crafter's recent experience I have been turning over in my mind the question of Fait main ( Hand made) and what does it legally mean ?
When I began as an Artisan here in France, a good while ago, I was asked to re word all my sign-age on a particular expo as I had chosen to work as "Claire Owen - Fait Main". There had been a complaint from someone that I couldn't put Fait Main as I used a sewing machine. There doesn't seem to be an official description of what Fait Main really means from an artistic point of view. Nowadays I just put Fabrication Artisanale, meaning made by a craft person.
It's just that more and more I see other artisans, artists and AE's with notices up at expos saying Fait Main or 100% Fait Main.
The dictionary definition says;
de l'industrie.
Etsy seem to be having a go at allowing anyone who puts a hand on something to be defined as handmade but I don't think it is wise to allow Etsy to make the definitive rules for the legal practicalities of labelling.
There is apparently a definition of Fait main as far as shoes making goes........ who knew but I can't find any hard and fast rules for sewing, knitting, jewellery etc.