Let’s start with the obvious.

Yes. We changed our name. Again.

If you’ve been around since the early days, you knew us as Etsy Dallas. Then we became Dallas M.A.D.E. and now, officially, we are Handmade DFW.

Here’s a little background on evolution.

We were founded in 2007 as the official Dallas Etsy street team. Back when Etsy felt scrappy and new and everyone was photographing their products on their kitchen tables. It was magic. It was chaotic but it was handmade in the truest sense.

But the in the past nearly 20 years, the world has changed so much and technology has changed the world, including access to new tools, supplies, and avenues to sell their products.

Our makers no longer sell in just one place. They have their own websites. They do in person markets. They wholesale. They sell on Instagram and TikTok. Some of them don’t sell online at all. And a whole lot of them live outside Dallas proper. So while Etsy was our spark, it stopped being the central hub.

Handmade DFW feels like home. It’s bigger and more inclusive. It includes Fort Worth. Denton. Plano. Arlington and beyond. All the brilliant humans across North Texas who are building creative businesses with their own two hands.

Same heart. Same mission. Just more room.

We also want to take a moment to talk about the handmade movement and why we still think it’s increasingly important to foster and grow this space.

The world has changed a lot, especially in the last decade. Technology has helped handmade businesses grow in ways we could not have imagined. Makers can reach customers across the country. They can run websites, manage inventory, and build communities online. That access has opened doors for so many creatives.

And that’s a good thing.

But it has also made the marketplace more crowded. When everything lives online, it gets harder to tell what is truly handmade and what is mass produced. Some products are made by the thousands and still show up in spaces where shoppers are expecting something personal.

That creates confusion. And it makes it harder for the artisans who are genuinely designing, sewing, carving, pouring, and building with their own two hands.

True handmade is slower. It is more intentional. It does not roll off an assembly line. Our mission at Handmade DFW is to help makers and artists grow their businesses with education, support, and mentorship.

We create spaces where makers can:

Learn business skills, like inventory planning, marketing, SEO, strategy, and even AI
Meet other creatives and build a supportive community
Ask questions in a safe collaborative space

We’re also bringing back community craft events. Workshops. Charity events. The stuff that builds community, creates awareness, and is just good fun (or trouble depending on the event).

Because when makers connect, they grow. And when they grow, the whole creative ecosystem gets stronger.

If you’ve been with us since 2007, thank you. Truly. If you’re new here, welcome. You’re right on time.

Follow along at @handmadedfw (on all socials) and come see what we’re building.